One of the most common mistakes future home builders make when deciding on their lot is making a decision based on the cheapest priced lot available. Believe it or not, finding a bargain that offers more than just a good price is possible. Just remember, lots are in demand and the supply may not be exactly what you were hoping for.

The first step in buying a lot for your new home is deciding on the details. Since you are building your own home, it may be advisable to have your floor plans ready to go before you begin your hunt for the perfect location. Whether you’re using country house plans or trendy modern house plans, this will prevent setbacks based on size and layouts. You also need to think about how big of a lot you would like. Do you want a big yard or a small yard? This is going to depend largely on the amount of maintenance you are willing to do.

If you want a basement, they are more easily built on a sloped lot. You also need to make sure the lot is wide enough for your home. Building codes often require a particular width to build a home on. Location can also depend on proximity to schools, work and other necessities.

If you know what you want in a lot, the next step is finding a place to break ground for your new home. You can check out real estate agents, the internet, newspapers, legal plats in court houses or government offices. In addition, you may also want to buy land from a developer. You can also look for land by checking out foreclosure lists, real estate magazines, ask home builders about land, advertisements for open land, asking friends or by simply driving around and scouting for “lot for sale” signs.

After you have located your land, the work is still not over. You need to consider:

- If your lot is a flood zone. Accessing county records on the internet or asking a real estate agent should yield results.
- If your new home will fit on the property you have selected. Your county will more than likely have a minimum size lot to build particular size houses on.
- Are you going to need a long driveway? If your house is going to be set back further from the street you may need an access road or driveway. Consider the costs.
- Will you have easy access to utilities? Water and sewage are definitely something you have to consider for your lot.
- Consider the costs of other homes in your potential new area. If the cost of the surrounding homes are more than 20% lower than what yours will be, you may want to rethink.
- Before purchasing, obtain a title search of the property. This will ensure that the land is title free and clear.

Finding the best place for your new home is time consuming that can require a lot of researching. Remember, it is important though. You need a great place to put your new home and you don’t want to end up between a rock and a hard place because you failed to do the proper research and planning.