Buying Land for Your Log Home

The old adage that the most important three things to consider when buying real estate are location, location, location is just as true, if not more true, for log homes as for other homes.

Many future log home owners spend years looking for just the right piece of property on which to build. Often, the choice of a particular lot comes down to an emotional rationalization based on the fact that it "feels" right. However, there are also practical and legal factors that must be considered before you make your decision.

Assuming you're not looking for property in the city, you'll most likely buy in a rural area, possibly in a development that has already been subdivided, with roads and utilities. In any case, you want to make sure you've given appropriate thought to the factors that can affect your plans and lifestyle in your chosen location.

Some of the questions you'll want answered are:

• Are there national, state, or local regulations on land use, wildlife protection, growth management, or zoning that will affect your plans? Is there any legislation being considered that might affect your land?
• Is there a possibility that land around you will be utilized in the future in a way that will affect you — commercial development, timber logging, mining, power lines, highways, or mobile home park? Are there any controls in place that would protect you from such potential problems?
• Will you always have access rights to your land? Does your access road cross someone else's property? Do you have easy access to roads and highways if you frequently have to travel? How far is the nearest airport? Will your roads and streets be accessible in bad weather? Who is responsible for street and road maintenance?
• Are utilities available at your building site? If not, can the utilities be provided? By whom? At what cost? If you must use a well, can water be found by drilling? What is the quality of that water? If using a septic system, has a percolation test been done? Is telephone service available? Does your cell phone work at the location? Is Internet service available? High speed DSL? Is cable TV available? Or if satellite, does your location allow for a clear unobstructed view of the geo-stationary TV satellites in the sky.
• Will you have relatively easy access to the facilities and services you may need — groceries, drug store, gasoline, police, fire department, restaurants, liquor store, home building supplies, appliance repair, pizza delivery, fast food joints, clothing shops, and banks?
• Will your lot be buildable? Can your log kit be delivered to your site? Is it in a floodplain? Will rocks and obstructions cause excavation problems and extra cost? Is the lot so steep that special measures will be required to build on it? How will rainwater drain across your property? Will creeks and streams create problems placing your septic system? Any danger of flash floods, rock slides, mud slides, or forest fires?

These and other considerations can be found in our Site and Property Planning Checklist.

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