Buying Land - Basic Considerations
BUYING LAND
December 20th, 2008
When you are thinking about purchasing land in California, especially if it has no improvements, there are five basic considerations or factors that you should research before making any commitments. Each of these factors….or lack of….will greatly influence the desirability and value of the land. Making sure that you have carefully considered and investigated each will save you a lot of headaches.
These basic considerations or factors include:
Zoning, Access, Power, Water & Sewage Disposal
ZONING: “What do you intend to do with the land”? A simple but very important question! Whether it is for building your dream home, multiple homes, a ranch, commercial building, subdividing or whatever……you should make sure the local zoning laws will permit or allow you to do what you want to do. A personal visit to the local governmental planning department will provide you all the information.
ACCESS: “Do you have a legal right to drive to the property?” Some properties, unfortunately, are land-locked and the only way to access them is by helicopter. Unless you have your own helicopter, this can be very inconvenient. You want to be assured that there is legal ingress and egress to the property. Although often a road may not physically exist….you do want to make sure you have a legal easement on which to place a road. Other times, a road may exist….and you will not have a legal right to use it. A visit to your local governmental planning department will provide this information.
POWER: “Is there electrical power to the property?” Do not assume that if there is a power line adjacent to or crossing the property….that you can legally use or tie into it. Check with the local electric provider as to the requirements and costs. If the power is some distance away….they can provide you information as to the options and costs of bringing power to your property. If public power is not feasible or desired….be sure to research the use of alternative sources…..such as solar, wind, generators, hydro and such.
WATER: Naturally, having a source of drinking water on your property is nice! Determine whether there is a nearby public or community water system that you can connect to OR whether you will have to find drinking water from another source such as a well, spring, creek, etc. If it is a public water system…..research the costs of hooking into it. If you believe a well is a choice, you want to know how feasible it is. Drilling a well can be expensive and sometimes you may not hit water……so you want to minimize the risk. Check with the neighbors……ask them how good their wells are (depth, production rate and quality). Another good source of information is to talk to a local well driller who has experience in the area. They can generally tell you how good the wells are in the area; if there might be any problems and the cost of drilling. If the source of water may be a spring or creek or any other surface type water….take a sample of the water and have it tested at a water lab. In addition…..make sure you have a legal right to use the surface water!
SEWAGE DISPOSAL: Your research should determine whether you have a public sewer system available OR if you will need to put in your own system….such as a septic tank and leach field. Again…if it is a public system….check with the local governmental agency to find out the costs of connecting to it. If a septic system is in order, you want to make sure the soil is suitable for a system and the costs of installing one. Again, a visit with neighbors may give you some information. Check with a local septic contractor who has experience in the area. Also, in some cases you may want to spend the money to have a soils engineer visit and research the site. NOTE: Regarding septics…..California law will become more strict in the near future.
Naturally there are numerous things to check out when buying land in California. However, having informative information on these five basic components will privide you a good basis on which to make a decision for purchasing land.
Having sold land for over 24 years, I have seen numerous problems associated with each of these basic components. In further blogs, I will discuss each of these in depth.
Please visit my websites for information on land, ranches and special properties for sale.
California Mountain Properties Western Outdoor Lifestyles
Al
Sphere: Related ContentShasta Living…..It’s a lifestyle
RECREATION
December 13th, 2008
Have you ever had the opportunity to go snow skiing and water skiing on the same day? Have you ever gone snowmobiling and river rafting in the same afternoon? Redding is very fortunate to lie in the heart of
of the nation’s finest year-around recreational environments.
When it comes to great outdoor recreation…..we have some of the best!! Within a 75 mile radius of the city of Redding, in northern California’s scenic Shasta County, you can find a wide array of outdoor recreational opportunities and adventures. We have national and state parks; national forests and recreation areas; numerous lakes, rivers and creeks. You can go hiking and camping in thousands of acres of prestine designated wilderness areas.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES that can be enjoyed include water skiing; wakeboarding; house boating; sailing; mountaineering; camping; river rafting; mountain biking and golf.
WINTER ACTIVITIES include downhill and cross-country skiing; snowboarding; snowshoeing; ice fishing and sledding.
FALL & SPRING ACTIVITIES include a wide variety of hunting and fishing. Some of the nation’s best salmon and steelhead fishing can be found in the Sacramento River in downtown Redding!
If you have never been to this area, plan a visit and spend a few days exploring. You will be impressed!!
For information regarding ranches, land and resort properties….please visit my web sites:
California Mountain Properties Western Outdoor Lifestyles
Al
Ranch & Land Division
Sphere: Related Content
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