Buying Land, New Hampshire Style

You’ve finally found it! The perfect piece of land in New Hampshire; quiet neighborhood, gigantic old hardwoods, bounded by stonewalls and a babbling brook. You’ve walked it, you’ve imagined yourself relaxing on the front porch, admiring the fiery sunset behind your mountain view. Is it time to make an offer? Not quite; there are a few things you need to consider before doing so.

ZONING: The listing agent should have this information available to you. If you are planning on using the land for anything out of the ordinary such as run a home business, or if you plan to build a mobile home, speak directly to the zoning officer of the town. They are there to answer your questions, and are the ultimate authority on the issue…so use them!

DEED RESTRICTIONS: Deed restrictions can encompass just about anything. Common restrictions are ‘no livestock,’ ‘no temporary structures,’ or a minimum square footage or style of home. Your NH buyer agent will help you read through the deed and will discuss the restrictions with you. If there are any questions or grey areas, be sure to consult a lawyer.

UTILITIES: Water, sewer, electricity, telephone and cable all need to be considered. More often than not electric, phone and cable lines are at the street, but make sure! Bringing poles and lines into your lot can be very expensive. If you are close to town, you may be on town water and sewer. Find out about the hook-up fees and requirements. If the lot is not on town water and sewer, you’ll need a well and a septic. Talk to well experts in the area. There is no way of knowing exactly how deep you’ll need to go until you actually start drilling, but an area expert will be able to give you his professional opinion. Regarding the sewer, if a perc test has not been done, make sure that a satisfactory one is a condition of your offer. The results of the perc test will tell you if the lot will support a satisfactory septic system.

TOPOGRAPHY: New Hampshire land, in all of its rugged glory, can be difficult to work. Lots of local land is very ‘bony’, riddled with boulders hiding just beneath the surface. Also keep in mind that although the winding 250 foot driveway may be beautiful, it can also add quite a bit to your construction costs!

Being able to see yourself living there is, of course, the most important factor in choosing a piece of land. Just be sure you don’t overlook these very important items. Your buyer’s agent will be able to advise you on these common issues, answer any questions you may have, and point you in the direction of the necessary professionals.

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