Buying Land

When buying land be sure the sheer excitement of owning your own piece of heaven doesn't carry you away. Owning land can bring many responsibilities, costs and problems that you may not have thought about. Before you even start to think of it as your own, evaluate the site with a critical eye. Is it a steep block? If so, it will cost a great deal more to build on. Heavy machinery such as bobcats or dozers will need good access to the block, so if there is no road, you - or someone else - may need to build one first. A steep block will also be harder to mow or add a pool to.

If it is level, then there could be issues with flooding if there are watercourses nearby. Or if it is at the base of a slope, other blocks could drain onto it. Flood-prone areas may be difficult to insure or even get finance for. Blocks that are covered in trees may seem romantic, but they could cause a fire hazard and the council may not allow them to be removed.

Buying land can be a great way to start off getting your own home or investing in real estate. The cost of a vacant block of land is much less than one with a home already on it. However, most councils have time limits for building a home. Often the home must be completed within two year of purchase. So all these things should be taken into consideration before buying land.

Mel writes about land Werribee, land release and other home-related topics.