If you’re considering building a custom home in Asheville or Hendersonville, you’ll need the right parcel of land before getting started on building your dream home with Brock Builders.

Here are some things to consider before making that major investment. Our beautiful mountain community provides stunning scenery and peaceful vistas. However, Asheville’s varied mountain topography can create some challenges when searching for your dream home location. And Asheville has a limited inventory of available parcels due to its many protected state forests, national forests, and watersheds. It may take some time and research to find your dream property, but don’t get discouraged as Asheville offers a variety of lots, various sized lots, raw land, planned neighborhoods, and gated subdivisions to choose from.

Let’s consider some points. Try to find a lot within city limits as it will save a lot of money in terms of utilities already being available. However, be aware that more affordable lots might be unconventionally sized and could be steep. Be sure to research any easements that might be on the land, and check with the City of Asheville’s resources for sewer, water, gas, and electricity.

If considering out of town or outside of service areas for larger and more affordable lots, make sure you understand all of the long-term costs that will go into making the land livable, such as providing your own gas, septic system, and water. Additionally, those lots would require applying for septic and well permits before applying for a construction permit. Proceed with caution, and strongly consider having the soil tested to determine how well the lot could handle sewage waste. This is where the costs could become significant. Drilling a well could cost thousands; you might have to cover the cost of trenching for underground cable service to provide electrical service; and a back-up generator is also a pricey investment. A septic system isn’t cheap either, and a propane tank would need to be bought or leased.

And whether you buy land within or outside city limits, you may need to factor in the cost of clearing mountainous terrain to build foundations on steep slopes. They would add the costs of clearing the land of trees, stumps, and soil, building proper driveways for steep mountainous parcels, retaining walls, and the house foundation to the total cost of your investment.

In addition to researching easements, find out about permits, zoning and restrictions, flood zones, and dangerous waste sites for undeveloped land. It’s best to get a copy of the deed from the county Register of Deeds office. Check easements and permit fees. Buncombe County Planning & Development, and Asheville Development Services are helpful resources to contact for your concerns or questions.

Brock Builders will be happy to answer any questions you may have before starting to build your custom home. We have years of experience building custom homes on vacant land parcels. If you have any questions about building your custom dream home, don’t hesitate to call for a free consultation.