This continues our series about starting to build in the High Country. Here is Part One, if you need a refresher.

So you want to build… now what?

I wish we had such a thing as a “model home” up here, but we don’t. There is no precedent for what is happening in our market right now. Consumers can have difficulty envisioning things like complementary finishes, room size and ceiling height affecting the overall space; you know, things that a model home makes it much easier for people to see.

In all our local major markets, Charlotte, High Point, Hickory, Winston Salem, Raleigh, etc., people are able to walk out the door and say, “I want to buy a brand new house,” get prequalified, walk into the door of a model home, put 10% down, and Boom! they close in 6 months.

That is so not the way it works up here. We wish, but our particular market just does not function that way. If you want to build a new home on your own land in the High Country, you need to prepare yourself, both mentally and financially.

Lets start with finding your lot:

There are 2725 lots for sale in the High Country; 2229 of those are in Watauga, Ashe or Avery County.

• Pick your location – An obvious first step, but this is funny to me because the High Country isn’t at all like the city in this regard. Since we have beautiful land everywhere, great schools all over, and so many people relocate up here to work from home, there really isn’t an undesireable part of the High Country in which to live. Maybe you’re drawn to Blowing Rock because your friend visits there frequently and told you it was pretty, or a relative went to App State, so you prefer to stay close to Boone. Whatever your reasoning, there is no shortage of good locations up here.

• Now that you have a general idea, here are the factors you need to consider:
  • Most Important: Do you need hard line internet? Believe it or not, cable is not a guarantee up here, so consider this your biggest challenge especially when building on undeveloped property. Even if you are close to one of our larger towns it does NOT guarantee hard line internet; you may be in an area that only has satellite. Just like in the larger markets, it takes time for these companies to lay new line, and we are just waiting our turn. Wildblue/Excede is one that  offers satellite options up here, if cable or DSL are not in your area.
  • Second – do you really need a view? That multi-state view will cost you several extra thousand dollars. Is it really worth it? To some it may be, but I prefer to invest in my house. That monster view is going to destroy any budget. I would settle for something I like to call a short-range mountain view, a valley, or even the middle of the woods, in order to be able to build the house of my dreams. With so much access to scenic byways up here, chances are that you will leave your house and enjoy those views on the regular.
  • Third – If you are used to living 5 minutes or 1 mile from a grocery store, and you want to find “somewhere private and remote”, just remember that is literally a life-changing decision. I live 10 miles to App State and it still takes me 30 minutes to get there. Choose your location based on your current lifestyle. Don’t try to be the next “Mountain Man” unless that is already your thing. Trust me, you may like it for about a month or so, but that drive gets old REAL quick.
  • Don’t rule out land that has a POA (Property Owners Association). Coming from the city, you probably call that an HOA and think “I don’t want anyone telling me what to do on my land!”  Lose that mindset, because most of the time up here, those POAs are primarily for things like road maintenance. Most likely, you will need that road maintenance agreement to get your loan and to ensure you aren’t the one responsible for plowing it in the winter.
  • Speaking of Loans – Do you need to get a loan to buy your land? Expect to have to put 35% down with most lenders. When you start construction, if you are getting a construction loan, you have to pay off that lot loan with your first draw. This cuts into the money the contractor needs to start building, so keep a contingency of side cash to help the builder break ground.
  • Final note – PLEASE get a perc test. Not all land is viable for a septic system.   Don’t go in head first, decide you want to close in a week, and do away with the perc test as unnecessary. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how people end up with a worthless investment. You wouldn’t buy a car without looking under the hood, right? You will need a solid three weeks to go through this process; possibly longer depending on how many folks are ahead of you and the weather conditions. Here is the link to App Health’s site and application to get you started.

Put your city mind on hiatus! Our mountain land is its own unique experience.

Tags: build, high country, New Construction