What type of due diligence should be done when purchasing a lot on which to build a home?
Bruce Lynn’s comments are VERY accurate. But, I will try to give your question a different look as most real estate agents know absolutely nothing about land. Or, more specifically, it’s about “land development.” In much of Seattle and King County suburbs (certainly in Mukilteo in South Snohomish County), there is very little “buildable” land left. Most of what is left is currently classified as “unbuildable”. Neither of these words can be found in the dictionary, but they are words that are clearly understood by every city engineer and planner. Generally speaking, what land is left has issues. That is why nothing has been built there (sure there are exceptions, but few). The majority of issues relate to what is defined as “Critical Areas” under the Washington State Growth Management Act ( http://www.gmhb.wa.gov/gma/ ). “Critical areas” include bluffs, streams and wetlands. The issues involve required set-back requirements and the engineering effort necessary to convert land from “non
