I’ve always wondered if those odd-shaped lots end up being more hassle than they’re worth, though.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes those “hassle” lots are where the real deals hide. I’ve seen folks snag land for way less just because it’s not a perfect rectangle. Sure, the city might throw a few curveballs with permits or setbacks, but with a little creativity (and maybe a patient architect), you can turn those quirks into something really unique—and often more affordable.
I actually toured a triangle-shaped house last year. The owner said the city was picky about driveway placement, but otherwise, it was smooth sailing. Plus, the layout was wild in a good way—tons of light, no wasted space. If you’re willing to think outside the box, those odd lots can be a goldmine. Sometimes the best bargains are hiding where everyone else is too nervous to look.
If you’re willing to think outside the box, those odd lots can be a goldmine. Sometimes the best bargains are hiding where everyone else is too nervous to look.
That’s a fair point, but I’d just caution that it’s not always as simple as being creative or hiring a good architect. When I built my place, I looked at a couple of “bargain” lots that were oddly shaped. The price was tempting, but once I factored in the extra costs for custom foundation work, weird utility runs, and even just fencing, it started adding up fast. The city here also had some pretty strict setback rules that basically shrunk the buildable area to something barely usable.
I’m not saying it can’t work—clearly some folks make it happen—but I’d recommend running the numbers carefully and maybe talking to a builder before jumping in. Sometimes those “hidden gems” end up costing more in the long run than a standard lot would have. Just my two cents from going through it myself.
Sometimes those “hidden gems” end up costing more in the long run than a standard lot would have.
That’s a really solid point. I’ve seen folks get lured in by a cheap price tag, only to get blindsided by things like utility hookups or weird grading issues. It’s easy to underestimate how much those “quirks” can add up. Still, if someone’s got the patience to do their homework and maybe negotiate with the city on setbacks, sometimes it does work out. Just takes a lot of legwork upfront—definitely not as simple as it looks on paper.
