Help...Question about adding a House.

[chef jimmyj]

Hey guys. I am not sure where to get this info so I thought, why not ask my family...

I am looks to buy a house on 5 acres in the woods. The location is in NW PA an hour south of Lake Erie. Very secluded, very quite, no immediate neighbors with private road access, but not far from town. Anywho...I have 3 Daughter's in there twenties, two of which are engaged. They and their husbands would like to add Modular or Mobile Homes on our property. Kind of creating a Chef JJ Family Compound. So any clue if this can be done? I assume Building Permits are required but I really don't want the hassle and expense of subdividing the 5 acres into smaller lots. I would think it not a huge deal as Trailer Parks have the land owned by an individual or company and they put a bunch of Mobiles on pads leasing to unrelated people...

 I realize laws vary by state and county but Ya'll may have some experience with this type of thing and may be able to give some insight on how to go about this or whom to contact. Thanks in advance for your help...JJ

 

[HalfSmoked]

JJ

When you find a peace of property just check the local building codes in the county office. Also a real estate agent should know this info just be careful that the agent is reliable.

Warren

 

[chef jimmyj]

Thanks Warren. Cookin' I know, but this land stuff get's confusing...JJ

 

[daveomak]

Check the mineral rights.....   Some outfit might come in and frack the hell out of your place... 

You shouldn't have to subdivide....    Septic permits....  Water rights for wells and GPM restrictions..    Raise the rent and live like a retired chef..

Oh yeah, check occupancy...   some areas 5 acres is single family.....

 

[chef jimmyj]

Thanks Dave. I will have to call the township and see what they have to say. Just heard horror stories about lawyers making money and town counsel being stubborn with this kind of stuff...JJ

 

[cats49er]

Check with the Cod enforcement and building inspector of that county.They maybe the same in that location.You will have to have a septic system .Before you buy the land have a perk test done by the building inspector.That's whom does it where I live.He then can tell you what you will have to have as far as a septic system.You could talk to him about  more than one home on the property.You might get lucky and be able to have one large septic system able to handle several homes.Other things to consider is cost of a water well, cost to get electric power pulled in,and phone / high speed internet. Plus everything Dave mentioned..It just takes a  lot of leg work.I find if you will find out what is needed and the proper order that these event must take place,makes it some what easier. Keep us up dated Jimmy.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Also.. make sure to check that none of it is wetlands (like you said on other thread) ... a lil story ... We bought our lot in 1991... the lot next to me was available as well (both 1.2 acres)... but the owners told us the other lot would never sell because it's not a buildable lot.. more than 3/4 of it is wetlands ... the owners have since past and their son inherited the other lot... he tried building on it and State DEP came and red tagged it... needless to say fines of all kinds ... DEP put stakes in the ground and made him pull the new dirt back past these stakes... saying that was the beginning of the weltands... This mound of dirt is still there to this day... so after all that settled down... 6.. 7 years later it's up for sale again... so as people looked at it and asked questions of me.. I would tell them the history of the lot... well... realtors heard they were talking to me and told this one couple not to talk to us as we were telling lies about the lot.... realtor told them it was a buildable lot... We (wife or I) never did talk to the couple and they went ahead and bought it... they got a contractor... the "COUNTY" approved all permits... So I called DEP (department of environmental protection) to come have a look at what was gone on... "IT IS STILL AN UNBUILDABLE LOT" ...

What gets me is the County ... They had to know the lot went into litigation with the state for this same thing... why would they approve all permits... trying to take ones money and hope nobody speaks up ???

Last I heard... the new owners were gonna take us to court since they had to file bankruptcy and lost 30k ... I asked him... "Why would you do that... you'll just be out of my legal fees (another 20k)... told him the Realtors is who you need to go after...

BUt anywhooo... as others have said... DO YOUR LEGWORK...

 

[mosparky]

Unless things have changed around here, a mobile has to be 100 yrds from property line. A guy I worked with had a peice of property that was 200 yds wide and about 700 yrds deep. Asthetically, plenty of room for a mobile, but the county said "no-go" because there was no way to place a mobile and maintain the hundred yard rule. 14 ft wider would have made it.

 

[venture]

God luvya JJ, but I wish you luck!

Even a puddle of water during a heavy rain could kill the project.

A real estate lawyer sounds like a good idea?

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[jcbigler]

I thought this thread was going to be about adding a smoke house to your regular house.

 

[chef jimmyj]

I thought this thread was going to be about adding a smoke house to your regular house.

It WILL, just gotta get the legal stuff worked out on a new property. My house. kids house, Smoke house...JJ

 

 

[HalfSmoked]

Since this is a smoking forum and with the info you have received the caution here is to make sure that the butt that gets smoked is not yours. 

 

Warren

 

[daveomak]

Now that's funny .....

 

[chef jimmyj]

 
Since this is a smoking forum and with the info you have received the caution here is to make sure that the butt that gets smoked is not yours. 

 

Warren

 Yeah, you ain't kidding! I am looking at one property today and one on Friday. A local government offical for the Fri property said, only building permits and septic assessment is required but no subdivision needed. More info to come. I want to thank all for responding. I knew I could count on you guys!...JJ

 

[GaryHibbert]

I don't know about your area, JJ, but up here the County has a very strict Land Use Bylaw that stipulates (in no uncertain terms) whether you can subdivide or have multiple residences on a property.  Before you do anything, a thorough check at the county office is in order.

Sure hope it works out for you.

Gary

 

[cats49er]

You can always give the people whom has to sign off on the permits and such some of that fine fresh cooked BBQ ,just to say thanks for the help.Might help in the process.