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Guide to Buying a Vacant Lot

For many people, the vision of building a custom home is very romantic. You can probably imagine yourself decorating a space you designed specifically for yourself and your family—adding little personal touches here and there, welcoming friends and family for warm, intimate dinners and outdoor parties. And all of that is well within your reach, but there are a few important steps to tackle.

First, you have to find the perfect piece of property. Unless you have a specific neighborhood or housing development already in mind, buying a vacant lot to build a house on can be easier said than done. But we’re experts at everything custom home here at Wausau Homes, so we have some useful tips to make the process of finding your perfect lot easier and more fun.

Check out our tried-and-true tips!


1. Be realistic about your needs.

Buying 50 acres in the middle of nowhere and building your own off-grid estate might sound really nice, especially if you’ve just had to gently ask your neighbor—for the fifth time—to reconsider his plan to start his landscaping tasks at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday. That being said, the conveniences that come with living in an urban or suburban area are hard to beat. As you look at listings and visit potential lots, think carefully about what you want from a piece of property. Is space your primary goal? What about a nice stretch of flat land where your kids can play? Are you willing to handle the maintenance that comes along with a heavily wooded lot? Do you eventually plan to fence your property? Will the size of the lot make fencing cost prohibitive? Also keep in mind that more land equals more maintenance. And if you work full-time and have family obligations, your free time is even more limited. Don’t set yourself up for frustration and stress by purchasing a piece of property that will only become a resource drain.

2. Research utilities and access.

If you’re looking at lots outside of established neighborhoods and subdivisions, ask your real estate agent about any utilities already available and the ease (and cost!) of installing any utilities that aren’t already present. Depending on how remote the property is, you may need to consider a septic system, a well, and a generator. Make sure you understand the availability of internet access and cell service coverage. Satellite internet is certainly an option, but you may be dismayed at its speed and performance. Will you need main road access built? Consult county records or ordinances to determine any restrictions in terms of where you can build a house or how far from main roads any structures must be.

3. Consult your builder.

UTo make sure everyone is on the same page, involve your builder in the lot finding process—especially once you’ve settled on a piece of property you love. Home builders, particularly those who have years of experience building custom homes, are well versed in which lots work well with which home types. An experienced builder will also be able to advise you on the best orientation for your new home on a given lot, or where you might encounter issues with grading or erosion control. Remember, for instance, that while mountain foothills make for stunning views, the uneven land means that you’ll need to budget for either a basement or significant grading work.

4. Have a plan for financing.

Financing a new house is stressful enough. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by trying to figure out vacant property financing on your own. Do you buy the land first and then figure out how to build on it? Or do you need to be preapproved for a mortgage before you worry about land? What about down payments? The short answer is that there are several different ways you can finance property, and your process will be determined by your budget and financial situation. Rather than stress over the details, rely on a home financing expert. At Wausau Homes, our in-house Wausau Homes Finance Team has helped families navigate the process of purchasing a vacant lot and building the custom home of their dreams.

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APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

APPLE RIVER CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO
KL BUILDERS, LLC

108 W. Railroad Apple River,Illinois 61001 (608) 778-6497

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Description

A part of our dream series, the tamarack floor plan features 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms with a foot print of 44x30 feet and 1342 total square feet of living space.

TAMARACK FLOOR PLAN

DR230
Details
  • Dream Series
  • Two Story
  • 1342 Sqft
  • 44x30 Footprint
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 1.5 Bathrooms
  • 90 Favorited
Available Features
  • Owners Entry
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MCHENRY CUSTOM HOME DESIGN STUDIO

Sexton Homes LLC

Home Builder in Woodstock, Illinois

Contact Us

Contact Information

Address

Wausau Homes Woodstock 1400 N. Seminary Ave. Unit M Woodstock, Illinois 60098

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Contact

Patrick Sexton 815-271-2325

sextonp@wausauhomes.com
Hours

Monday - Friday : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday : 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

About Our Design Studio

Wausau Homes McHenry is a premier home design studio that offers inspiration on everything from creating a custom home plan to selecting the interior and exterior features that will make your home unique. Custom builder Patrick Sexton has been working in the home building industry for nearly 40 years. His experience includes production home building, residential and commercial renovations, and for the past 20 years, high end custom homes in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago.

Patrick is well versed and experienced in all phases of the custom home building process. His extensive background and knowledge of home building, ensures that every home is built efficiently, with extreme care and superior quality. Wausau Homes McHenry is ready to turn your dream into reality. With advanced 3D home rendering technology, he will walk you through your custom new home before it’s even built. Once the home is created your way, he will provide a firm price and move-in date ensuring no surprises during the building process.

Each Wausau Homes Builder is an independent local business, so you can have the confidence and ease of dealing with a local builder. Plus, each Wausau Homes Builder has access to all of the Wausau Homes design tools and Wausau Homes components. Our goal is to become the premier Home Builder in Northern Illinois. Select one of our many home plans, whether your dream is a starter home, a home for retirement, a vacation home, or a great family home - Wausau Homes McHenry is ready to create your dream home.

Wausau Homes McHenry is located about an hour from Chicago, and about 30 minutes from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The Northern suburbs of Chicago offer great schools, safe and family friendly neighborhoods, along with many forest preserves, and parks. The Chain O’ Lakes area is a popular destination for summer recreation, fishing, camping and boating. Chicago is about an hour away, and offers sports outings, great restaurants, Navy Pier, and Lake Michigan. Lake Geneva is a great place to relax and enjoy beaches, lake front dining, and boat tours.

About The Area We Serve

Wausau Homes McHenry serve area homebuyers in McHenry, Lake, Cook, DuPage, Will, Kendall, and Kane Counties.