Have you heard the nightmare stories from people who bought a home that was located by a greenbelt, preserve, conservation area, or something of that nature, only to have that area developed into a noisy, ugly monstrosity at a later date? Or perhaps it's happened to you.
There are few things more disappointing or heart-breaking than buying your dream home because you fell in love with its' peaceful location, then losing that peace and not being able to do anything about it.
So how do you keep this from happening to you? Unfortunately, if you've already bought a house in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, or any other area of the country, there's not much you can do now. But I'm hoping this post will keep you from having to worry about this problem in the future. Here are a few things you can do, to make sure that preserve or conservation area behind the house you're considering, will stay just that! (Check with your Realtor, regarding the laws in your area, as my expertise is for real estate in the Daytona Beach area.
- Don't take the word of the seller! I'm not saying the seller is lying to you. I'm saying they may not have all the facts. You need to do your own research!
- Find out who owns the land and how they intend to use that land.
- Take it a step farther. Find out what uses are allowed for that land. Just because the owner doesn't intend to do anything different with it, doesn't mean they can't change their mind in the future.
- After finding out what uses are allowed, find out if zoning variances are a possibility. Let's say the seller does not intend to change the use of the land; and all allowable uses of that land are acceptable to you. What if the seller changes their mind and applies for a a zoning variance in the future?
At this point, you may run into a road block, because zoning changes are not always something that are pre-planned. (Real estate zoning in Daytona Beach has seen many changes in recent years) You may have to decide if you want to proceed with your sale, in spite of the possibility that you may lose your quiet little preserve in the future.
The upside to this is, what may be a horrible idea to you, might be a fantastic idea to someone else. For example, a developer who has owned a large parcel of land behind the neighborhood where you're buying, or already live, may in the future decide to develop that land instead of keeping it as a preserve. They may even apply for zoning variances and fight with tooth and nail for those changes, and they may win.
But what if they decide to build a high-rise condominium with a golf course, tennis courts, security, clubhouse, etc? Or what if they decide to develop a newer section in your own community, with estate homes? These changes could drastically raise your property value. So even if you decide to sell your house and move to a location that's more desirable to you, you could have a much higher property value and be able to afford your next dream home.
Of course I'm speculating on the possible uses of the land, and there's never any guarantee as to what a land
owner will do with a piece of property if the city allows it; Which brings me back to my opening line, as well as the title of this post. Do everything in your power to protect your most valuable assets, before you buy! Follow the steps I've outlined, and anything else you can think of before you rush into a costly decision. Your Realtor can help you find the information you need.
Many counties now have mapping systems in their parcel records. If you're in Volusia county Florida, you can go to the tax assessors web site to view aerial maps and zoning information for most of the county. And local Realtors have additional software to help you fill in the blanks.
If you're considering moving to this area and are in need of help with these services, make a Smart Choice today. Just go to my web site to get started right away.
Daytona Beach Real Estate for sale
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