Just bought 6 acre of land. Now what???

[jjeff]

I was grateful being unlicensed I could still do all my plumbing and electrical on my cabin and pole barn with permits and inspections of course. In the city I used to live in you could not I believe. Did remodel on my old house anyway (without permits) cause at the time I couldn't afford to hire a licensed pro. I don't recommend my ways unless your somewhat handy and have common sense, able to read and understand nec and plumbing code. Not talking about watching a YouTube video either.

 

[Tinhack]

Within about 6 or 8 years both of those houses look like they needed to be condemned. I'm leaving a lot of details out about the problems with the build. My point being just those two houses have really run that neighborhood down.

I can't see any of my neighbors except across the county road to the East--About 1/2-3/4 miles away. My house is mostly surrounded by trees so I can't see the front or to the West. My driveway is about 1/4 mile to the state highway where I have my address. The "neighborhood" is pretty nice here, but I pick up a lot of trash along the county road before a stop sign and some along my state highway frontage. My Northern neighbor was a section farmer and I never see him. He raises turf now. Or his sons do. He's retired.

 

[Dftodd]

My county is like a secret police government. They are unbelievably strict in rules and regulations on buildings and land use. Especially so if you are in agricultural/rural zoning.

So you have state stuff, then local county stuff to deal with here in VA.

On the bright side of things, we are so backwards that change has not really run us over like it has neighboring counties.

I think the OP is beyond all the restrictions and whatnot, so congrats, good for you, and I'd go with a barndominion. More options for futures, IMHO.

It's much more relaxed in our area. They are serious about sewer requirements and do have building codes. But it's much more relaxed than some places I've lived in over the years.

Or I should say for the individual landowner, it's not a big deal.

Where they start getting wonky is if you want to subdivide your property into multiple lots.

Guy who owned a field near me wanted to subdivide his property into 3 and 5 acre lots with deed restrictions.

He ran into a huge snag. They wouldn't allow him to do it unless he put in a self contained sewage treatment facility. Or paid the $$$$$$$ to tap into the city sewer system a mile away.

I never did hear what the reason was, but my thought was he was inside of city limits. Or he royally ticked off the wrong person.

 

[Dftodd]

I can't confirm this because I never chased an answer. But I think my County has a restriction on how close my sewer effluent can be to my property line. Otherwise, no one cares.

I live in a large County with 8,000 residents. I'm 75 minutes from a "City".

That doesn't apply here. New house was built next to my property. The Mound system for that property was 3ft from the property line.

After a couple years, it started leaching out of the mound and running into my property. Thankfully he had them come back out and shut off the two problem lines.

 

[riptides]

It's much more relaxed in our area. They are serious about sewer requirements and do have building codes. But it's much more relaxed than some places I've lived in over the years.

Or I should say for the individual landowner, it's not a big deal.

Where they start getting wonky is if you want to subdivide your property into multiple lots.

Guy who owned a field near me wanted to subdivide his property into 3 and 5 acre lots with deed restrictions.

He ran into a huge snag. They wouldn't allow him to do it unless he put in a self contained sewage treatment facility. Or paid the $$$$$$$ to tap into the city sewer system a mile away.

I never did hear what the reason was, but my thought was he was inside of city limits. Or he royally ticked off the wrong person.

10 acres minimums for sub-divides here now. Pressure on locals to go higher. Lots of rules and regulations on septic systems. Most new neighbors, including me now have Aerobic type systems. $$$$$. IMHO, they force you into these. Having been through the septic process, I'd say it's goal is to limit development.

Funny how just a mile or so up the road, different county, much different rules. Zoning, infrastructure, tax base, night and day.

My neighbor could not live in his RV as he was building his house. So he built a garage with plumbing first, lived in the RV, and built his house. Very strange.

 

[JasperFrank]

If there is a fire hydrant, you are NOT in the country.
I've seen, and worked on several Barndominiums. Personally, I don't like them as the living space is always too small and the living space is on the second floor, above all the things that can catch fire.
I am a strong believer in the detached garage/shop.
You will immediately want to to be on site. Sell everything off that you can't fit in your car. Self Strorage fees add up. So the septic, well and electricity are the first things to be put in, while you live in a second hand RV of somekind. Then you are not paying rent, and you are not paying for a porta potty service.

This garage with electricity, is what you build first. Then build a conventional balloon framed house off of a conventional plan. There are thousands of plans out there. Look for the one that works for you.

 

[WVH1977]

IMO, if you are going to make this your forever home, build a small rectangle brick house. Put a little wood stove in there for back-up heat and enjoy life.

 

[2manyrocks]

The septic field requirements have a long history due to the need of protecting the supply of drinking water. Various cholera epidemics had their origin in the improper disposal of sewage waste.

The details of building codes, IMO, are more debatable. Sometimes I suspect they change the code just to trap the unwary and keep competition down. If you don't know that there's some peculiar requirement in the local code, you might end up having to rip out your work and start over.

Heck...the head of one HVAC company said he was thrilled when Nashville imposed licensing on HVAC contractors because he would be grandfathered, but anyone else wanting to start one would have to pass the licensing test.

 

[riptides]

The septic field requirements have a long history due to the need of protecting the supply of drinking water. Various cholera epidemics had their origin in the improper disposal of sewage waste.

The details of building codes, IMO, are more debatable. Sometimes I suspect they change the code just to trap the unwary and keep competition down. If you don't know that there's some peculiar requirement in the local code, you might end up having to rip out your work and start over.

