Owning Your New Land

A Few Things to Remember Before I Let You Go...

You've closed and the land is officially yours. There may not be moving boxes to unpack, but there are still a few things worth taking care of now and a few records you'll be glad you kept later.

Don't Miss Your Property Tax Bill

Depending on when you close, the county tax office may not immediately have your new mailing information. Your first property tax bill could still be mailed to the previous owner.

If you don't receive a tax bill when expected, don't assume one wasn't issued. Check with the county tax office and make sure they have the correct mailing address for you. It's a simple thing that can prevent late fees and headaches later.

Check for Property Tax Programs

Vacant land generally won't qualify for the same exemptions you may be familiar with on a primary residence, but that may change once you build and establish the property as your home.

If you plan to place larger acreage into a conservation program, now is also a good time to look at your county's guidelines, eligibility requirements, and any long-term commitments involved.

For questions about how your land is assessed or what programs may apply now or later, start with the county tax assessor's office. For tax advice specific to your situation, talk with your tax professional.

Get Connected With Your HOA or Community

If you bought land in an HOA or gated community, make sure the association has your current contact information and that you know how to reach them.

Find out how dues are billed, how you'll receive community notices, how gate access works, and where to find current covenants, architectural guidelines, building requirements, ACC contact information, or other community information.

Keep Your Property Records Together

Hang on to the documents and information you collected during your purchase. Depending on the property, that might include your closing and title documents, deed, survey or plat, soil evaluation, well information, restrictions, HOA documents, utility information, maps, permits, or other reports.

Put it all in one place and keep it. Some of it may not seem very important today, but you'll be glad you have it when you're talking with a builder or contractor later. And if you ever sell the land, you'll already have much of the information the next buyer is going to ask for.

Know Where Your Property Is

It sounds obvious, but vacant land has a funny way of becoming harder to identify once the ribbons, stakes, signs, or other temporary markers disappear.

If you had the property surveyed, keep a copy of the survey and familiarize yourself with the corners and boundaries while everything is still fresh in your mind. Don't rely on ribbons, stakes, signs, GPS, or online mapping as permanent proof of a property line.

Keep an Eye on Your Land

If you don't live nearby, make a point of checking on the property occasionally or having someone you trust take a look.

Storms happen, trees fall, roads wash, gates change, and vacant land can occasionally attract dumping, unauthorized clearing, or other activity that doesn't belong there. An occasional visit can help you catch a problem before it's been sitting there for months.

If You're Planning to Build

Most land here doesn't require you to build right away, so there's nothing wrong with buying the property now and waiting until you're ready. Just be sure to check your community restrictions for any requirements that apply to your particular property.

When the time does come, don't start clearing trees, grading, or cutting in a driveway until you've checked any community, ACC, and county requirements that may apply. It's much easier to ask first than discover afterward that something needed approval.

When you're ready to build, check out my Builder Resources for information to help you get started. And if you'd like a heads-up on builders who commonly work in the area where you purchased, I'm glad to help if I can.

→ Builder Resources

And One Last Thing...

Enjoy Your Land

You may have bought it to build next year, ten years from now, or simply because you found a piece of North Georgia you wanted to call your own.

Whatever the plan, take some time to enjoy it. Walk it again when the seasons change. Learn the property. Sit there for a while. You don't have to start moving dirt the minute the deed is recorded.

Stay in Touch!

Closing doesn't mean our relationship ends here. If a question comes up about your property, you need a local resource, or you simply aren't sure who to call, don't hesitate to reach out.

And if you ever decide it's time to build, buy another property, or sell this one, you know where to find me.