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Choosing a lot is one of the most important things you will do when it comes to building your own custom dream home. The wrong lot could lead to disastrous situations, wasted time, and money. Fortunately, if you’re considering building in Central Texas, it's unlikely that you’ll be burdened with a wrong choice. So when there is Central Texas land for sale, scoop it up!
This area is one of the most beautiful in the US. It is known for its scenic landscapes, picturesque rolling hills, and unique cultural heritage. It is home to places like San Antonio and Austin and vibrant, welcoming communities. However, it's always better to be safe than sorry, so it's a good idea to learn how to choose a lot in Texas.
In this blog, our team at J. Brant Boyd shares our experiences in the lot purchasing space to help you determine how to select land in Central Texas. Armed with our insights, you likely won’t regret moving to this region. To take it a step further, we’ve even detailed the average cost of acreage in central Texas and the best places to buy land in central Texas, so let’s dive in!
How to Choose a Lot in Central Texas? The Considerations
It's not difficult to envision living in central Texas when considering all it has to offer, but choosing a lot in this area can feel like navigating uncharted territory. Since we don’t want you to feel overwhelmed and begin to look elsewhere, our buying a lot in Texas guide – Central Texas, to be exact – found below should be helpful and answer your many questions.
Location
When it comes to Central Texas land-buying tips, the biggest one we can give is to ensure that you are happy with the location of your lot. Central Texas is a large region with diverse landscapes, from urban environments in San Antonio and Austin to serene and scenic places in the Hill Country. So you don't want to buy a lot in the country if you want to be closer to the cities and vice versa.
You also need to consider the placement and size of the lot and how this will affect the custom home you want to build. At J. Bryant Boyd, we cannot stress enough how important it is to speak with your design-build company about how best to position the floorplan of your house so that you maximize the beautiful views of the surrounding area.
With the right positioning, you can enjoy views of valleys, streams, and long views of the urban landscape, depending on your lot.
Amenities
Another consideration regarding location is paying attention to what your lot has around it. For example, is it near schools, hospitals, shopping centers, churches, and recreational activities? If not, is it a far distance to reach any of these facilities, and would you mind the drive every time? Often many people will be sucked in by the beautiful views from their lot and not consider the long-term repercussions of choosing a site that is a little more remote.
Additionally, consider the qualities of the facilities and amenities near your lot. Is the local school district popular for the right reasons, and will you have a long commute to work that could strain your finances? Moreover, is the lot close to commercial properties that might cause you to feel uncomfortable living in your home?
Site Prep Requirements
Before buying a lot in Central Texas, it's best to have it surveyed to determine the topography, drainage, grading, and soil stability. These are important factors that can influence the construction process and costs.
Land with riskier topography, such as rocky hills or varied terrain, is harder to build on and will likely involve a longer construction process, so you must keep this in mind. This is because more extensive excavation and leveling will need to take place to prepare the site for building. Additionally, some parts of central Texas are prone to flooding, so it's crucial to determine if this is the case before you buy a lot to see if you can afford to take special precautions with the home you build so that it remains unaffected.
If you don't choose to work with a design-build company with an entire in-house team, it's recommended that you employ a geotechnical engineer and an architect early on. They can provide valuable insights and help you anticipate future challenges and solve problems you may face. You should also check if there are pre-construction service companies who can help you with your lot in the local area or if it will cost you a fortune to bring teams in from nearby towns and cities.
Available Utilities
No matter which lot you’re considering in central Texas, you need to determine the availability of utilities and how accessible they are. For example, is your lot near power lines, water, gas, sewage, and internet systems? If not, how difficult would it be to get access, and how much would this cost you?
Often, if a lot is far from utilities, it can cost a pretty penny to get a custom home connected to the essential utilities you need to live and thrive in central Texas. You might even need to look into private systems like satellite internet that isn’t connected through wiring, septic tanks for waste management, and alternative energy sources like solar paneling.
Another consideration is the reliability of these utilities and the service providers in the area. Will you have problems with access in the future, and will you likely receive poor service? These things can affect your day-to-day living expenses and living experience, and unfortunately, even the prettiest view sometimes isn’t worth the hassle and huge costs involved.
Zoning and Future Developments
Did you know that zoning regulations dictate land use and development, and not adhering to them could lead to legal repercussions? Before buying a lot, it's vital for you to check local zoning laws to make sure your plans are allowed.
Zoning classifications include residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial, each with specific rules. Sometimes, your dreams for a home can be cut short if you’re in a zoned area that doesn’t allow the things you want to do with your property.
Fortunately, if you work with a design-build company like J. Brant Boyd, they can help you learn the zoning laws for the lot you want to buy in central Texas. If the zoning regulations don’t coincide with your custom home-build dreams, we can help you find somewhere that better suits your living needs.
You also need to look into future development plans in the area. Fortunately, local government offices can provide this information. Future projects can affect property values, traffic, noise, and desirability down the line. For example, a new highway could increase the value of your home, or an industrial project could reduce residential appeal, making it harder for you to sell should you ever choose to do so.
How Does the Cost of Land Vary Across Different Areas in Central Texas?
It might be difficult to believe, but the cost of land in central Texas can vary significantly based on lot size, where you plan to buy its desirability, and its location to amenities, facilities, and important infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and shopping centers.So naturally, lots near residential and commercial development, highways, amenities, economic opportunities – jobs –, and various recreational and basic amenities will cost more than rural lots. Usually, budget buyers are better off looking in central Texas’s hill country at smaller towns where land is affordable but amenities scarce.
Of course, this doesn’t always work for everyone, so you must weigh your options carefully. So, if you’re torn between a more urbanized central Texas lot or a rural lot in Hill Country, why not try for a happy medium in an area that is seeing rapid growth and development where land prices are still fair? Still not sure, let's analyze the pricing averages to help you learn how much to budget for Texas land:
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Rural land prices in central Texas often average around $3725 per acre.
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Surprisingly, small tracts of up to 200 acres seem to cost more, with prices of approximately $6,471 per acre in rural areas.
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In desirable areas closer to cities and urban developments, the land is considerably higher, with an acre costing between $10,000 and $50,000 depending on its proximity to development potential and amenities.
These are generalized estimates, so it's best to speak with a property design-build company or do your own research to gauge pricing when you’re ready to build on your lot.
Speak With J Bryant Boyd To Choose A Lot In Central Texas And Start Building
Choosing a lot in central Texas can be exhausting and stressful. Fortunately, our guide will help you learn how to buy land in Texas and the considerations you need to keep in mind when evaluating potential lots.
However, should you need assistance choosing a lot or have bought one and would like to begin construction on your dream home, consider us at J. Bryant Boyd. Our design-build company has years of experience developing lots in central Texas to produce custom homes that clients are proud to own. You can contact us here for more information on new housing developments in central TX and how we can help.
