Yeah, I’ve run into that too—once found a “bargain” lot that turned out to have a utility easement running right through the middle. Kinda kills the dream of a pool or guest house, you know? Sometimes cheap land just means expensive headaches later.
Yeah, that’s a classic headache. I’ve seen folks get excited about a “steal” only to find out later there’s a sewer line or drainage easement right where they wanted their patio. It’s frustrating, but honestly, it’s not always a dealbreaker—sometimes you can work around it if you’re flexible with your plans. Still, I totally get the disappointment when your dream layout gets nixed by a buried pipe. Always worth double-checking those plats and surveys before falling in love with a lot... learned that one the hard way myself.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I think folks sometimes overestimate how much an easement limits you. Yeah, you can’t build right on top of it, but I’ve seen creative designs that actually turn those “dead zones” into cool features—like a garden path or even a firepit area. It’s not always a total buzzkill for your plans. Sometimes those lots get overlooked just because people don’t want to bother thinking outside the box.
Title: Looking for affordable land—any hidden gems?
Yeah, I’ve seen people get spooked by easements and just write off a lot completely, but honestly, half the time it’s not as restrictive as folks think. Had a client once who was convinced their backyard was “ruined” because of a utility easement running through it. We ended up turning that strip into a killer bocce court and some raised beds—now it’s their favorite part of the yard.
I mean, sure, you can’t build a garage or anything permanent right on top, but there’s usually wiggle room for landscaping or even some lightweight structures if you’re smart about it. Sometimes those “problem” lots are where you find the best deals, just because people don’t want to mess with the extra planning. It’s a bit more work up front, but if you’re flexible, you can end up with something pretty unique.
Not saying it’s always sunshine and roses—sometimes an easement really is a pain—but it’s definitely not an automatic dealbreaker in my book.
