When building a house, many times this involves choosing the plot of land as well. Sometimes, people will find a home already being constructed and step in halfway through the process. However, if you plan to find the land then there are definite things you want to be aware of, saving you effort and money. The great thing about building is that you can usually choose exactly what you want. For instance, if you want a flat lot with a stream running through it, you would set your sights on that criterion.
For starters, you can find land through some real estate agents. Although not all sell both land and property, some do. Therefore, you might get your hands on a real estate book or call one of your local realtors to determine if they have or know of any land for sale, matching your price range and preferences. In addition, you can check your local newspapers. In this case, you will usually find many different options but because you might be working with the seller one-on-one, you need to make sure he or she is on the up and up. The way to accomplish this is to use the services of a lawyer.
Now, if you prefer to have some assistance with the process so you get quality land at a fair price, you can always hire an agent that specializes in finding land or lots. Typically, you and the agent would meet to discuss the specifics of what you want and need, as well as your price range. From there, the agent may or may not require you to sign a contract. With the information in hand, the agent would get to work to locate such land. Keep in mind that while it would be nice to find the land immediately, depending on what all you want, it could take time so you might need to show some patience during the process.
Finally, just as you would when buying a house, you need to do your homework on many levels. For instance, if you are looking for land in a populated area, run reports from the internet on the current crime rate, location of shopping centers, doctors, hospitals, schools, and parks, and then make sure you know exactly the type of utilities that service the land. Some plots of land will be on city water or sewer while others are on the county. The difference would be price paid, as well as the service rendered. For gas, it could be that the land is on city utilities but if the land is in the country, you might be required to purchase propane. With all of this information, you can do a little comparison shopping, buying the piece of land on which to build your dream home.