Most people purchase vacant land because they are planning to build their dream home on it, in near future. However, that’s not the only motive for buying a piece of vacant land. It can turn out to be a great investment and you can use it for commercial purposes as well. In some cases, land investment proves to be better than investing in built properties, as it relieves you of duties like having home inspection, checking for the quality of material used in construction, or going through the chores of home renovation in case of old buildings. Nevertheless, purchasing vacant land for any of the above mentioned purposes (personal use or investment) is not that simple. You’re ought to take care of the following aspects.

Location:

This one is obvious; the first point to think over is the location. For residential purpose, the land should ideally be situated at some well established residential area with all the amenities in surroundings. It should not be situated at some busy road (vice versa if you are planning to use it for commercial purpose). Make sure there are roads in place (or at least under construction) for easy access. If you are buying land for a second home, try getting your hands on some land at a vocational point, such as countryside or hill stations.

Natural Hazards & Soil Quality:

Natural hazards include fault zones for earth quake, flooding, fire hazard, and the likes. Do some research on the history of floods or earthquakes in that specific area or demand a natural hazard disclosure. People are getting increasingly wary of earthquake fault zones or localities vulnerable to some potential flood or even worse, a hurricane. Another thing you must look for is the soil type (Granular, Cohesive, etc), because it plays a significant role in the cost of construction and stability of the building later on.

Price & Appraisal:

Similar to the property appraisals, land appraisal is an expert estimation about the price of the land. A professional appraiser will evaluate the land from all aspects including land quality, soil type, location, access, easements, etc to ascertain the value of land. They will also compare the price with the sales that have occurred recently in the nearby area. Do remember that the price determined by an appraiser is just an expert opinion, which can be flawed.    

Don’t ignore the legal permits, for example zoning requirements, title insurance or warranty deed. It is always advisable to get the help of some real estate broker and attorney if you are not experienced enough.      

William King is the director of UAE Dubai Property & Dubai Real Estate Properties Portal: http://www.bayut.com/ , Islamabad Property & Islamabad Real Estate: http://www.zameen.com/Homes/Islamabad-3-1.html , Active Trader – Stocks & Bonds Directory: http://www.activetrader-links.com and ADCB UAE Abu Dhabi & Dubai Business Directory: http://www.adcbuae.com . He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers, entrepreneurs and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.