Buying Land in Florida

If you would like to buy some land to own a beautiful view you are not alone, but before you sign on the line, I urge you to look under the hood. That's right; after all, before you buy a car, don't you lift the hood and take a gander at what powers you? I think we all do. We are all likely to kick a tire or two, to boot. When we take that shiny new ride on the road for the old test drive we can form an opinion and reach a decision to purchase or pass.

The intent of this article is to help guide you gracefully through the maze of purchasing land by employing tried and true techniques that will leave you fit for a happy pat on the back and a job well done on your next land purchase. Truth be told, there is so much more involved when buying land for a home site or as an investment .

Once you know the property has clear title and is a build able lot, you may say; "Wow that went smoothly". Believe me, it isn't over yet. Don't be in a hurry to seal the deal. You need to avoid any possible nightmares. One mistake and it could come back and bite you, and not gently, on the back side. If you are buying land on a tight budget, you must wring out every physical detail of the property you wish to purchase. By doing so, you will have the ability to determine whether you can afford what might be lurking beneath the surface - especially if your budget is thin. This brings us to our first question.

We Fix Water

Have you ever seen one of those signs (we fix water) in your travels? What does that mean?What if you bought a beautiful piece of property and after having your well drilled to a depth of 400 feet, you found out it had sulfur in it? You've got a serious problem. Should the well driller keep drilling or try another spot? Remember, the deeper the well - the more the cost becomes inflated - at a rate that will make you very nervous. Many well drillers build their business on the backs of people's water problems. The system and maintenance to purify water that smells like rotten eggs will be expensive.

This Breaks My Heart

"My well driller can't find water on my new property"! Think it doesn't happen? I've seen it happen several times. If the county will allow a shared well from an adjoining property and if you have a willing neighbor, which is unlikely, (as he probably doesn't know you from Adam) then you'll be in a real pickle.

Bigger Is Better

"The home my architect drew up blueprints for is too big for the property I purchased". Here you have two choices. Either turn the home sideways and hope it fits on the property or settle for a smaller home. Your county or other local jurisdiction requires you meet the setbacks (the minimum distance required from each property line) and in many cases, when dealing with subdivisions, deed restrictions require greater distances than the local government. Find out ahead of time. It just requires a little digging at the records department in the court house. You may even have the ability to access the information online.

The Solution

Before you buy that perfect piece of land for your new home, pick up the phone and contact two local well drillers, give them your parcel identification number to the property you are interested in purchasing, and ask them if they know what the well depths are for the area. Please don't forget to ask them about the water quality they might expect. It only takes a few calls to prevent a nightmare. They may even have a ball park figure for the cost to install the well. Remember they are local and will have the information you seek.

Be diligent in your search and don't be smitten by beauty. Don't be shy, ask questions about the characteristics of your potential homestead. Preemptive research can save you thousands and remember to always look under the hood.