In many cases, one can save some money and have a lot of input into the home they will have by buying a nice piece of land and building a new home on it. However, to determine if this is the right choice for you, carefully consider all the costs and obstacles that may be in place.
Zoning is an important issue. Be sure the are you want to buy in is zoned for the kind of building you want to do. If it is a home you want to build, obviously you are looking for residential zoning. Some areas that look like they are full of residences can be zoned for only recreational use. This means the homes there cannot be lived in full time. There may be a limit to the number homes and outbuildings on a property. If you want a larger property and plan on building a second home or a suite to use as a mortgage helper or to house your inlaws, be sure the area allows for this. Again, if you want animals, check the zoning.
Also, find out where municipal water and sewer lines are. If they are conveniently right at the lot line, then great. If it is a rural area and you need to drill a well, this is a whole new expense and you will need to be prepared well in advance. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries before a successful well is drilled, and the costs can add-up fast. If you need a septic system, you will need to determine where on the land it will go. A perq test will determine where a septic system can safely be put in so that it doesn't contaminate the ground water. If will need both a septic system and a well, you won't even be able to determine where you can build your house until the locations of these two necessities are established. If the land you have in mind is rocky or very sloped, this can further complicate things.
Finally, consider what builders you will be using. Will you do some of the work yourself, or hire a builder to take care of it? Will that builder be responsible for bringing in the plumber, electrician and other trades as they are needed? When will the project be completed, and if it is behind schedule, what then? These are all questions you need to make sure you address before committing to anything.
None of this is an attempt to scare you away from building your own home. This can be an extremely rewarding experience, and people do it all the time. It is best, though, to be aware of all the possible expenses so you can be prepared for what you are getting into. In many cases, it will be the best choice to build a new home. In other cases, buying an existing home and doing a few custom renovations might end up being far simpler in the long-run. Whatever you choose, have fun, and do your research.
Joshua Sloan, your experienced Realtor for San Diego homes. Visit his website to view the San Diego MLS listings.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Sloan
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
4 Reasons Why It Is A Good Time To Build Your Own Custom Designed Dream Home Now
Waiting to see what the economy is going to do is one way to waste your time. Another way to spend your time, though, is to take advantage of the situations around you and build your own custom home. Many things right now make it an excellent time and opportunity to enable you to be in your dream home before long.
1. Home Loans Have Great Interest Rates
By now, most everyone is aware of the fluctuations of the housing market. Those fluctuations, however, have actually brought about an excellent opportunity to get about as low of an interest rate as is possible. Not only that, but lenders are looking for people with good credit to extend a loan to. Even better may be the fact that the government is cracking down on loan companies that are less than honest. This could help you get a better deal. Altogether, it means you could get a really great financial package to start building after you select your custom house plans.
2. Many Custom Home Designs Are Available
Your custom made dream house does not need to follow the more traditional designs of everyone else's house. There are many different styles of homes that you can choose from, and many of them are much lower in cost than your traditional styles.
Custom home designs could include the straw bale home, the earthen home, barn conversions, cordwood, stone, and others, too. You certainly have the freedom to choose a unique style to match your own tastes if you want. You can also put into your home any special features you want, as well.
3. Building Material Costs Are Not Getting Cheaper
Building your own dream home now gives you a better opportunity to get the lower prices. While no one knows what will happen, things are rather looking like prices are not going down anytime soon. It will not be long before gasoline prices will drive building materials prices sky high.
Some custom homes may actually be far less expensive than you might think. One of these is the straw bale home. This design could enable you to save up to 75% of a traditional home and it will last much longer than one, too. This style can give you lower heating and AC costs, as well as lower maintenance costs, too, saving you money for years to come and keeping its value up, too.
4. Construction Crews Are Ready
Let's face it, there is not a lot of new home construction going on right now. This means that it should not be hard to get a good contractor to build your home. You could probably even get it built rather quickly because homebuilders are looking for new design homes to build. Even better for you, though, is that they will not be rushed to complete your job so they can go to the next house as quickly as possible.
Contractors will be glad to see you coming - and you may even get a better deal on your new custom design dream home than you thought possible. All you need to do now to get started on your dream home plans is to talk to a designer.
