In The Neighborhood

Location, location, location! These are three of the most important words to buyers, sellers and real estate agents.

When considering a property, it may appear to be the perfect dream but what may be attached could be a deal breaker. For example, community restrictions or deed restrictions are designed to keep area values high but it may also pose limitations on what you may want to do with your land. It is important to know those limitations before you are locked in.

Restrictions come in many forms. For example, restrictions may limit the size of your home, the type of construction, the number of homes that you may build on the land, the number of trees that may be removed from the property, and possibly even the color of your roof. For developers, the county may have restrictions on how a piece of land may be developed in terms of tracts and division.

Is the land in a watershed? If so, the county health department may need to sign off on a plan for proposed land. Here again, the authorities maintain the best interest of communities, but these interests may infringe on your specific plans of usage.

A planned residential community may have a homeowners association in place to enforce deed restrictions, maintain roads, and keep common areas cleaned and groomed. A copy of the association by-laws is provided to you at your real estate closing; however, it is wise to request a copy to review prior to committing yourself to the land.

These are only a few more good reasons to have a licensed and informed Real Estate agent working for you. At Smoky Falls Real Estate, we are prepared to answer or obtain answers to your questions long before we accompany you to a real estate closing.