Feel like buying an existing house after so many lot issues!

11 years ago

Arggh! We have been under contract to purchase a lot for over ten months. There have been so many issues with the lot and satisfying the township, etc. We required seller to get septic approval and have been working with a re attorney to make sure our lot is buildable. It has been one issue after another with the township who is known to be anti-build. (The story is too long to write here...soil issues, Riparian border, lot lines need redrawn because it needs to be bigger to meet township requirements, and several other issues.)

At this point, we are wondering if buying a resale would be a better option..and fixing it up. We are trying to move to a tiny township because of it's wonderful, small schools...and it is beautiful there..and a better commute to work. There are very few lots that are affordable and not and inventory of resales is pretty low. You have to be ready to make a full price offer when something good comes on the market. We are in the expensive East Coast market, so even crappy resales are high priced..and then rolling in a lot of money to fix them up ends up butting up against the price of new construction (except the taxes are often much lower on the older homes.)

I am afraid we won't be as happy finding an existing house and trying to make it work. Has anyone just given up on the building idea and bought a resale instead?

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Comments (8)

bus_driver
11 years ago
Your frustrations are evident and understandable. My few problems with the bureaucracy were bad enough. Go into an office and the first person you see wants to control everything. But you look into their eyes and no one is at home! You ask them to explain the difference between ignorance and apathy and they say " I don't know and I don't care".
What is your tolerance for frustration?
farmhousegirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Hi bus driver,
Well, the tolerance is getting much lower. We get one thing taken care of then another thing comes up. The engineers don't explain things, just take money and do what they are supposed to do and then mention other issues after they get you deeply involved, etc. The RE attorney very good, but so many issue are so technical, that even the township attorney isn't sure on things. Luckily the seller has been spending the money to do most of the work (lot lines redrawn and surveys to go with it. They also did septic approval, but now need to move septic bc of another issue that evolved after the approval was done.) The attorney fees on our side are piling up.. and it's just basic things. I wish we could find a resale we liked...then I think the frustration of the lot would get too much and we would walk away. So, I guess it's a waiting game and watching to see if something good comes up. Unfortunately, some decent things have come up, but we are so wishy washy and it's upsetting to pour money into fixing something up that will never be exactly what you want.
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amtrucker22
11 years ago
You are going to be upset when you settle for a resale and someone comes along and eventually buys that lot and puts a beautiful house on it. That being said don't throw away the 'farm' on the property if it is not going to work out. Only you know what it is worth to you. Good luck!
User
11 years ago
Here's an eye opening FYI for you: people who build don't end up with "exactly what they want" either. Not unless they have an unlimited budget and some place to build that has a lot less regulations and control than the place you are considering seems to have.

There are always compromises. You will NEVER end up with the perfect home.

I think you need to meet with a renovation architect and have the floorplans of some of the homes that have sold recently in your community with you when you do that. I think you might be surprised as to what can be created from what exists. And maybe for the same money as you would spend on the very restrictive build.
energy_rater_la
11 years ago
explain the difference between ignorance and apathy and they say " I don't know and I don't care".

that is just rich bus driver, you crack me up!

I hope you make a decision &
build/find/renovate and end up with the
home of your dreams. it does happen,
and fairly often in my experience.

this may be just a reality check for you.

best of luck.
sincerely.
Houseofsticks
11 years ago
Yes, it's hard to compare an existing home with the fictitious dream home you've imagined for so long, constantly changing, evolving into the beautiful butterfly. Reality for most is a compromise. Real dollars and beauocracy are annoying:). I hope you are able to see the light at the end of this tunnel soon. Good luck with your decision.
farmhousegirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks all, Some good thoughts here. If we buy a resale, I have to wonder how strict the township will be on a resale needing an addition, etc. That is overwhelming to think about also since you don't know when you make an offer. Seems like what seems easy and straight forward always end up a huge nightmare around here. We currently live in a different area (same county/different township) , but had a huge headache trying to put on a 600 square foot addition several years ago. So, maybe we'll find the perfect house that needs nothing down to the footprint...just inside work...but I doubt it .
User
11 years ago
The only way to know the procedures for a remodel vs a new build is to ask the AHJ in the locale. Some areas make both a real hassle. And if you want to live in those areas, you're going to have to hitch up your drawers and endure the hassle.

Feel like buying an existing house after so many lot issues!

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bus_driver

farmhousegirl
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Feel like buying an existing house after so many lot issues!

Comments (8)

bus_driver

farmhousegirlOriginal Author

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