Where You Look is Where You Live
Before you do anything else, you have to select a target area for your home. This may sound simple, but many people begin their land search with only a vague idea of where they would like to build and quickly become frustrated by poor search results. Or they fall in love with a great tract with an amazing view only to realize it is way too far away from family, friends and work. Northwest Florida is way too vague. If you are serious about your affordable dream home, you first have to home in on a small geographic area that you find desirable – and that fits your budget. The quality of schools, ease of commuting and a lot of other factors contribute to a town’s desirability, and this is reflected in land prices. If you are absolutely sure that there is only one town where you and your family will be happy, then by all means focus your efforts on finding a lot within that one area. A better strategy is usually to have one target town and be open to one or two neighboring communities that have similar amenities and great access to your preferred location. A little flexibility about zip code can save a lot of money.
Size Does Matter
Are you willing to live with less land to save twenty minutes on your daily commute? Do you really need ten acres for the modest manufactured home you plan to buy? Exactly how close will you be to the neighbors? How much acreage you can afford will depend largely on the area you are targeting. Always remember that the more you spend on land, the less you have to spend on your home. The size of your chosen lot will affect more than just the cost of your land. It will have a large impact on the curb appeal of your future home, and more importantly your lifestyle.
