TITLE: LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE LAND—ANY HIDDEN GEMS?
Funny how the “problem” lots end up being the ones with the most character. I’ve worked with folks who swore up and down they’d never touch a sloped property, but then they’d see what you can do with a walkout basement or a terraced patio and suddenly they’re rethinking things. There’s a lot of creative opportunity in those quirks, even if they come with a bit more sweat and swearing.
I will say, though, I’ve seen some people get in over their heads with drainage—especially if the lot’s got clay soil or sits at the bottom of a hill. French drains, retaining walls, the whole nine yards. Sometimes it’s a fun puzzle, sometimes it’s just a money pit. Ever run into any surprise costs with your place that you didn’t see coming? I’m always curious which headaches folks would actually sign up for again, versus which ones they’d steer clear of next time.
And about mowing those hills—yeah, that’s a chore. I’ve watched more than one neighbor try to wrangle a riding mower up a steep bank and nearly tip the thing over. One guy finally just let the wildflowers take over and called it “meadow restoration.” Honestly, it looked pretty good after a while. Ever think about just letting part of it go natural, or is that not your style?
It’s wild how what seems like a compromise at first can turn into the best part of a property. Makes me wonder if the “hidden gems” are just the ones nobody else is patient enough to figure out.
TITLE: LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE LAND—ANY HIDDEN GEMS?
I've designed a few homes on what people called "problem" lots, and honestly, some of those projects turned out to be my favorites. One client was dead set against a sloped lot until we showed him how a walkout basement could open to a private patio—suddenly the extra grading felt worth it. But yeah, drainage is no joke. We underestimated the soil composition on one build and ended up doubling the budget just dealing with runoff. If you’re not careful, those “hidden gems” can get expensive fast... but sometimes the quirks make all the difference in the end.
If you’re not careful, those “hidden gems” can get expensive fast... but sometimes the quirks make all the difference in the end.
That’s the truth. I once picked up a weird flag-shaped lot that everyone else passed on because of the access issues. Ended up working with a creative driveway layout and some clever landscaping, and it turned into a really private spot—buyers loved it. But yeah, I’ve also had a “bargain” lot turn into a money pit after hitting unexpected bedrock. Sometimes the risk pays off, sometimes it’s just a headache. Always worth getting a good survey and soil test before you fall in love with a price tag.
HIDDEN GEMS AREN’T ALWAYS CHEAP—BUT SOMETIMES THEY’RE WORTH IT
That’s a great point about the surveys and soil tests—those “cheap” lots can have some wild surprises lurking under the surface. I nearly got burned by a similar situation a few years back. There was this oddly shaped parcel tucked behind a row of houses, and the price was way lower than anything else in the area. I thought I’d scored big until I found out the whole back half was basically unusable swamp. Ended up walking away after seeing the drainage report, but it was a close call.
But I totally get the appeal of those quirky lots. Sometimes the weird ones really do turn out to be the best. My brother-in-law managed to snag a super narrow lot sandwiched between two older homes. Everyone else thought it’d be impossible to build on, but he worked with an architect who specialized in infill projects, and now he’s got this funky little place with a rooftop garden and a ton of privacy. It’s not for everyone, but he’s thrilled.
I guess for me, I’m always weighing the risk vs. reward. I’ll admit, sometimes I get tempted by a low price and start daydreaming about what could be, but I’ve learned to slow down and look at the practical stuff first. Those “hidden gems” can be goldmines or money pits, and it’s hard to know which until you dig a little deeper—literally and figuratively. Still, there’s something satisfying about making a weird lot work when everyone else wrote it off. Just gotta make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew.
LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE LAND—ANY HIDDEN GEMS?
Man, I hear you on the “cheap” lots with expensive surprises. I’ve seen folks get lured in by a low sticker price, then end up spending way more fixing drainage or hauling out old oil tanks. I’m all for creative infill projects—love seeing weird spaces turned into cool homes—but sometimes the headaches just aren’t worth it. If you’re thinking about one of those oddball lots, definitely budget for extra due diligence… and maybe a little therapy if things go sideways.
