Your Texas Land Development FAQs

Buying land is one of the best investments a person can make because land is a limited resource that generally goes up in value over time. Texas is a great place to buy land because of its incredibly low cost of living, growing economic opportunities, and rich natural resources. Texas is a great place for building businesses and building families.

The first step to finding the right land for sale in Texas is knowing what you need: determine how much land and what utilities, amenities, and location you’ll need or want for your home or business.

Once you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, you can start your search online. Search on listing sites and directly through land developer portfolios. You can also ask your network if they have any land for sale near you. A Texas land developer like UDD can help you determine what you need and where to find it.

Buying from a Texas land developer can help you save money by accessing affordable prices, save time by buying land that’s ready for your needs, and avoid headaches by getting the zoning and utilities for your property. We can provide you with expert insights that will help you act on opportunities and avoid pitfalls.

To buy land in Texas, you’ll need to start by planning out your financing, including accounting for future expenses. Determine your needs and wants, and then search for a property that fits that description as closely as possible within your budget. Make sure that you thoroughly research the property before making an offer. 

After you’ve made an offer, the land owner can either accept the offer or attempt to negotiate a higher price. Once a price is agreed upon, the sale contract will be created and signed. At that point, you will also pay any agreed-upon down payments and upfront costs. After all costs have been paid, the land will be transferred into your name.

Just like home purchases, land purchases come with closing costs. These are the costs associated with carrying out the sale of a piece of land. These costs typically include things like appraisal fees, loan application fees, credit report fees, and prepaid costs like property taxes and mortgage interest. Closing costs on land purchases are usually between 2% and 6% of the total property cost.

One important part of finding the right land for sale in Texas is determining what utilities you’ll need and looking for properties that have those utilities available. To check for utilities on a property, you just have to ask the right people the right questions. 

For water and sewage, call the local water provider, usually the city government, and ask whether or not they provide water and sewage for the lot. To check for electricity, you’ll need to ask the county Planning and Zoning Board for the name of the power provider in the area, and then call that provider and ask whether or not electricity is available on the lot.

What you can build on land in Texas will vary depending on the zoning for that property. Lots with commercial zoning are meant for the construction of businesses and income-generating properties. This might include anything from a retail store or restaurant to an apartment complex or hotel. Residential lots, on the other hand, are meant for residential buildings, including single- and multi-family homes. Keep in mind that some lots will have further restrictions on what type and size of new construction can be built.