For many people, building their own home is a dream. If you get to a place in life where you are able to make that happen, you will probably be both excited and overwhelmed. There are a lot of big decisions that go into building your own home, starting with finding land for your new house.
Choosing the right plot of land is incredibly important. You need to find a property that won’t send construction costs skyrocketing, that is suitable for what you want to build, and that is zoned appropriately for residential use. Before you buy land, you should consult with an experienced Delaware custom home builder who can guide you and offer you advice on the right land for your new home.
At Carl Deputy and Son Builders, we work with homeowners in Kent and Sussex Counties to help them build the perfect custom or semi-custom home. We offer lots for sale that are well-suited for construction and can also help you evaluate properties and build on your lot. Reach out to our construction and design team to learn more about how we can help you bring your dreams of a beautiful new home to life.
Have questions about building a home or making home renovations? Sometimes talking directly to an expert is easier than reading a post. Speak with a builder at Carl Deputy & Son Builders > (302) 284-3041
Finding Land to Build a New Home in Delaware
If you are interested in building a new semi-custom or custom house in Delaware, you will first need to find the right place to build it. Most builders – including Carl Deputy and Son Builders – offer lots for construction. If you want something else, they can help you with the process of finding and buying land. Below, we outline the steps to take to find land to buy for your beautiful new home.
Consider Where You Want to Live
Before you start looking for land, you will want to make a list of things that you want when it comes to your new house. You should think about things like:
- The amount of acreage that you want
- How close to cities and towns do you want to be
- Where you want your kids (if any) to go to school
- How close you want to be to stores and other amenities
- If you want a wooded property
- Whether you want to be close to water
- If you are willing to pay to have the land cleared, a road put in, utilities installed, etc.
Ultimately, you want to think about where you want to spend your life…as well as some of the practical realities of building a house. This will help you make a good decision when it comes to deciding exactly where you want to live.
Think about Budget and Financing
Next, you will have to sit down and carefully consider what you can afford when it comes to land and how you will pay for it. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an acre of land costs an average of $3,100. Of course, this number can vary widely based on factors such as location, zoning, and how much the land has been developed.
Generally, completely unimproved raw land is less expensive to purchase up-front. However, you will typically spend more to get this land ready for construction. You may even have to spend money putting in a road, utility access, and more. Raw land loans also tend to be more expensive.
Unimproved land has been partly developed. It tends to be more expensive than raw land, but cheaper than improved land. As with raw land, you might need to put in utilities, roads, and other amenities with unimproved land.
Improved land is typically ready-to-build, with utility, water, and sewage access. You might pay more initially for improved land, but you won’t have to factor in the cost of setting up those services on your property.
If you can pay out-of-pocket for a parcel of land, that is great. Otherwise, you will need financing. Land loans are viewed as riskier by lenders, though, so you might have to put down a bigger down payment and pay a higher interest rate.
These facts are all important when it comes to figuring out your budget. You want to have a good idea of exactly how much you can spend on land when you start your search. This number should include a more realistic picture of whether you can afford extensive preparations for construction on top of buying the land and paying for the construction itself.
When you are still in this stage, it might be a good idea to talk to a Delaware custom home builder about what you can expect in terms of construction costs. That will also play into your budget, particularly when it comes to the cost of clearing and preparing the land to build. These numbers will help you decide exactly what you can afford when it comes to a plot of land.
Search Online for Listings
Once you have done some legwork, it is time to start searching for your land! Most real estate websites will list land for sale. Many websites will allow you to specifically filter your searches to only return vacant land for sale.
Spend some time searching for land based on the parameters (location, cost, level of improvement) that you already set. You can then start to schedule showings to go see the properties.
Seeing the properties in person is incredibly important. Even if a parcel of land meets your criteria and seems like a decent investment, if it doesn’t otherwise work for your new home, then you’ll have spent a good chunk of money for land that you can’t use.
Land listings will contain the number of acres, price per acre, and characteristics about the plot (such as whether it is raw land, unimproved land, or improved land). It will also typically include both its location and its zoning. If the listing does not include the zoning, you can typically look that up at your local zoning office. Your local municipality can also answer questions about what you can build on a particular parcel and whether the land has access to utilities.
It is a good idea to work with a real estate agent as you begin your search for property. They can find out the answer to many of these questions for you, including:
- Whether or not there is street access;
- What the setback rules are for the location; and
- If there are any ordinances that will restrict your right to build your desired home.
It is also smart to reach out to a custom home builder to have them take a look at the land. At Carl Deputy and Son Builders, we are happy to consult with clients as they search for land. We can visit the property with you to help you decide if it is suitable for the type of house that you want to build. For example, we might talk to you about how much it will cost and how much time it will take to clear the property of rocks and trees and level it for building.
Our team can also recommend experts to help you dig into the land a bit more. A land surveyor can define property lines and identify any potential encroachments. A geotechnical or civil engineer can conduct soil testing and drainage analysis. Each of these experts can offer invaluable insight into the buildability of the property so that you can make a more informed decision before you buy it.
The property that you buy will affect the type of house you can build and your everyday life after your home construction is complete. It is incredibly important to take your time and work with trained professionals to make sure that you are making a smart decision. If you are contemplating buying land to build a new house, you can reach out to our team at any point to schedule a free consultation and ask us questions about buying property to build a house in Delaware.
Build-Ready Homesites Available To Buy
In addition to being able to help you build your dream home, Carl Deputy and Son Builders offers build-ready plots of land for sale. These plots are zoned residential and were selected because they’re suitable for construction. You can view our available homesites for sale in the map below.
Want to Build a House in Delaware? Contact Us Today!
Building a house requires a lot of patience and forethought, starting with deciding where you want to build. Finding the right plot of land is critical to ensure that your construction goes smoothly. Take your time and do research so that you can be confident that the piece of land you want to buy will be perfect for your new house.
If you are thinking about building a new house in Delaware, Carl Deputy and Son Builders can work with you to help you find land, design your house, and build it with impeccable craftsmanship. Our customer service is top-notch, from the first consultation until we hand you the keys to your new home. To learn more about or to schedule a consultation with a member of our team, give us a call at 302-284-3041 or fill out our online contact form.