Heck...the head of one HVAC company said he was thrilled when Nashville imposed licensing on HVAC contractors because he would be grandfathered, but anyone else wanting to start one would have to pass the licensing test.

Oh trust me, I get the septic requirements.

Then there is the look the other way while a lot of people allow their livestock in the water ways.

 

[Dftodd]

If there is a fire hydrant, you are NOT in the country.
I've seen, and worked on several Barndominiums. Personally, I don't like them as the living space is always too small and the living space is on the second floor, above all the things that can catch fire.
I am a strong believer in the detached garage/shop.
You will immediately want to to be on site. Sell everything off that you can't fit in your car. Self Strorage fees add up. So the septic, well and electricity are the first things to be put in, while you live in a second hand RV of somekind. Then you are not paying rent, and you are not paying for a porta potty service.

This garage with electricity, is what you build first. Then build a conventional balloon framed house off of a conventional plan. There are thousands of plans out there. Look for the one that works for you.

Property is on the last road that public water was run on headed south from town. Next road south is all wells. We actually prefer public water.

Well water around here has either a high Sulphur content and smells like rotten eggs, or high iron content and turns everything pink.

Every house we saw with high iron also had filtration units and water pressure issues.

 

[two_bit_score]

Yikes, I didn't have any restrictions when I moved here. The only deed incumbrance was if I drilled and struck oil, I had to share it with the seller. I kept all mineral rights. I put in the septic system, planted electric poles, put in water lines and put in a driveway. The only regulations I had to abide by were the state highway entrance of my driveway and the electric company for the first pole distance for my meters. I'm not within the boundaries of any city and no HOAs for my property. The county had a population of about 40,000 when I moved here. It about 49,000 now. Lots of new developments have sprung up. Mostly city slickers from San Antonio. The drive up to the big city used to be about 17 minutes (most of it is 75mph Interstate). And I can get same-day or next-day deliveries from Amazon.

Are you in the crescent of the Eagle Ford Shale?

 

[Tinhack]

Are you in the crescent of the Eagle Ford Shale?

No, I'm in the blue area below the number 1 shown in Bexar County. I also missed out on the Edwards Aquifer by just over 1000 feet.

 

[two_bit_score]

No, I'm in the blue area below the number 1 shown in Bexar County. I also missed out on the Edwards Aquifer by just over 1000 feet.

That’s too bad.

 

[Tinhack]

That’s too bad.

You bet! There was a lot of testing in this area about 4-5 years ago. Many ground-shaking explosions for about a month or two. I waited for an offer to test my land, but none came. I think they had to stay away from the Edwards Aquifer. All those rigs in the Eagle Ford Play are visible at night from the satellites. Shows up like a huge city.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Its going to get a lot bushier in the spring. You might see if you can rent a flail mower. They will handle anything up to 2" and mulch it for you so there is no cleanup. Spray garlon or crossbow to suppress woody growth.

 

[Dftodd]

Its going to get a lot bushier in the spring. You might see if you can rent a flail mower. They will handle anything up to 2" and mulch it for you so there is no cleanup. Spray garlon or crossbow to suppress woody growth.

Yeah, it's spring here already I was gonna see about renting a skid steer for a weekend with the brush cutter

This way, I can get all the grass and scrub knocked down to see what we are working with.

Then get a trackhoe with thumb dropped off so I can thin the trees and stumps at the same time.

Perk test will be done sometime next week, weather permitting. Managed to get a hold of the guy who did it 3 years ago for the seller.

We're gonna use the same build site. So it's streamlining that and saving us about $400.

Seller was planning to build about 300ft into the property and centered. which we were already talking about doing similar.

Water company just needs the perc test. So after we close, I can get the meter installed within 2 weeks.

Waiting a call back from the engineer for the power company to find out the particulars for getting a pole placed on the property since power is across the road. And, most importantly, how much it costs

I'll trench the water line in as well as the power. I've done both of those, so it will cut down on some of our expenses.

 

[Joel/ak]

Manufactured homed are popular around here.

Dam things are actually stronger than most stick builts...depending on builder.

Think about it, they are glued, nailed and screwed. They gotta survive the trip down the road on a trailer. Then put in place by a crane... also cheaper

Alot of standard homes I'm sure can't go through that without falling apart.

As for septic, don't make the inspector mad. Cost me 5 grand. Wife banned me from talking to him til the job was done

 

[two_bit_score]

Dam things are actually stronger than most stick builts...depending on builder.

Even ‘mobile homes’ can be pretty tough.

I had an old one on a place I bought. Decided not to try to move it because afraid it wouldn’t make the trip. I was sure wrong!

I decided to scrap it out and tear it down. Turned into a much harder job than I thought it would. It was put together better than I thought.

 

[Grumpycat]

Agree it is important to check on covenants, building codes, and restrictions. That lot has a fire hydrant, power, and internet on the street. Government did not do that, a developer did. Before you close you need to know what covenants are in the deed.

 

[Dftodd]

Manufactured homed are popular around here.

Dam things are actually stronger than most stick builts...depending on builder.

Think about it, they are glued, nailed and screwed. They gotta survive the trip down the road on a trailer. Then put in place by a crane... also cheaper

Alot of standard homes I'm sure can't go through that without falling apart.

As for septic, don't make the inspector mad. Cost me 5 grand. Wife banned me from talking to him til the job was done

I'm staying out of that part. Will between the contractor and inspector. As long as it passes, the contractor will get his check.