Land For Sale

What Determines a Legal Lot For Sale?

In the County of San Diego, a parcel must be a legal lot to render it buildable. Having an APN (Assessor’s Parcel Number) does not necessarily mean it is a legal parcel (lot). For instance, some lots that are offered for sale are discovered not to be a legal parcel during the due diligence phase. In this case, the owner must to go through the process with the County of San Diego to create a legal lot which may include: obtaining a Certificate of Compliance, or locating a Grant Deed or other document of conveyance recorded prior to February 1, 1972 that describes the perimeter of the parcel without describing any other adjacent parcel.

To learn more on this subject, here is a helpful resource to open to provide you with additional information on the Planning and Development Services Policy for determining a legal parcel prior to issuing a building permit. Remember when investigating the possibly of building on a vacant land parcel, the first step is verifying the status of the land for sale in San Diego County, then moving on to investigating items such as slope, vegetation, access, and other pertinent development issues.

5 Tips for Buying Vacant Land

Looking for help with your search for vacant property? Donn Bree gives 5 tips for buying land in California:

How to Buy Lots and Land for Sale in California

When planning to build on a vacant lot for sale, there are a few essential things to look out for no matter what size lot or how you plan to use it. Buy land in San Diego with the help of an experienced backcountry real estate brokerage.

  • From the beginning of your search, the most important thing to remember when buying a vacant lot is location. Location impacts the desirability and usability of the land so make sure you’ve settled on a place to build first
  • Make sure the lot for sale includes water and sewage connections. If not, take this in to consideration and think about adding self-sufficient utilities like solar, septic system and a well.
  • Understand your water rights – this can make or break your ability to build a well
  • Make sure electricity and phone/cable service is available if this is a priority
  • Confirm that there is a deeded right-of-way in place for land not accessible by a public road. The deed should give you and future owners the legal right to access the land, known as an easement
  • Check for any property deed restrictions or open space easements that may prevent you from building your desired home or infrastructure, such as an equestrian property with all necessary facilities or a home-based agricultural property.
  • If the lot is in a development, ask for the restrictive covenants, if any. This will tell you the restrictions for house size and other limitations
  • Check with the local city or county municipality for any zoning changes in the area
  • Make sure there are not environmental hazards on the land for sale
  • Confirm the area boundary with the agent and submit for a new boundary survey if desired
  • If you plan to build a home or an agricultural property, talk to lenders about construction loans and agricultural loans.
Donn Bree and Meriah Druliner

Donn Bree & Meriah Druliner with Red Hawk Team specialize in representing clients in the purchase and sale of vacant land, ranches & farms, environmental mitigation land, residential, commercial & investment properties, and offer valuation & consulting services with a strong emphasis on client services.

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