Back to Blog Home

Topic: Tips for Buying Lots & Land (Page 2 of 4)

Will Your Next Home Be Pre-Owned, Spec or Built from the Ground Up?

Your search for the American Dream. What to consider when choosing the path to your next home… Most people dream of owning their own home at some point; that’s why it’s called the American Dream. All prospective buyers want to find the right home for their family and their lifestyle, but the way each of them get there can be very different. Do you buy an existing new (“spec”) home? A previously-owned home? Or do you build the home of your dreams from the ground up? If you’re ready to pursue the American Dream – for the first time or…

Being an Owner-Builder: Should You Build Your Own Home (Literally)?

Are you considering being an owner-builder? You’ve just bought the perfect piece of land and are ready to build your dream home. Most people will use a licensed general contractor (a “GC”) to build their home from the ground up. But some people – those who wish to be an “owner-builder” or “owner-contractor” – will plan to physically build the house themselves. Opinions seem to be pretty mixed about whether it makes sense to be an owner-builder. It’s safe to say that being an owner-builder can be like an adventure – where you may have good, bad and unexpected experiences….

9 Benefits of Working with a Licensed Builder

There are many benefits of working with a qualified, licensed builder when building a new home. It’s safe to say that building a new home – possibly one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life – is one place that you want to be very careful about cutting corners. Everyone wants to find ways to save money. Whether it’s haggling for the best deal or even coupon clipping, there may be ways to save money with anything you buy. But what if you are planning to build a home? Should you just go for the best price, even if…

7 Land Investment Trends to Watch

Trends in the land investment market are providing some interesting opportunities for investors… Land is finite. Like any finite resource, land becomes more valuable when it’s scarce. Land in desirable locations can command tremendous prices and provide excellent investment returns. By definition, land investors have a goal of making a profit by investing in land. But consider that land investors can have a variety of backgrounds and purposes, whether they may be individuals looking for property to build their dream home (and their nest egg), investors seeking a portfolio of parcels to land bank or real estate developers buying a…

A Builder’s Guide to Reviving Zombie Developments

The zombies are here, and this can be a good thing if you’re a home builder – zombie neighborhoods and developments that is. Everyone’s talking about zombies these days, whether they are on popular television shows or cult classic horror movies. Likewise, some builders and developers are finding that picking up zombie developments at a good price, completing and updating infrastructure and then re-selling or building out can be a great way to meet their need for lots and gain a relatively quick return on investment. There’s still an opportunity for big profits from zombies, especially for local and regional…

Checklist for Hiring a Home Builder

Aside from finding and buying a lot for your new home, few decisions are as important as choosing your home builder. Whether you already have a dream home in mind and need builders to make it a reality or want to get ideas from the experts first, get some guidance from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Their checklist is an excellent starting point for future homeowners who are looking for the right builders. Get meaningful recommendations. Start with your local or regional homebuilders’ association. These organizations can provide a list of member builders in good standing….

Seven Land Buying Nightmares to Avoid

Whether you’re buying a lot or land either as an investment or if you want a site to build your new home, you know that land buying comes with its own set of pros and cons. In most cases, you’ll simply need to weigh your property needs against any drawbacks in order to reach a buying decision. However, keep your eyes open for these seven big land buying nightmares. Avoiding these nightmares when evaluating land for sale will both help your purchasing experience and can help ensure that your new residential lot is worth every penny that you spend. …

Build a Home with the Help of a Smartphone and these 8 Apps

Build a home with your Smartphone? Well, not exactly, but you can find some useful resources in Smartphone Apps that can help you in the home planning and construction process. This article describes a few Apps that we have found that are great for homeowners or home buyers. But here’s a tip…these Apps can be useful for the pros out there too, like all of you real estate agents and homebuilders who work with these potential homeowners and buyers. Your clients and customers will be impressed when you use technology to find an answer for them, or if you just…