Real Estate Information

How Come No One Told Us About This When We Were Buying a Home?


Development, it's bound to happen.

Simply because there is a large open field, or the property you're looking at borders woods, doesn't mean it will or can stay that way in the future.

I could rattle off instance after instance where home buyers who may have just closed on a property, are being notified as an abutter that some type of proposed development, they hadn't heard about previously, was taking place right next door to them.

On that note, here are a few questions that, as a home buyer, you need to raise as you look around the property and neighborhood:

  • Are there any subdivisions, large or small, or plans that are expected to be coming before the planning board that would affect your prospective neighborhood?
  • Are there any ongoing or existing subdivisions or plans that would adversely affect your purchase decision?
  • Is it likely that the neighborhood could be redeveloped for another use?

Most municipalities have a Master Plan that gives a plan of action for how the community is or could be developed in the future. Often, discussion is by area, neighborhood or grouped by use.

One of the things you should check out is if there are any changes planned in the short term or long term for the particular area of the city or neighborhood in which you are looking to live.

Neighborhoods go through transitions that include development, stability, and decline/redevelopment. Some areas are in transition from one use to another.

Other areas are slated for actual zoning changes perhaps to a much higher density because of the dwindling supply of land that can be developed.

Getting caught in the middle of such a transition may make resale much more difficult and life at the old homestead less desirable if development occurs all around you that you weren't anticipating or told about.

Zoning ordinances dictate what you can or can't do in a certain area of the city, including what uses are allowed to exist.

Review a zoning map of the area to answer the following questions:

  • Is the residence you're looking at in a residential zone?
  • Does the property border a different zoning district?

    • Does it border a commercial or industrial zone?
    • Does it border another residential zone that preserves a lower density?
    • Does it border another residential zone that allows for a significantly higher density?
    • Does it border a mixed-use zone?
    • Does it border an historic zone or district?
    • Does the property straddle more than one zoning district?
    • What is the effect on minimum lot size requirements?

I have experienced each of these scenarios being at issue with a property I was involved with at one time or another, either as a sales agent, real estate appraiser, as a member of the Zoning Board, or as a property owner.

The advice here is plain and simple.

When buying a home, be sure to do your homework. Don't be like many home buyers who fail to understand as much as they can about the home they want to buy and end up disenchanted with their financial investment.

Copyright 2005 Don Berthiaume

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Don Berthiaume gives you the questions you need to ask when buying a home. For more details, and for a free 4-part mini-course in home buying, visit this site now: Buying a Home


MORE RESOURCES:

Marquette starts center to study real estate
Chicago Tribune, United States - 9 hours ago
AP MILWAUKEE - Marquette University has started a new center to research real estate trends and provide education for Wisconsin businesses. ...


Father, son stick to basics in real estate development firm
Detroit Free Press, United States - 19 hours ago
"We're able to minimize our risk while having the rewards underlying real estate." And the firm enjoys "the flexibility to operate in multiple states across ...


Delek seeks to up stake in real estate unit by 10 pct
Reuters UK, UK - 11 hours ago
TA: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Sunday it was seeking to raise its stake in unit Delek Real Estate (DLKR.TA: Quote, Profile, Research) by another 10 ...


Persian Gulf Shares Retreat, Led by Real-Estate; Emaar Declines
Bloomberg - 14 hours ago
7 (Bloomberg) -- Persian Gulf shares fell, following global markets lower, led by real-estate companies, amid investor concern that the construction boom ...
UAE stocks crash led by real estate firms GulfNews
Emaar shares plunge 7.98% as concerns surface over sector GulfNews
all 7 news articles


Real estate agents learn to adapt
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - 21 hours ago
By Tom Bayles Few knew three years ago that the heady days of the real estate boom would soon be coming to an end, but Horizon Realty owner Matt Augustyniak ...
Negotiating skills vital to home purchase San Francisco Chronicle
It's good to haggle over the commission San Francisco Chronicle
all 4 news articles


REAL ESTATE: Searching for bottom
Las Vegas Review - Journal, NV - 17 hours ago
With the pep talk from real estate agents contradicted by doom-and-gloom reports on the housing industry, nobody seems to really know if or when the market ...
It's over on the edge: Plans for outskirts out Las Vegas Review - Journal
all 2 news articles


Tappe White Real Estate Services | Fort Worth
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - 19 hours ago
Randy White with The Randy White Team of Tappe White Real Estate Services presents 4001 Penny Royal Drive in the Crawford Farms addition of Fort Worth. ...
Tappe White Real Estate Services | Colleyville Fort Worth Star Telegram
all 2 news articles


Dubai builder invests in Kalamazoo commercial real estate
MLive.com, MI - 18 hours ago
KALAMAZOO, MI -- It may be hard to believe, but a Dubai businessman is buying real estate in downtown Kalamazoo. But without any major shipping ports here, ...


Williams Trew Real Estate Services | Fort Worth
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - 19 hours ago
Debbie Hunn and Karen Hunn of Williams Trew Real Estate Services present an exciting urban lifestyle in Fort Worth’s true skyscraper, The Tower. ...
Williams Trew Real Estate Services | Fort Worth Fort Worth Star Telegram
all 2 news articles


REAL ESTATE
Belleville News Democrat,  USA - 19 hours ago
• 600 S. High St.; from Michael B. McKenzie and Jean M. McKenzie; to Robert B. Autry; $80000. • 2127 E. "B" St.; from Mary C. Krakowiecki; to Bradley M. ...

Real-Estate - Google News

home | site map
Realty Web Services © 2007 MesaSky Services