By Tim Davis. You are invited to learn more from an experienced home draftsman of over 19 years who has drawn many hundreds of custom home plans for satisfied clients. Visit his Web site at Custom House Plans and learn more about how he can design your unique dream home for you.
http://customhouseplans.8m.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_J._Davis
1. Home Loans Have Great Interest Rates
By now, most everyone is aware of the fluctuations of the housing market. Those fluctuations, however, have actually brought about an excellent opportunity to get about as low of an interest rate as is possible. Not only that, but lenders are looking for people with good credit to extend a loan to. Even better may be the fact that the government is cracking down on loan companies that are less than honest. This could help you get a better deal. Altogether, it means you could get a really great financial package to start building after you select your custom house plans.
2. Many Custom Home Designs Are Available
Your custom made dream house does not need to follow the more traditional designs of everyone else's house. There are many different styles of homes that you can choose from, and many of them are much lower in cost than your traditional styles.
Custom home designs could include the straw bale home, the earthen home, barn conversions, cordwood, stone, and others, too. You certainly have the freedom to choose a unique style to match your own tastes if you want. You can also put into your home any special features you want, as well.
3. Building Material Costs Are Not Getting Cheaper
Building your own dream home now gives you a better opportunity to get the lower prices. While no one knows what will happen, things are rather looking like prices are not going down anytime soon. It will not be long before gasoline prices will drive building materials prices sky high.
Some custom homes may actually be far less expensive than you might think. One of these is the straw bale home. This design could enable you to save up to 75% of a traditional home and it will last much longer than one, too. This style can give you lower heating and AC costs, as well as lower maintenance costs, too, saving you money for years to come and keeping its value up, too.
4. Construction Crews Are Ready
Let's face it, there is not a lot of new home construction going on right now. This means that it should not be hard to get a good contractor to build your home. You could probably even get it built rather quickly because homebuilders are looking for new design homes to build. Even better for you, though, is that they will not be rushed to complete your job so they can go to the next house as quickly as possible.
Contractors will be glad to see you coming - and you may even get a better deal on your new custom design dream home than you thought possible. All you need to do now to get started on your dream home plans is to talk to a designer.
By Tim Davis. You are invited to learn more from an experienced home draftsman of over 19 years who has drawn many hundreds of custom home plans for satisfied clients. Visit his Web site at Custom House Plans and learn more about how he can design your unique dream home for you.
http://customhouseplans.8m.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_J._Davis
Common Sense Guidelines for Selecting Building Contractors
Good building contractors are worth their weight in gold for both homeowners and real estate investors! They'll do the necessary work for you at a fair price and make your property look great, thus increasing its value! Moreover, if you're an investor and you establish long-term relationships with reliable contractors, you may well receive a discount on their services, saving money in the long run.
Bad contractors, on the other hand, can cost you dearly, not only in terms of money but (for investors) in terms of reputation as well. Scam artists like to prey on homeowners, in particular. They use shoddy materials, find endless ways to charge money, leave jobs unfinished and on and on.
Obviously, whether you're a homeowner or a real estate investor, you want to avoid bad contractors at all costs. So, here are some common-sense guidelines to help you choose quality individuals or companies.
Guideline 1: Make sure the contractors are licensed, bonded and insured by the state. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau.
Guideline 2: Ask for at least three references, then contact those references and ask for their opinion of the work done by the contractor. Also, ask if you can view the results.
Guideline 3: Ask around! If you're an investor, check with other investors about contractors. If you're a home owner, check with neighbors and ask to see the work done by contractors on their homes.
Guideline 4: Ask for bids or proposals from contractors and evaluate them carefully. Price is a consideration, of course, but it shouldn't be the sole criteria in accepting a bid. You want quality work delivered at a fair price.
Contractors to Avoid
Con artists are endlessly inventive at scamming people out of their money. Nevertheless, here are some common contractor scams to be aware of. (Most scams are aimed at homeowners, but investors also need to be alert to other, more sophisticated scams.)
Scam Tactic #1: The contractor explains a low price by stating the material is left over from another job. He or she begins the work and everything looks good. But then, he says he requires additional money to buy more materials. Once you provide the money, he disappears, and you're left with an unfinished job on your hands and empty pockets.
