Here's my $.02 worth.
Good soil/bad soil Most of the concern on the soils has to do with percolation for ones septic system. Sandy soil is great for septic systems.
Of course clays are better suited to gardening.
Ideal for hunter As stated, these lands are generally (not always) not suited for residencial purposes. The land quite often is lowland and swampy.
Power at road means electrical service runs along the road. If your property borders the road, this is great, as all you need to do is contact the electric company to provide you with service.
Septic/water is far more complicated. Most country homesites are not hooked into city septic & water. This means you have to have your own systems built. Drilling a well is a roll of the dice. You never know how deep the well will actually be. You can consult the neighbors to get a "ballpark" idea, but this can backfire on you.....with the neighbors buying the property right out from under you. Its common for the buyer to conduct a percolation test on the property before the sale, with the buyer paying the costs ($300 - $500). The percolation test will determine if the property is suitable for a conventional septic system or a mound system. Huge difference in prices. Conventional systems are generally $4000 - $5000, mound systems run $10,000 - $15,000. You as the home builder will be paying these costs when you build your house.
Right of way into a parcel of property is extremely important. These issues commonly wind up in a lawyers office, where you will be bled dry by the lawyers, that have little desire for a quick resolution of the problem.
The absolute best access to your property is where you own the property right up to a public road.
Access across a shared road is quite often a nightmare. Things such as responsibility for road maintenance, winter snow plowing, culverts, etc are often a gray area, and not all people using the road are willing or able to financially contribute to its upkeep.
Know exactly whats involved in the shared road before you even think about buying property accessed by a shared road.
If you have a right of way through someone elses property, its quite possible you'll have to pay the costs for building a road. This can get very expensive.
Property that has a lake, stream or river on or near the location will likely have far more restrictions regulating its usage. Some areas allow public access along river banks. Know from the start that you'll have far less control of your property when you purchase waterfront property.
The inclusion or lack of the word "building site" in the real estate ad means nothing.
The ideal country building site will have:
Utilities at the property line (phone, electric, natural gas, cable)
Be in an area where drilled wells are generally under 100 feet.
Have sandy soil for a conventional septic system.
An existing road into the property (even an old logging road)
Land that is high & dry
Be located in an area with some zoning regulations in place (this will keep Jed Clampette & his 12 kids, 14 junk cars, 9 round the clock howling dogs from moving next to you in his grubby $500 trailer without a septic system)
Be located next to property that is undeveloped (national forest, paper company land, etc)
A degree of privacy
Be located on a blacktop road
Good soil/bad soil Most of the concern on the soils has to do with percolation for ones septic system. Sandy soil is great for septic systems.
Of course clays are better suited to gardening.
Ideal for hunter As stated, these lands are generally (not always) not suited for residencial purposes. The land quite often is lowland and swampy.
Power at road means electrical service runs along the road. If your property borders the road, this is great, as all you need to do is contact the electric company to provide you with service.
Septic/water is far more complicated. Most country homesites are not hooked into city septic & water. This means you have to have your own systems built. Drilling a well is a roll of the dice. You never know how deep the well will actually be. You can consult the neighbors to get a "ballpark" idea, but this can backfire on you.....with the neighbors buying the property right out from under you. Its common for the buyer to conduct a percolation test on the property before the sale, with the buyer paying the costs ($300 - $500). The percolation test will determine if the property is suitable for a conventional septic system or a mound system. Huge difference in prices. Conventional systems are generally $4000 - $5000, mound systems run $10,000 - $15,000. You as the home builder will be paying these costs when you build your house.
Right of way into a parcel of property is extremely important. These issues commonly wind up in a lawyers office, where you will be bled dry by the lawyers, that have little desire for a quick resolution of the problem.
The absolute best access to your property is where you own the property right up to a public road.
Access across a shared road is quite often a nightmare. Things such as responsibility for road maintenance, winter snow plowing, culverts, etc are often a gray area, and not all people using the road are willing or able to financially contribute to its upkeep.
Know exactly whats involved in the shared road before you even think about buying property accessed by a shared road.
If you have a right of way through someone elses property, its quite possible you'll have to pay the costs for building a road. This can get very expensive.
Property that has a lake, stream or river on or near the location will likely have far more restrictions regulating its usage. Some areas allow public access along river banks. Know from the start that you'll have far less control of your property when you purchase waterfront property.
The inclusion or lack of the word "building site" in the real estate ad means nothing.
The ideal country building site will have:
Utilities at the property line (phone, electric, natural gas, cable)
Be in an area where drilled wells are generally under 100 feet.
Have sandy soil for a conventional septic system.
An existing road into the property (even an old logging road)
Land that is high & dry
Be located in an area with some zoning regulations in place (this will keep Jed Clampette & his 12 kids, 14 junk cars, 9 round the clock howling dogs from moving next to you in his grubby $500 trailer without a septic system)
Be located next to property that is undeveloped (national forest, paper company land, etc)
A degree of privacy
Be located on a blacktop road
