Investment Property Guide

Analyzing Land Investment Opportunities

Prospective development property should meet the following criteria:

-                     Access: Property with existing access and lots of frontage is essential. If your property is off the beaten path, there is no guaruntee that the town/city will grant access or offer a road to your property.

-                     Water and Sewer: A prospective development property must have access to water and sewer lines as well as access to septic service.

-                     A clean environmental history: Don't assume all non-developed properties are clean. Make sure any contract to purchase has a "subject to satisfactory environmental audit" clause included.

-                     Soil types: You must have a soil test done to insure good drainage because poor drainage means that storm water management engineering will be required and that is not cheap!

-                     Topography: Look for good, even topographies as hills and slopes make for lots of expensive fill.

-                     Good Neighbors: Make sure the adjacent properties don’t have obnoxious tenants with buildings or operations that spew continuous  noise, dust, smoke, odor, or other industrial types of nuscinces.

-                     Easements: Be sure that a neighboring land owner does not have an easement across your perspective property that could interfere with your planned development.

-                     Zoning Requirements: There are often many different zoning districts within a town or city’s master plan that could curb your development plans. Make sure that the zoning on your property meets the goals of any perspective development.