• Is the lot large enough to site the house you want as well as the garage, outbuildings, yard, driveway, etc.?


• What are the property's easements and setbacks?


• If the setbacks don't allow you sufficient room for the house you want, how hard will it be to get a variance?


• Is the lot zoned properly for what you want to build?


• Does the lot have covenants that don't work for you?


• Are there any HOA building restrictions attached to the lot?


• What sort of privacy does the lot offer?


• Does the home you want to build fit in with the other homes in the neighborhood?


• What is traffic like in the area?


• Is the lot on a flood plane?


• How good is the soil?


• If you have to cross another property to access your property, is there a legal and recorded easement or right-of-way?


• How is the view?


• What services does the lot have? (septic, power, water, cellular, satellite)


• What are the utility hook up fees for the lot?


• Are the power, cable, and phone utilities above ground, or below?


• What are the local property taxes, and how are they assessed?


• How close is the lot to convenience you regularly use?


• Does the lot have a slope? Does this create any additional sewage costs?


• What does the lot look like after rain? Is there a place water tends to pool?


• Is there a railroad, freeway, highway, truck route, or airport nearby?


• If sewer is not provided, will the lot pass a percolation test and allow a septic system? Is there room for the house and necessary drain field?


• If water is not provided, can the site provide sufficient water to support the residence? Has there been a test well drilled?


• Will the lot owner warrant the lot as buildable?

As you can see, there are plenty of questions to ask and to determine the answer to before you can start building, or even consider buying a lot. The last question is the most important. If the owner says yes that they will warrant the lot as buildable, then you can know that if there is an issue with buildablity that the owner will get the lot back, and you won't be out your money. However, even if the owner says it is buildable, it is your responsibility to verify that information.

You also need to determine if in order to make it buildable (such as get sewer, etc) that the cost won't make it too expensive for you to buy. You want to determine the cost to build on site.so you need to consider everything.this means excavation costs, costs affected by topography, soil conditions, HOA fees, over priced permits, hook-up fees for utilities and services, and environmental factors such as wetlands, streams etc. which can either mean more money or even that the lot is not buildable. If you can avoid these things you can save money.

So using the above questions, and the answers you get from them, you should be able to figure out about what it will cost to build your home on a specific lot, then whether or not that works for you.