Buying land, building a house, and living happily ever after is a dream shared by many.
You might have already pictured the small patio nook in the backyard, front porch columns, large glass windows, and beautiful landscape design in the front yard.
The thought is simple; process, not so much.
There are a lot of things to consider – location, acreage, availability of convenient utilities, proximity to services and amenities – the list is endless.
If you plan on buying land in Texas for your homesite, you’re in luck. We have outlined below three useful tips for you to find the perfect plot of land for your dream home. To know more click here.
Let’s get started!
3 Tips to Buying Land in Texas
1. Know how much money you need and what financing options are available
Texas may have a lower cost of living than other states in the US, it’s still expensive to buy land there.
In order for you to be able to buy a home with confidence, it’s important for you to know how expensive a house you can comfortably afford.
When deciding a budget for land, you want to make sure that you have a good land-value to home-value ratio. Ideally, your land should cost at least 30% of your finished home value.
Whatever budget you set, stick to it, come what may!
Before buying a piece of land in an area, it’s always a good idea to find out the market value of homes surrounding your plot. Your home should be worth the same, if not more.
Building a dream home, or buying a farm or ranch as an investment is a cakewalk for filthy rich people. But a salaried individual will definitely need a loan, especially if they intend to start the construction of their home, right after they purchase the land.
To reiterate, make sure that your budget leaves you with enough money and liquid assets to live comfortably and handle unexpected expenses.
If you don’t have sufficient funds, look for a financing option that covers both your land and construction costs.
2. Decide where you would like to build a home in Texas
If you’re not sure as to which location is best, ask yourself a few simple questions:
- Do you prefer suburbs, rural life, or city life?
- How long is too long for you to commute?
- Which area of the city houses good, reputable schools/colleges?
- Which area, locality, or neighborhood fits your lifestyle best?
- Do you love visiting upscale stores and fine-dining restaurants? Or would you rather have a peaceful abode amidst big trees and beautiful nature? Does the idea of living near a golf course fascinate you?
You should also find out what zoning laws and regulations are associated with your land. If you can live with them, congratulations! If not, you should probably look elsewhere.
3. Determine how much land you need
Texas has the most acreage in all of the US. If you already have a specific area in mind, drive over and hunt down properties on sale. If not, consider the following when deciding how much land to build on:
- Do you want a 400-acre-spread for spacious rooms, luxury bathrooms, and a wide garden? Or would you like your property to be low-maintenance?
- Do you prefer having a little space (read:privacy) between you and your neighbors? Or would you like to socialize with your neighbors, and invite them over for dinner?
Still not sure? Let’s make it easier for you. Do you want a little cottage with a small patio and quaint garden? Or a large ranch estate with a pool, golf course, and space to pasture domestic farm animals?
Conclusion
Once you have figured out a reasonable budget, location, and size, it’s time to hit the road, and start looking for options.
It may take a little while for you to find a plot that ticks all the boxes. But that’s okay too! After all, you want to be 100% sure you’ll be happy with your purchase!