It is designated for single-family homes and multi-family dwellings such as duplexes. It is typically located within city limits or suburban areas, often requiring access to utilities like water, sewerage systems, electricity, and gas lines. Residential lots vary in size based on location and zoning regulations.
Located within city limits or suburban areas and may require installation access to utilities like water, sewerage systems, electricity, and gas lines. Residential lots can vary greatly in size depending on location and zoning regulations.
Some properties may require the installation of a well and septic system. Others may be able to access the city utilities and will require tap fees.
You may also need soils testing for building as well as your well and septic installation. Soil types, slope of the building site, and other factors may require additional design considerations. A soils engineer will be able to weigh in on a possible septic design, drainage issues, possible foundation design, and the potential for additional site remediation. Colorado is known for its expansive soils so a consultation with a qualified soils engineer to determine the feasibility of building on a parcel, especially on the location of the site where you wish to build your home is highly recommended.
Not all lenders can loan for land purchases, I can help connect with a land lender that specializes in the purchase as well as can assist with a construction loan for building the home at a later date. Land loans are specifically designed for purchasing undeveloped property and typically have higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms than traditional mortgages.
Key zoning considerations in Colorado include allowable land use, minimum lot size, building height restrictions, setback requirements, and environmental protection provisions.
The sub-division can also have its own set of rules (ACC - Architectural Control Committee) or (CCR - Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) which can restrict the types of buildings, usage, or have specific requirements for building such as square footage, style, roof material, etc.
Colorado has a wide variety of agricultural land for purchase. One common use for agricultural land is to grow crops or raise livestock for sale or personal consumption. This can include traditional crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans and specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Some buyers may also use agricultural land for grazing livestock, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and alpacas.
Usually, there are additional zoning laws regarding the amount of animals, how much you can water the land, etc.
You may also need a survey (also called an ILC - Improvement Location Certificate or a Boundaries Survey)
A survey may turn up issues that are once again not visible to the naked eye. A few of these issues are as follows: Encroachments. A seemingly small thing like a neighbor’s fence unknowingly crossing a property line can become a big problem down the road.
Property boundaries. A parcel must be properly surveyed with all corners marked to be certain of the exact boundaries. This is especially true for irregularly shaped mountain properties which may not use the customary ‘lot and block’ descriptions in a recorded plat.
A survey will uncover any known easements on the property (nonpossessory property rights) that may not be obvious to the buyer. For example, a survey might uncover that the electric company has an easement on the parcel allowing access to their electric infrastructure which could eliminate your ability to build on a section of the land.
Need a big picture to weigh the cost of building from scratch. You might think that buying the perfect piece of land and then building to your specifications may be the only route where you will get what you want but don’t forget the hidden or overlooked costs. Be sure to add in such ‘hidden’ costs as wells and septics, gas or propane, electricity, internet, fences, driveways, landscaping, etc.
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