Scam Tactic #2: The contractor asks for all the money upfront. Once he has it, he disappears. You can avoid this scam by paying the contractor only for each step as it's completed.
Scam Tactic #3: The contractor quotes you a low price for construction or repair and then uses substandard materials to get the job done. Use a local building inspector's services to prevent or identify this kind of fraud.
Scam Tactic #4: The contractor charges you a fee to do a job inspection and the writing up of an estimate. He tells you the fee will apply to the cost of the work. Once you pay the fee, he never comes back. Reputable contractors don't charge for inspections or estimates.
Scam Tactic #5: The contractor "low balls" you. That is, he quotes a very low price for the work, does it, and then hits you with a bill far beyond the original quote. If you protest, he becomes belligerent and claims you didn't read the contract right and often bullies you with the threat of legal action. So, to prevent this fraud, get a contract in writing before work begins and make sure it clearly spells out the works to be done; e.g. specific steps and costs, timelines, dates, etc.
Key Point: Use common sense when selecting contractors. Follow the old adage-if the proposal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
Jack Sternberg is a nationally recognized expert on real estate investment who's been in the business for more than 30 years. Sternberg's deals have totaled over $750 million and he's been to the closing table more than 1,500 times. For more, visit http://www.askjacksternberg.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Sternberg
Bad contractors, on the other hand, can cost you dearly, not only in terms of money but (for investors) in terms of reputation as well. Scam artists like to prey on homeowners, in particular. They use shoddy materials, find endless ways to charge money, leave jobs unfinished and on and on.
Obviously, whether you're a homeowner or a real estate investor, you want to avoid bad contractors at all costs. So, here are some common-sense guidelines to help you choose quality individuals or companies.
Guideline 1: Make sure the contractors are licensed, bonded and insured by the state. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau.
Guideline 2: Ask for at least three references, then contact those references and ask for their opinion of the work done by the contractor. Also, ask if you can view the results.
Guideline 3: Ask around! If you're an investor, check with other investors about contractors. If you're a home owner, check with neighbors and ask to see the work done by contractors on their homes.
Guideline 4: Ask for bids or proposals from contractors and evaluate them carefully. Price is a consideration, of course, but it shouldn't be the sole criteria in accepting a bid. You want quality work delivered at a fair price.
Contractors to Avoid
Con artists are endlessly inventive at scamming people out of their money. Nevertheless, here are some common contractor scams to be aware of. (Most scams are aimed at homeowners, but investors also need to be alert to other, more sophisticated scams.)
Scam Tactic #1: The contractor explains a low price by stating the material is left over from another job. He or she begins the work and everything looks good. But then, he says he requires additional money to buy more materials. Once you provide the money, he disappears, and you're left with an unfinished job on your hands and empty pockets.
Scam Tactic #2: The contractor asks for all the money upfront. Once he has it, he disappears. You can avoid this scam by paying the contractor only for each step as it's completed.
Scam Tactic #3: The contractor quotes you a low price for construction or repair and then uses substandard materials to get the job done. Use a local building inspector's services to prevent or identify this kind of fraud.
Scam Tactic #4: The contractor charges you a fee to do a job inspection and the writing up of an estimate. He tells you the fee will apply to the cost of the work. Once you pay the fee, he never comes back. Reputable contractors don't charge for inspections or estimates.
Scam Tactic #5: The contractor "low balls" you. That is, he quotes a very low price for the work, does it, and then hits you with a bill far beyond the original quote. If you protest, he becomes belligerent and claims you didn't read the contract right and often bullies you with the threat of legal action. So, to prevent this fraud, get a contract in writing before work begins and make sure it clearly spells out the works to be done; e.g. specific steps and costs, timelines, dates, etc.
Key Point: Use common sense when selecting contractors. Follow the old adage-if the proposal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
Jack Sternberg is a nationally recognized expert on real estate investment who's been in the business for more than 30 years. Sternberg's deals have totaled over $750 million and he's been to the closing table more than 1,500 times. For more, visit http://www.askjacksternberg.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Sternberg
How To Get A Building Permit - Property Identity & Questions To Ask
The lot you own isn't just a piece of dirt on the outskirts of your hometown. It will be identified in a number of different ways depending on who wants to know. But, before you can apply for a building permit you must know how your local government identifies it. If it is a bare piece of land, (outside of a developed subdivision) it most likely will not have a situs address yet.
