Quote:
Originally Posted by Esther
I found 2 acres that is near a bayou. I am trying to find out if it floods in that area.
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A flag lot is any lot that does have any direct frontage along the public right-of-way (public road). Cross-over agreements have to be "deeded" to create right-of-ways that enable lots behind the lots in front to cross-over the front lot(s). (If you think of a flag on a flag pole, the flag is your lot and the flag pole is the cross-over/right-of-way.
U&O (may have slight local governments twist)
Use and Occupancy; this is your right to inhabit what you are building. It is generally upon the completion of all inspections (Finals). The building and/or fire marshall is normally the last inspection that looks for all the trades (elec, HVAC, plumbing, insulation) to have final inspection and then a U&O is granted. If you are unbundling your job, this can be tricky since Mr. General contractor is kind of KING until the U&O is issued (make sure you consider arbitration clauses). See if payment to the subs can be made direct and just treated as a payment/draw to your General contract. A sub can put a mechanics lean on your property even if the dispute is NOT between you and him. Getting a U&O will be an important strategy if you are trying to get your very pricey finishes to be "bought direct" rather through MR. General contractor's mark-up machine.
Modular has a lot of upside and should be seriously reviewed in your mix of options and approaches. Normally the modular installer will need to be the general contractor during the foundation/basement phase.
Impact fees are just the new way local governments tax you to build. It is an unbundled permit fee supposedly to support the cost of the "impact" of your development on the local roads and schools. If you are in a rural county, maybe this latest form of construction extortion has not found its way to your building site BUT ASK! Impact fees can be crazy money...$5- 15K...bizarre, criminal, government doing what it does best. If they do not exist --great (ask if there is any pending legislation), if they do exist, get the skinny before you purchase the land.
Flood plain data is always available and may impact the way your HVAC and other mechanical system equipment can be set. If you have surface run-off within a 1000' of a body of water, you want to find out if there are any special construction requirements based on the physical proximity (this is often called --critical area. If so, you almost asssuredly will need a grading plan (archetectural drawings for the landscape) and you will certainly be learning all about sediment and storm-water containment. If you have not purchased the land as of yet, be mindful of any reforestation or natural surface water filtering that may be required for site development.
If this will involve a well and septic system you may need to connect with a civil engineering service to get the skinny on well depths, water quality, water conditioning, and infiltration (percolation) for the drain fields/dry wells. Septic companies and well drilling companys know a lot of this stuff but you may get a lot of run around because they will be hesitant to say anything too specific. If any neighbor has developed recently....get to KNOW THEM!