Buying Land in Maine
In Part 1 of this article series, I discussed some of the problems to watch out for when buying a house in Maine. But what if you’re thinking about building a house from scratch? If that’s the case, you’ll have to buy a block of land.
There’s a lot of cheap land available throughout the state of Maine. But when you’re planning to build a house, you need to make sure it’s the right spot for you. Here are a few things to consider before you sign the check and pick up the deed.
Photo by Jeff Hawkins
Is it on the grid? There are a lot of beautiful, remote properties in Maine, but unless you’re only looking for a weekend campsite, you’ll want to find a place that has access to electricity, phone service, and other necessities.
Are there any easements on the property? If the property has an easement, that means someone (or everyone) has right of way to your property, and is free to walk through and use specific portions of your land. Always ask before you buy.
Does the land suit the plans for the house you want to build? Even if you’re not sure specifically what sort of house you’re interested in building, it can be helpful to bring a builder along. He or she will be able to tell you what sort of construction would be best for the land, and if there are any overwhelming reasons why the land wouldn’t be suitable for a house.
Is the land on a private road? If so, and there is no Road Maintenance Agreement in place with the surrounding neighbors, you will be forced to pay for maintenance of the road by yourself — this can add significant costs to your daily living. Even if there is an agreement in place, you will bear some of the costs for all work done to the road for as long as you live there. If possible, try to find land on a paved, public road.
Get a boundary survey. This is the best way to make sure that you know exactly how much land you’ll be getting, and that there will never be any dispute over your acreage. When the survey has been completed, mark the boundaries of your property on all sides.
Find out about environmental issues. If you’re buying a rural property, your water will come from a well. How is the water in the area? Get a test done to see if it contains arsenic, radon or other dangerous chemicals. If these pollutants are found, it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker — just be aware that you will have to invest in a filtration system or other type of mitigation. Additionally, if a property was previously built on the land, there may be buried oil or gas tanks — if so, ensure that these are removed before your purchase.
Find out about land use restrictions. In most areas, all properties must be in accordance with specific guidelines for the use of the land, including how far back the house must be set, and whether you can build a separate structure, such as a barn. With any land you look at, make sure that the regulations aren’t too restrictive for what you want to do with the property.
Ready to get started? Check out a site like www.maineland4sale.com to find the right land for your dream home!
Written by Kathy Hawkins on April 19, 2007
Filed Under Maine, Property, Land
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