How about building your own dream house? Espaces Atypiques has many plots of land for sale. So what’s special about this type of purchase? Here are the key points you need to consider before buying.
A large plot of land with river frontage or steeply sloping terrain a stone’s throw from the city centre… Do you dream of building your family home or architect-designed contemporary house from scratch? Visualise and conceptualise everything and choose every detail yourself? Perhaps you’d rather get the house of your dreams this way, rather than invest in an existing new house or renovation project? Buying a plot of land can be the perfect solution for buyers looking for total freedom with a bespoke property project.
Own the home of your dreams
Developing and building your own project from the ground up begins with finding the perfect plot, drawing up the construction plans, and choosing the materials as you dream of a living space that opens straight onto a terrace, or a super-impressive central staircase. When you buy an undeveloped plot of land, you can push the limits of your wildest dreams: how about a California-style home villa deep in the Drôme, or an all-timber home on a cliff? That way, you can focus on your desires and budget, rather than having to accept or decline whatever the market has to offer. You could, for example, draw up plans for an ultra-modern, energy-efficient house, or draw inspiration from the built portfolio of your favourite architect.
How about a serviced plot ?
As with any property, there are a number of things to consider when buying a building plot. That process begins with the location: is it near a town or in the countryside, standalone or in a development with other housing units? This first point is key, because projects differ, depending on their location! A standalone plot is unlikely to be serviced (connected to local utilities) or even be suitable for building. Housing developments may be subject to specifications that impose certain architectural rules.
A building plot is not just any piece of land
Is the plot of land you’ve chosen in an area of permitted development? You can check by referring to the Local Authority Planning Map (Plan Local d’Urbanisme or PLU) and survey map, both of which will be available in the local town or city hall. These essential documents show any limitations on development, utility connection availability, public road access, the minimum ground footprint required for construction, as well as permitted construction heights and the boundaries with neighbours. The PLU also encompasses building regulations designed to reflect local architectural styles and the wider environmental setting. Obtaining a planning certificate (certificat d’urbanisme) will also give you the information you need to understand the operational feasibility of a project.
For additional peace of mind, you can include a condition precedent in the contract of sale, making the purchase conditional on the granting of planning permission. Lastly, the PLU is also essential from the point of view that it governs – at least in part – the rules that will be applied to the positioning of your future home.
The importance of a soil survey
Can you see yourself there already? Great, but the first thing you need to do is check the soil composition and any restrictions or constraints it may impose on the construction process. No need to panic though, because a soil study is a legal requirement under the terms of the Elan housing and planning legislation. Since its introduction, sellers now have to provide a geotechnical survey report at the time the agreement of sale (promesse de vente) is presented for signature.
Once all of that is complete, you’re ready to become a homeowner! Explore our selection of plots on Espaces Atypiques.
