Before You Buy the Land: 10 Things to Check Before Buying a Lot to Build a Home in Greater Houston
Finding the right piece of land can be one of the most exciting parts of building a home.
You see the property. You picture the house. Maybe there are mature trees, extra room for a shop or pool, or enough acreage to finally have the space you've wanted.
But before you sign a contract, there is another question worth asking:
Is this actually a good lot to build on?
The purchase price of land is only part of its true cost. Site preparation, utilities, drainage, access, soil conditions and restrictions can significantly affect what it takes to turn an empty property into a finished home.
A little homework before purchasing the land can prevent expensive surprises later.
Here are 10 things worth checking before buying a lot to build a home in Greater Houston.
1. Is the Property in a Floodplain?
In the Houston area, flood risk deserves attention before purchasing property.
Being outside a mapped floodplain does not automatically mean a property has no drainage concerns, and being within a mapped floodplain does not necessarily mean construction is impossible. What matters is understanding the conditions of the particular property and what may be required to build responsibly.
Review available flood information, drainage patterns and the property's elevation. Depending on the site, additional engineering, elevation or drainage work may be necessary.
The important thing is to understand those conditions before they become part of your construction budget.
2. Does the Property Have Water and Sewer Service?
A lot in an established neighborhood may already have access to public water and sewer.
A rural or acreage property may not.
If public utilities aren't available, the project may require a private well, septic system or both. Those systems require planning, adequate space and appropriate site conditions.
Don't assume utilities are available simply because homes are nearby.
Find out exactly what services reach the property and what it will take to connect them.
3. What About Electricity, Gas and Other Utilities?
Electrical service is another item that can look simple on paper and become considerably less simple in the field.
Where is the nearest available electrical service?
How far will power need to be extended?
Will additional poles, transformers, easements or underground service be required?
The same questions can apply to natural gas, internet and other services.
A property with utilities already near the future home site can present a very different development picture from acreage requiring services to be extended a substantial distance.
4. What Do the Soil Conditions Look Like?
The ground beneath your home matters just as much as the materials above it.
Greater Houston has a wide variety of soil conditions, and expansive clay soils are common in portions of the region. Soil characteristics can influence foundation design, drainage and site preparation.
The appropriate foundation should be based on the actual conditions of the property and the home being built, not assumptions.
Geotechnical evaluation may be appropriate before final engineering and construction decisions are made.
5. How Much of the Property Is Actually Buildable?
Five acres on paper doesn't necessarily mean five acres available for your house, driveway, garage, septic system and everything else you have planned.
Easements, setbacks, drainage areas, floodplain considerations, utility corridors, deed restrictions and other requirements can reduce the usable portion of a property.
Before purchasing a lot, consider where the home would realistically sit.
Then think beyond the house itself.
Where will vehicles enter? Where will utilities run? Is there room for a septic system if one is required? What about a future pool, workshop, detached garage or outdoor living area?
A good homesite works as a complete property, not simply as a place where the footprint of a house happens to fit.
6. Are There Deed Restrictions or HOA Requirements?
Owning the land doesn't always mean you can build anything you want on it.
Subdivision restrictions and homeowners associations may establish requirements involving home size, exterior materials, architectural style, setbacks, garages, fencing, accessory buildings and other features.
Those restrictions can directly affect your design.
If you already have a particular home in mind, review the applicable restrictions before purchasing the property rather than discovering afterward that your plans must be substantially changed.
7. What Will It Take to Clear and Prepare the Site?
A wooded property can be beautiful.
It can also require considerably more site work than an already-cleared lot.
Trees may need to be removed. Stumps may need to be excavated. The building pad may require preparation. Drainage may need to be established. Existing structures or debris may have to be removed.
And clearing isn't simply about removing everything in sight.
Many homeowners want to preserve selected mature trees and natural features. That requires thoughtful planning before equipment begins moving across the property.
Site preparation should be considered part of the project from the beginning.
8. Can Construction Equipment Easily Reach the Homesite?
You may be able to drive your truck onto the property.
That doesn't necessarily mean a concrete truck, crane, delivery vehicle or other heavy construction equipment can do the same thing.
Consider road access, driveway location, culverts, overhead obstructions, narrow entrances, bridges and ground conditions.
Construction requires repeated access by large vehicles throughout the project.
If temporary access roads, culverts or other improvements are necessary, those costs need to be considered when evaluating the land.
9. Will the Home You Want Actually Work on This Lot?
This is where the land and the house finally have to shake hands.
A floor plan that works beautifully on one property may be poorly suited for another.
Lot width, depth, orientation, topography, setbacks, driveway access, drainage, utilities and even the position of the sun can influence how a home should be placed and designed.
If you already have plans, make sure they work with the property.
If you don't, consider designing the home around the strengths of the land rather than forcing a predetermined plan onto a site that doesn't naturally accommodate it.
Sometimes the property itself tells you what the best design should be.
10. Talk to a Builder Before You Buy
This may be the most valuable step of all.
A piece of land can look like a bargain until the cost of preparing it for construction is understood.
Consider two properties.
One costs less but requires extensive clearing, utility extensions, drainage improvements and substantial site preparation.
Another costs more but already has good access, nearby utilities and a straightforward building area.
The less expensive property may ultimately be the more expensive place to build.
The price of the land and the cost of building on the land are two different numbers.
An experienced builder can help you look beyond the listing price and identify construction considerations that may affect the overall project.
Should You Talk to a Builder Before Buying Land?
Whenever possible, yes.
A builder isn't replacing your surveyor, engineer, title company, real estate professional or other specialists. Each has an important role.
But a builder can examine the property from a construction perspective.
Where might the home sit?
How will construction vehicles reach it?
What site work appears necessary?
Where are utilities located?
Could drainage affect placement?
Does the house you're envisioning make sense for this particular property?
Those questions are much easier to address before purchasing land than after closing.
The Right Property Is More Than a Piece of Land
Building a home on your own land gives you opportunities that buying an existing home simply cannot.
You can choose the property, determine how the home relates to the land and create something around the way you actually want to live.
But the best results begin before construction.
They begin with choosing the right property.
At Skylark Homes LLC, our Design, Develop, Build approach looks at the home and the property as one project. From evaluating the homesite and planning the design through development and construction, our goal is to help homeowners understand the process and make informed decisions from the beginning.
If you're considering purchasing land in Greater Houston to build your future home, talk with us before you build. Better yet, talk with us before you buy the land.
Skylark Homes LLC 281-699-9416
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