Orange County Lots and Land

Whether you want to build your own home, start a horse ranch, or just put some space between you and your neighbors, nothing compares with buying your own lot and building you own home. Orange County still offers many opportunities to purchase a piece of land and build your dream home. The MLS search links on this page will help you find lots, land for custom homes, acreage, and buildable parcels throughout Orange County, CA.

Inland -  Orange County South - Lots and Land

Nice lots and large land parcels are becoming scarce in this part of the county, but there are still a few custom home sites and lots with reasonable acreage available. In gate guarded Coto de Caza, lots are still available in Los Ranchos Estates, the Village, and Masters Collection. Ladera Ranch has a good number of custom lots in exclusive Covenant Hills. In San Juan Capistrano, you can find equestrian lots and home sites in communities such as Stone Ridge Estates. Though largely built out, a few parcels remain in the Laguna Hills equestrian community of Nellie Gail Ranch. This is a good opportunity to purchase a custom lot in one of South Orange County's most desirable areas.

^ Back to Top

Coastal / Beach Area Lots and Land

If you dream of building a home on a custom lot with forever ocean views, a beach area lot may be for you. The following links will help you locate lots in Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and other coastal locations.

^ Back to Top

Canyon Area Lots and Land

If you are someone who is looking for a getaway location; an area that is rustic and woodsy, yet still close to the conveniences and amenities of the city, a  lot in Trabuco, Modjeska, or Silverado Canyon may be for you. These locations are suitable for projects as small as a weekend cabin, or as large as an equestrian ranch or elaborate estate.

^ Back to Top

Orange County Central & North - Lots and Land

If your preference is the North part of the County, there are still may lots available in cities such as Tustin, Yorba Linda, Irvine, and Anaheim Hills. Use the following links to find available properties, and please feel free to call me if you have questions on any of the listings.

^ Back to Top

Factors to Consider Before Buying Land

There are a number of factors to consider before buying a piece of land

• Zoning Requirements

  Check with local authorities (city, county and state) to determine zoning ordinances and whether you can build the type of home you want before committing to buying the land. For example, some communities may not permit construction of any structure on parcels smaller than 20 acres. Ask about future zoning, whether there are plans to put in shopping centers or airports, or to change nearby land uses that could also devalue your land.

   

• Natural Hazards

  Obtain a natural hazard disclosure and look for soil problems. A disclosure will tell you if the land is a protected habitat, which would prohibit building. Is the area a known fire hazard? Is the fire department supported solely by volunteers? Many owners in the country maintain private ponds for fire emergencies.

   

• Elevation

  If the land is located near hills, how likely is the land to move? Some slab foundations can crack if the land is unstable. Find out if your parcel lies within the path of a potential landslide. For construction near bodies of water, you might want to consider building a raised foundation and make sure to buy flood insurance. If the land was once a swamp, ask neighbors about the condition of their foundations.

   

• Easements

  If access to your land is provided by driving across an adjoining parcel, you should obtain an easement and make sure it is recorded. Find out who maintains the roads and what your prorata share might cost for upkeep. What rights do neighbors have to cross your land? Are the boundaries clearly marked? Obtain title insurance, which will disclose easements and restrictive covenants or conditions. You might want to order a survey of the land.

   

• Utilities

  Water is important. Not all water is potable. Sometimes water rights don't "run with the land," which would mean you could not dig a well. Find out the depth of your water table and determine the difficulty of digging. Is the ground mostly rock? It can be costly to bring electricity, telephone or cable services to the property if they are not already established nearby. Will you need to install a propane tank? Consider a generator for back-up during power outages. If you cannot hook up to a sewer, what will it cost to install a septic system?

   

• Appraisal

  It's common to pay cash for land. If you're not planning to finance the land purchase through a conventional lender, which will require a lender appraisal, then obtain your own appraisal to determine an appropriate price before making an offer. Comparable sales are sometimes difficult to find when buying land.

• Insurance

Insurability of a property is very important. In certain areas, insurance may be difficult to acquire, due to fire hazard, earthquake damage, or other cause. In this case, you may have to insure through California Fair Plan or other insurer. Fair Plan is a private association based in Los Angeles comprised of all insurers licensed to write property insurance in California. They can often provide insurance coverage in areas that other insurers will not cover.

^ Back to Top