A great house starts with a great lot. There are a many things you should consider before settling on a lot for your new home.
Will your house fit?
If you’ve already selected plans for your new home, you will want to make sure that the house will fit on the lot you choose. Otherwise, you’ll end up having to adjust your plans. If you haven’t finalized your home plans yet, but are leaning toward either a rambler or a 2-story, you will want to make sure that the lot you choose will accommodate the footprint of your new home.
Traffic
No matter where you choose to build, traffic is inevitable. More so in neighborhoods with through-streets. If living on a quiet street is important to you, find a lot in a neighborhood without through-streets. Lots within a cul-de-sac tend to have even less traffic.
On the other hand, lots that are closest to the entrance of a development benefit from easy access, but tend to have higher traffic. Decide which of these factors is more important to you when choosing your lot.
Morning & Evening Sun
How will the sun shine upon your home? When choosing a lot, it’s important to think about where the sun rises and sets in relation to your home. If your home faces west, your backyard will be shaded at the end of the day. However, if your home faces east, you might need to consider adding shelter to your backyard to be able to enjoy it in the evening hours.
Backyard
Depending on how often you use your backyard, you may want to consider what is behind your home. If you’d prefer not to have a neighbor in your backyard, consider finding a lot that backs up to a park, golf course, or grassy areas. Not only will you feel more privacy, but the views will also be better!
HOA
Do you want to belong to a Homeowners Association (HOA)? Some neighborhoods have one, while others do not. As older developments have started to fall into disrepair with no way to pay for the upkeep, newer developments have moved to start HOAs to ensure this doesn’t happen to them. HOA fees can vary greatly. Check with the developer or your builder to find out if the neighborhood you’re interested in has one and what amenities it covers.
Specials
Special assessments are the method the City of Fargo uses to pay for infrastructure improvements that benefit properties, such as water main replacement and flood protection projects. The cost of these projects is divided among properties that benefit from them, which is why specials vary from lot to lot. Review special assessments tied to individual lots on the City of Fargo’s website at www.FargoParcels.com.