Purchasing a Homesite Many issues to consider when selecting a homesite have little to do with the land and everything to do with lifestyle. Some important issues include school districts, property taxes and proximity to work. One distinction between homesites is subdivision lots versus single parcels of land. Single-site homesites usually offer larger tracts of land, more privacy and the opportunity to express individuality in the home's exterior, without having to submit plans for community approval. After considering all of these items, it's time to evaluate the homesite's physical characteristics.
Problems crop up in unusual places.
For instance, your homesite may have a beautiful, natural appearance now, but when cleared for construction, the top six inches of soil will be gone. This means that the grass, natural shrubbery and small trees will be removed from the construction area, and may leave you with land that looks very different. Heavily treed homesites are appealing to many people, but can present additional construction costs. In order to build, crews need to remove all the trees within seven feet of the house, as well as the trees in the areas of the driveway, sidewalks, septic tanks and drainfield. Many regions also require permits to remove trees.