Buying a New Home in Jacksonville Florida - Part 4 - Choosing Your Lot and House Plan

This is the fourth in a seven part Series on Buying a New Home in Jacksonville Florida.

As you are looking at communities with your Realtor®, you will begin to favor certain floor plans for your house. You will also see the variety in lot sizes and views. Choosing your lot and house plan are just as important as choosing your community in the Jacksonville Florida area. You want to be sure you choose a plan for your house that will work for your lifestyle and choose the best lot you can afford.

Here are some tips for choosing your lot:

1. Developers make their money selling lots to builders. Builders pass on the cost of their lots in part by adding lot premiums to the best lots. A lot can have a premium if it is larger than the standard lot, if it is on conservation/preserve, a pond/lagoon, or golf course.

2. If you are looking at spec homes, look carefully at the lot. Sometimes beautiful homes are placed on inferior lots and priced attractively just to get them off the books. If a lot isn't important to you, then this may be your ticket into a great neighborhood that you otherwise couldn't afford. Just don't be taken by the upgrades in the house and overlook the lot.

3. Ask about fencing. Lots on ponds and golf courses have different fencing requirements. Fencing varies from community to community. Don't buy a lot planning to fence it with wood and find out you actually have to use vinyl or wrought iron-style fencing.

4. All conservation lots are not equal. Conservation lots can be wet or dry. Dry ones are more desirable. Ask what restrictions there are for clearing out the underbrush in the preserve.

5. All pond lots are not equal. If you are at the end of the pond, be advised that when there is algae in the pond, it will be at your yard.

6. All golf course lots are not equal. Appraisers value golf course lots according to the view and location. Lots on the cart path and tee box are less valuable than ones on the fairway, for instance. Most builders charge the same amount for every golf course lot. Be sure you get a great one if you're going to pay the extra money.

7. If you can't afford or don't want to spend the extra money on a lot premium or don't mind neighbors backing to your house, then consider a larger yard. Some lots have no lot premium but can have spacious yards. You can always plant a hedge or put up a fence for privacy.

8. Think about how the lot will drain. Ask the builder what type of drainage the lot will have A, B, or C. Also ask if they can provide you with how the lot will be graded to accomplish the proper drainage. You don't want to be the lot that has several other houses draining in or through your yard.

9. Flag lots can be a challenge. The house actually sits sideways and faces the side of another house. This will be an objection when it comes time to sell. I have seen larger flag lots where it was possible to face the house to the front and have a long driveway and those are very attractive.

10. Lots by anything having to do with electric, water or sewage will be a challenge when you are ready to sell.

Here are some tips for choosing your house plan:

1. Consider the size of homes in the community. It is a better investment to be one of the smaller homes in a neighborhood than one of the largest or the largest home.

2. Structural options are very important. Choose these over cosmetic options. You can always add hardwood or granite later, but not that third bathroom. Think about your needs and also think about resale. If most of the houses in the neighborhood have lanais/covered porches or three-car garages, don't be the only one without one.

3. Jacksonville Florida buyers like a house plan that has the Master Bedroom on the first floor. In 'northern homes' (anything north of Florida), it is common for all the bedrooms to be upstairs. Not so here. Additionally, many buyers prefer a second bedroom on the first floor if it is a larger home. Why? Small children or aging parents.

4. Buyers are trending away from a traditional living room and dining room. They prefer a living room that can be used as a study if there is one at all. Living room/dining room combos are not as popular.

5. A 4 bedroom house will be easier to sell than a 3 bedroom house unless you are in a retirement or resort community.

6. Kitchens and baths sell houses. Remember this when you buy and you will have an easier time when you want to sell.

7. Loft areas are fun and open floor plans are beautiful, but remember that sound travels. If possible, you may want your loft to be a bonus room instead so the sound doesn't drift down to the main living area of the house.

8. Ask the builder what their rules are on duplicating homes around the neighborhood. A good developer will not allow a builder to build the same house too close together and also will change the elevation and paint color. This will create a more interesting community and an extra benefit is you won't get lost trying to find your own house!

If you're thinking of buying a new home in Jacksonville Florida, we can help you answer these and other questions about "Choosing Your Lot and House Plan." We work in the Jacksonville area, specializing in Clay County and portions of St. Johns County and Duval County. Call or text us at 904-673-2308 or email us at sharon@teamalters.com.

Part 1 - How Can a Realtor® Help Me?

Part 2 - Should I Buy a Spec Home or Build?

Part 3 - Choosing a Community

Part 4 - Choosing Your Lot and House Plan

Part 5 - Negotiating the Contract and Financing

Part 6 - Design Center and Options

Part 7 - Build, Walk(through) and Close!