We’ve been in our new home since November 9, 2019 and loving every minute of it!!! We purchased our property in 2014 and there was a lot that needed to be accomplished before Oliver Homes could start building our dream home. The land we purchased was originally raw land. What does that mean? That means the land was a forest and when we walked on to the property I had to use my imagination to be able to see the future.
Now that all the permits have been signed, filed, and approved the building of our home can start. In the contract we agreed to be responsible for picking out all the appliances. I want a farmhouse sink and so the hunt begins. But where do we start?
What do I want in a farmhouse sink?
One thing I do know is that I just love the look of a farmhouse sink. I just did a quick Google search and found out they are sold just about everywhere. Lowes, Wayfair, Overstock, Home Depot and the list goes on and on.
Continue reading “Farmhouse Sink”oYeah! It’s time to pick out interior and exterior colors for our new home. Here we are on Friday, March 29, 2019 at Oliver Homes meeting with Sharon our Color Coordinator at 9:00 am. We were so excited to get here we woke up early, got ready, and hung out at Dunkin Donuts down the street lol!!!
What did I learn today?
Part of finding Our Thirty Acres had to do with location. It was important to have a homestead where there would be places to experience and enjoy close by and would not cost much. It is our hopes this page will inspire you to get out from your homestead and maximize the area around it with your own adventures. Each week we will highlight a place we have enjoyed 30 minutes from 30 Acres.
Jim hiked part of the Appalachian Trail on January 26, 2019. Weverton Cliffs overlooking the Potomac River. Hope you enjoy the video:)
We knew once paying the land off, starting to move forward by developing the property for an approved house site was going to be a challenge.
Because Thirty Acres was considered raw undeveloped land a percolation test also referred to as a perc test needed to be completed before obtaining a building permit. With other homes on the mountain, we were confident the land would pass but not totally sure. Additionally, the access easement needed improvements which would be costly. At the time the easement was only an old logging road. So before taking on this expense and wanting to be sure building would be possible we had a preliminary perc test completed in the off season to give us peace of mind that we were headed to the right direction. The preliminary test passed, “Yes!” (June 2017)
Early in the 2018 we requested the official perc test be completed and as expected it passed. The test was completed just in time, as the rest of the year and early into 2019 we received record rainfall, which would cause us our first time consuming set back.
Second to purchasing, our next expensive endeavor was to improve the easement. The project started in May 2018 but due to the aforementioned record rainfall in the mid Atlantic area and other smaller obstacles, the project was not completed until February 2019. We were able to lay the conduit for the electric lines and the internet cable lines during the easement improvement period.
During this time, we began to seek out the custom home plans, secure a builder, and secure additional construction loan financing. Done 🙂 Now if it would only stop raining or snowing.
Once finding the property in the right location, at the right price, before buying there are several things to consider.
For us, without a recent survey of the property lines we did not know whether there would be space for our house site in the only place on thirty acres we wanted to build because of the view and limited space in that area. So, before purchasing, we spent the money to have the land surveyed and “Yes.” just what we were hoping, there appeared to be enough space for the well, septic, and house site. (October 2013)
A second consideration had to do with the only way to our proposed house site would be through two other pieces of property. Therefore, we needed to obtain access easement approvals from the landowners. Again “Yes,” we got the answer we needed and wanted.
Now, it was time to purchase through financing a land loan. Most banks do not loan money to purchase property (land), and those that do require 25% down. Anna and I were at a position in our lives to have this saved up for such as a time as this. With an expectation of paying the land off in (5) years, we could then use the land to secure a construction loan when we were ready to build. (December 2013)
How we began?
When my friends learn I have purchased land, twice, to build a homestead their first question is always, how did you find the land? Well, in each case it was done very differently.
My first purchase, I only knew to hit the pavement. I literally drove out to the area where I wanted to live and looked for signs that stated land or lots for sale. After weeks of looking, I saw a sign for a new subdivision with six to thirteen acre lots. It was being sold by the owner, who developed the land and would supply the financing. This means there would be no middle man (real estate agent) commission (saving approximately 10%), and the owner required no interest. And, did I say the land was developed and ready for building. I jumped on it and with no early penalty the lot was paid off in four short years. I immediately built my dream home at the time and lived there with by young family for the next 15 years.
My second purchase was more conventional, I searched the internet. After finding the lot I wanted, I contacted a buyer’s agent. While it was easier than hitting the pavement, it was costlier. I must say, however, my agent worked hard to overcome obstacles along the way towards the purchase, like obtaining land rights, access easement approvals, and price negotiations which I will blog about later.
Whether you have the time to hit the pavement or choose to search the internet and use a real estate agent, there are challenges and things to consider. Look for a future blog about the Three Major Points to Consider when purchasing land for your Homestead.