Have you ever dreamed of living a life outside of the hustle and bustle of suburban or city life, then building on acreage may be something you’ve considered. If so, you’re in good company. As cities get bigger and busier many people are seeking out a little piece of their own land to settle on.
If your goal is to build a house on a plot of land, you’ve probably wondered: “how much to build a house on my land?” It depends on which county your land is in and the condition of the property. Many people overlook the “other” costs to build a new home on acreage and only look at the cost of the house when crunching numbers. Here are some other things to consider.
Preparing the land
Surveying the land is a must so you can position the home and apply for permits. Surveys can range from as little as $750 to $2,000 on average. Of course, this depends on the property size.
Cost to clear the land for your home. Those trees are great to look at but remember you need to clear them to build and have proper space around your new home. The cost to clear an acre of land can range from $250 to $5,000. Remember, you also need access for a driveway.
Soil tests. Although many people think dirt is dirt and if you don’t see wetland it’s good to go, not necessarily true. To ensure you’re pouring the foundation on good ground as well as septic locations you need a soil test.
Power – Water – Sewer – Gas
Acreage property is different than a city lot in more ways than just the size. Acreage home-sites require septic systems, wells and running power lines from the road. Private septic systems can easily range form $10,000 to $25,000 depending on type. Private wells will range from $4,000 to $10,000 on average depending on depth and access. Although you may see the electrical power box at the road there is usually a cost to bring it to the home and many times acreage sites have longer driveways so keep this in mind. Getting gas to the house from the street can run around $20 a foot. Another less expensive option to install may be Propane.
Other things to consider
Since acreage tends to be more on the outskirts of town don’t forget to account for satellite TV or if the land has access to Cable. The driveway itself can also be another big one. Since driveways are usually longer on acreage vs a city lot you can easily spend between $5,000 and $15,000 on a driveway depending on length and type of hard surface.
Building a new home on your own land can be an awesome experience and provide some breathtaking sunsets on your quiet front porch, just don’t forget to calculate all the costs before jumping in.
We have years of experience building and helping buyers find the perfect acreage property. Feel free to reach out to our team below.
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