When choosing where to place your new home, you have two primary options: placing your home on land you own or intend to purchase, or leasing property on a private lot, in a planned community, or in a park.

If you are looking for property to purchase, we can help. We have contacts with agents who are experienced with sourcing land.

Buying property – Own Land

Owning the property under a home is attractive to many buyers. It may make it easier to qualify for conventional financing and the land and home together may appreciate faster than owning a home alone.

Developing Your Property

Already found or have the land on which you want to build? Congratulations! A Fleetwood home can be ideal for placing on undeveloped land. To ensure the timeliness of the delivery process, the utilities hook up, and any site improvements, it is important to take some precautions to provide long-term durability for your new home.

Zoning – Are there any regulations that would prevent siting your home on your land? A title search will probably reveal any such restrictions.
Access – Is there adequate access to the site for delivery of your home?
Utilities – Is there access to utilities such as electricity, gas or alternate fuel, water, sewer or septic tank?
Permits – What is required in your community? More than one permit may be required for site improvement and the installation of your home.

Buying land in a subdivision

An increasingly popular option is purchasing a lot in a planned subdivision. These are attractive, well thought-out communities. One big advantage they offer is that much of the preparation work, including streets, lights, landscaping and utilities, has already been done. As with undeveloped land, consider the practical factors:

Are there covenants and/or home owners’ associations?
Ask the locals – What are their experiences with the community management?
Amenities – What is available in the community?

Leasing property

Leasing a site can be a less expensive option and is typically less complicated than buying property. However, it is important to keep in mind that you own the home and not the land.

The Benefits of Leasing

Leasing can be a good option because the costs of the property are usually much lower than buying land outright. Your housing consultant can help you find rental communities in your area. Often, leasing property may have costs over and above your rent. Ask questions and be sure to know what you’re committing to.

Understand the Lease Details

Make sure you understand and can live with the terms of your lease. As with purchasing land, there are a number of issues to consider:

Lease – Is there a written contract? What are the terms?
Relocation – Are there provisions in the lease to protect you if the property owner sells? Will the owner help with moving expenses?
Rules – If the property is in a community, are there rules and regulations that tenants must abide by?
Fees – Who pays for installation costs and maintenance? What are the costs for utility connections?
Amenities – Are there golf courses, tennis courts, club houses, or other amenities that match your lifestyle?

Land/Home

The Package Deal

Buying property and a Fleetwood home at the same time, also called a “land/home” transaction, offers the buyer some big advantages.

FHA/VA/Conventional Financing – real property is involved, a better interest rate may be available.
Equity growth – A Fleetwood home on property you own can appreciate just as a site-built home does.
Flexibility – You’re free to choose the land you want and to site your home to the best advantage.

Land/Home Options

Check with us for “land/home” packages for sale. These either have new homes in place or the buyer can choose which home they want on an undeveloped site. The advantages of better financing and the flexibility to choose make land/home attractive to many buyers.

Buying in a Planned Community

Choose Your Lifestyle

Want to live close to beaches? Want to golf every day? Planned communities might be just what you’re looking for. These developments feature homes and often other amenities like clubhouses, planned activities and swimming pools. You purchase the home and lease the land. This allows you to stretch your budgets because you are not buying the property.

Understand the Rules

Many planned communities cater to seniors and restrict the number of young people. Other communities are open to families. Most have a homeowners’ association and detailed rules that owners must follow. If you’re interested in a planned community, consider:

Lifestyle – Does the community cater to your tastes and interests? Do you want to live in a senior-only environment?
Lease – What are the terms?
Rules – What are the rules and regulations and how are they enforced?
Dues – What are the ongoing homeowner dues?
Fees – Who pays for installation costs and maintenance? What are the costs for utility connections?

Talk to the Neighbors

If you’ve found a community you like, be sure to talk to the people that live there. How do they like the community? How are conflicts resolved? Do the owners take care of the property?