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The Daily Insight

How do I buy land for development?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Apr 02, 2026

Now that you have an overview of raw land as an investment, we’re going to go through the raw land development process step by step:

  1. Evaluate its economic feasibility.
  2. Determine the offer price.
  3. Find out what the land is zoned for.
  4. Secure your financing.
  5. Begin building within zoning laws.
  6. Market the land/property to sell.

How do you ensure land is buildable before purchasing?

Contact the Local Building and Planning Office If you’re going to be purchasing a property, you will need to know where it is located. Using just this sparse information, you can call the town’s Building and Planning Department. This is a department that must be called to ensure that the lot is buildable.

Is it worth buying undeveloped land?

Because the price of land today has the potential to become more valuable in coming years, buying and holding onto undeveloped land has the potential to earn viable returns for investors, especially in the long-term. In addition, there are various options for investors to purchase raw land below market value.

What type of loan is best for buying land?

The Bottom Line The best options to finance a land purchase include seller financing, local lenders, or a home equity loan. If you are buying a rural property be sure to research if you qualify for a USDA subsidized loan.

What makes land unbuildable?

To a tax assessor, “unbuildable” typically means that there is no apparent legal way to build on a lot due to regulatory issues – primarily zoning. For example, the lot may be too small for a legal home or commercial building under current zoning.

What determines if land will perk?

In most cases, properties can easily pass a perc test when the soil has higher concentrations of sand (because sand tends to absorb water at a much faster rate than clay or silt) and when the property is situated in an area with a low water table.

How do you know if land is suitable for building?

Contact the Building and Planning Department Call the office, request a zoning map, and ask them for their advice about building on the property. Inquire about any rules, codes, and possible hindrances to building on the land.

What are the steps in the land development process?

1 Evaluate its economic feasibility 2 Determine the offer price 3 Find out what the land is zoned for 4 Secure your financing 5 Begin building within zoning laws 6 Market the land/property to sell

What do you need to know about raw land development?

When it comes to raw land development, investors are essentially combining multiple investment strategies into one: purchasing land, building new construction, and renting or selling the final product. This deal type’s complexity will demand a significant amount of planning from investors before they ever even purchase the property.

What do investors need to know about land development?

The one aspect investors should care the most about is the loan-to-cost ratio (LTC). In essence, the LTC is the amount of money the lender will provide for the project, which will generally depend on the type of construction and use of the property.

What do you need to know about buying land in UK?

If you have land that can be developed, you need an expert at your side, advising on your entitlements, options and procedures. With development consultants working across the UK, Savills has built enviable expertise in selling and buying land for new projects, then turning potential into real development opportunities.