If you want to build your business office, new home, or vacation home from scratch, begin with vacant land. There are local contractors available and word of mouth is a good way to choose one. Get recommendations from several people who are satisfied with their contractor, and to protect yourself, be sure they are licensed. You will be required to take out a building permit from the county in order to get started. Check with the local Building Department for more information about regulations and requirements.

It is not okay to purchase a lot and stick a motorhome or travel trailer on it to live in or weekend there. You can have a temporary residence on the property AFTER you take out a building permit. You would need a special permit from the county for this temporary housing and it may be renewable after six months if your home isn't finished yet.

Regarding utilities, there are both public and private water companies in the Valley. Please note that not all areas of the Valley have an abundance of water. Even an empty lot within a neighborhood may not have water hookup available. I recommend investigating and getting a will-serve letter from the appropriate water company prior to purchase of a lot. If the water co. cannot or will not connect your lot to the water supply, then you will probably need to contract with a company to drill a well, that is if the property is large enough and a well is allowed by the county. Check first prior to purchasing land that may not be useable. I would hate for you to be disappointed after the sale closed.

In almost every area of the Valley, you will need to have a septic system installed. Very few homes or businesses are on a sewer system. However, new regulations may soon be in place which will change the sewage disposal systems in parts of the Valley, especially in new developments, so again, do your homework and check with the County.

If electricity is available to the property line, that is a bonus. You will only be responsible for bringing it to your building site. Same with a television cable connection, unless you choose to use a satellite dish. These are concerns to also check prior to purchase.

Most homes use a combination of electricity and propane gas for utilities. There are several propane companies in the Valley. You will need to rent a tank from one of them for a modest yearly fee. You can have the tank filled on a regular route delivery system or on a call-in basis.

You can use standard telephone service with Verizon, or use a cell phone, or both. Internet connections are by telephone, Mediacom cable, DSL lines, or satellite systems. Not all types are available in all areas. Southern California Edison is our electric company. If you are building, you might consider solar panels for some of your power. There may be rebates and tax incentives available to help reduce your costs of purchase, installation, and usage.

Another item to check with the county is zoning regulations. While E(1/2) and E(1/2)RS seem almost the same, one allowes horses and other large animals, one does not. Maybe you can put a manufactured home on a solid foundation in a residential area, but there may be CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) that forbid it. Also, you should check with a local insurance agent to see if the property you're interested in purchasing is in a flood plain zone. And if so, is insurance available and how much will it cost? Local insurance agents seem able to get lower price estimates than out of area agents who do not know the territory.

As you can see, there are many concerns, including others not even mentioned here, that should be addressed either prior to purchasing vacant land or during the contingency investigation period of a Vacant Land Purchase Agreement. A real estate agent can help you with these concerns or give you information about who to contact, but you should take the initiative to get as much advance information as you can to avoid a very costly mistake. That is your responsibility, not your agent's.