The identity used most by government agencies is an identifying number referred to as the Tax ID Number or the Assessor's Parcel Number (APN). You will find the APN on your deed or on your tax bill from the local Tax Collector. It is a fairly long number and my look something like this: 123-456-789. The first set of numbers is the "book" number. The second set of numbers is the "page" number, and the last set is the "parcel" number. (There may be some additional number tagged onto the end and these are used by the tax collector).
FYI: These numbers correspond to the exact location in the local Recorder's office where the original map is on file showing your property when the parcel was created.
You will give this number to the building permit technician when you call or visit the building department. The questions that must be asked (not necessarily in this order) before you start your construction project are:
1. What is my property zoned? The answer to this question will tell you if you can build a single family dwelling on the property.
2. Is my property in a 100-year flood-zone? The answer to this question will determine if you must meet the local floodplain requirements. Information on flood-zones can be found http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/mscjumppage.shtm
3. What are the setback requirements?
4. Are there any street/road improvements required?
5. Do I need a septic system or domestic well, or are there public utilities available?
6. Are there any known soil conditions on or near my property that I should be aware of?
7. What is the seismic zone and wind-speed where my property located?
8. What climate zone is my property located?
9. Can you give me an estimate of the total fees that are due before I will be issued a building permit?
10. Are there any local amendments to the State Building Code that will affect my project? Be sure to get copies of these amendments. If the jurisdiction has not filed the amendments with the California State Building Standards Commission, they are not enforceable. But depending on what they are, this might not be worth fighting against.
Kathy Thomas resides in California and is a professional note broker and a retired building official. She operates moneyformortgagenotes.com, a blog all about buying, selling and owning privately held mortgage notes. Check out her website and her blog for great information on this industry. Kathy also offers a free membership to her newsletter offering information, tips and ideas...all for FREE.
Find more information at http://www.moneyformortgagenotes.com and http://www.anoteconnection.com, http://www.squidoo.com/buildingpermit
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_J_Thomas
The identity used most by government agencies is an identifying number referred to as the Tax ID Number or the Assessor's Parcel Number (APN). You will find the APN on your deed or on your tax bill from the local Tax Collector. It is a fairly long number and my look something like this: 123-456-789. The first set of numbers is the "book" number. The second set of numbers is the "page" number, and the last set is the "parcel" number. (There may be some additional number tagged onto the end and these are used by the tax collector).
FYI: These numbers correspond to the exact location in the local Recorder's office where the original map is on file showing your property when the parcel was created.
You will give this number to the building permit technician when you call or visit the building department. The questions that must be asked (not necessarily in this order) before you start your construction project are:
1. What is my property zoned? The answer to this question will tell you if you can build a single family dwelling on the property.
2. Is my property in a 100-year flood-zone? The answer to this question will determine if you must meet the local floodplain requirements. Information on flood-zones can be found http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/mscjumppage.shtm
3. What are the setback requirements?
4. Are there any street/road improvements required?
5. Do I need a septic system or domestic well, or are there public utilities available?
6. Are there any known soil conditions on or near my property that I should be aware of?
7. What is the seismic zone and wind-speed where my property located?
8. What climate zone is my property located?
9. Can you give me an estimate of the total fees that are due before I will be issued a building permit?
10. Are there any local amendments to the State Building Code that will affect my project? Be sure to get copies of these amendments. If the jurisdiction has not filed the amendments with the California State Building Standards Commission, they are not enforceable. But depending on what they are, this might not be worth fighting against.
Kathy Thomas resides in California and is a professional note broker and a retired building official. She operates moneyformortgagenotes.com, a blog all about buying, selling and owning privately held mortgage notes. Check out her website and her blog for great information on this industry. Kathy also offers a free membership to her newsletter offering information, tips and ideas...all for FREE.
Find more information at http://www.moneyformortgagenotes.com and http://www.anoteconnection.com, http://www.squidoo.com/buildingpermit
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_J_Thomas
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