Looking for a decent size lot to build a one story home?

What should I consider when purchasing?
  8 answers
  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Apr 02, 2017

    With a one story home, you shouldn't have too many issues - but make sure that you have all of the info you need re: ordinances, codes, etc. so that you don't make any plans for your home that can't come to fruition. Good luck!

  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Apr 02, 2017

    Make sure that you're familiar with all of the ordinances, codes, etc - you shouldn't have a problem with a one story house, but you never know - this way you don't make any plans for your home that can't come to fruition!

  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Apr 04, 2017

    The distance between the road and the house - as each foot / metre will be costly for trenching your services e.g. power / water / gas - what services are in your area e.g. no point thinking about and ordering gas appliances if you can not get gas to site. Do you want views or a flat section and if so are you in a flood prone area, do you have shading from other properties or similar. Are the boundaries on the purchase documents correct. Are you on a shared drive way (which can be painful if you do not get on with the current and future residents and expensive as you will be responsible for the maintenance of the driveway). The Rates / Council yearly costs. Any rules and regulations from your local council on all aspects of building e.g. are you allowed fences in the front, how close can you build to the boundary, are there other public services running under your property that the council may need to access and may interfere with your building plans. How close are you to public transport, shops, what schools are you zoned for, etc. So it is not just about building the home - which in its self can be very stressful for some people it is the additional costs.

    Always start off with a good lawyer and if you are not building yourself ensure your builder comes recommended by others e.g. ask to visit a few homes they have built and ask to talk to some of their previous clients.

    Stick to your budget and allow at least 20% for unknown costs.

  • Delilah Clouse Delilah Clouse on Apr 04, 2017

    Bernadette's comments are very real, the other thing you should consider is how close you want to be to your neighbors. After all are you buying this property to build on for the long term or short term? And remember neighbors do change, can you live with them? Do you plan to enjoy the out-of-doors, or are you planning on just living inside your house? Owning a home is a long term commitment so take the time to decide how are you going to use your home not only today but in the future. Weigh all the Pros & Cons and make sure you consult with lots of professionals!

  • Mzb21076843 Mzb21076843 on Apr 04, 2017

    how old are you? kids still in school? medical problems/hospitals/doctor?


  • Nnettat Nnettat on Apr 04, 2017

    Consulting lawyers, contractors & professionals is all common sense so I'll skip those suggestions. Many suggesters have brought this up from what sounds like theirs or known experiences.

    There is no set formula for size of lot per square foot of house.

    The question I would ask first is do your have a home design yet? Floor plans and such? This is your starting point IMHO.

    From this, start a couple lists. One list of what you want (your Wish List), including spacing between neighbors, how far from the street, what you would like in landscaping and other outdoor amenities (fountains, spa, pool, fencing, deck, buildings, gardens, etc).

    Then create a check list of many of the items suggested already such as ordinances, and all the other 'technical' items for the area's PUD (Planned Urban Development). Some have limits on the width of lots, neighbor spacing, distance from street, etc. And some even have technicals of mandatory garages and how many vehicles can be allowed to be parked on the street thus garage size. (I call these 'Prissy' Urban Developments.) Some even have what style house you can built in your area. Or how wide your house (doesn't matter the width of your lot) can be. (This one is not a bad one because it eliminates the new neighbors across the street moving in a trailer for their home. All you put into your home can be lost, and having to look at it everyday.)

    And then compare your PUD list to your wish list. Any adjustments to your Wish List? If your lot is not is a PUD area, oh Honey go for it!

    Get what you can afford and make it what you want. The only size suggestion/question is how much property do you want to, or can, take care of and maintain.

    If I was not in a PUD area and could afford it, I would get 4 times the size of my home to be built. You don't have to landscape it all. Leave some natural for 'expansion' down the road... Say like you want to move the man cave to a separate building out in the woods.

    Oh, one last thing. If you have the freedom of choice for width of property, have one side at least about the width of one and one-half garage stalls from the house. A friend wanted her dream greenhouse and garden shed now that they had the space. She ordered it fully assembled and delivered. But they forgot to leave room in the fencing for the delivery. Though they had the space on the side of their house for the delivery, the newly installed fencing had to be dig up to get them into the back yard. She insisted that the fencing was replaced with wide gates which could be opened as needed. (And there was peace again in her home. LOL.)

    Though I get long winded, I hope you made it through all this and it helps.

  • Susan Susan on Aug 06, 2020

    I need plans for one story modern

  • Mogie Mogie on Aug 06, 2020

    Depends on what you want.

    I can't stand tiny postage sized lots.

    We have acre. Room to expand the home, garden, have fruit trees, room for pets to run, outside activities, etc.

    Found the most important thing for me was a fence surrounding the entire property and an automated locking gate. But we live in a VERY bad area so motion sensing lights are a must.

    I prefer single story homes because I saw how my 86 year old dad struggled with the 3 stairs that led to his front door. Before he passed away he took several tumbles down those stairs.