When you look to build a custom home, one of the first questions you have to ask is where it will be? Depending on your needs, it could be a standalone lot. However, if you choose a neighborhood, then you’ll have a lot of work to do. Don’t be afraid to become a detective. This will be the location of your home. It’s worth the time. While it can take months to find the right location, we’re going to talk about a few things that can help you choose a neighborhood in less time and with more success.
Think About Your Future
First, take a look at your future. What does your family look like in five, ten, or twenty years? Thinking about this will help you pick the perfect location for your custom home. For example, you might love a hillside home, but do you want to have to worry about stairs while raising children or growing older? The best thing to do is to make a list of things you’ll need now and things you’ll need in the future.
Verify Local Information
While it’s one thing to be told that the crime rate is low, you should still make sure. Check online records and look at the news. It’s not just the crime rate you need to worry about. What does the city have planned for the next 15 years? Will your neighborhood end up on the side of a freeway or bypass? Also, check the history of the land. Though a floodplain might be flat, you would rather not live there when the 100-year flood shows up.
Determine Your Commute
The perfect home means being with family. However, if you are driving four hours each day, then no matter how perfect the plot of land, think about if you want to do that. With each parcel of land, you look at, think hard about your commute. How long will you have to drive in the morning and at night? Will you be able to visit anything fun on the weekends? Where are the basics like food and shopping? If these things are far away, think about how that will affect you.
Look at Housing Rules
If you want to build in a real neighborhood, then you need to take a very close look at the rules for the community. Your local HOA or homeowners association could control everything from how much you water your lawn to how you refinish your home. Besides their current rules, look at their history of changing them. Many new homeowners are looking to avoid HOA neighborhoods because of the restrictions and limitations it puts on the home. However, HOA areas often have perks as well, so weigh your options carefully.
Picking the location of your custom home doesn’t have to take years. With a few things in mind, you can quickly pair down the options and start with your custom home build faster.
