1 acre land

Hello all,

I would like some advice for an 1 acre plot that is on the top of a hill with road access. At top there is half an acre of flat  and then there is half of acre of slope 25%. At the moment is so pasture.
I would like to know a layout should look like because all the gurus are saying that you should not build on top of the hill. So on a normal layout a house should be build somewhere in the middle (top buttom), but this plot is just half of the upper (so starts at the top and ends in the middle of the hill).

Thanks.

Andy Gigi wrote:Hello all,
... all the gurus are saying that you should not build on top of the hill. So on a normal layout a house should be build somewhere in the middle (top buttom), but this plot is just half of the upper (so starts at the top and ends in the middle of the hill).

Thanks.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will be here soon but if you have a half acre of flat that is most definitely where I'd put the structure. Seems building at the bottom of a hill would be riskier. Have you looked into zoning? Before I do anything in life I sit down and draw it out. Zoning and planning what you want where may give you other house location ideas. Congratulations on getting property!

One of the most important things is access to it.  Do you have to get permission from a landowner to cross their property?  If you don't have a legal right-of-way for a driveway it would be very risky to build there.  They could deny access, or sell it and new owners could deny access.   Or once you build something there it would be very difficult to sell if you needed to.  That requires lawyers and money for lawyers.  You may think you'll never sell, but it's an important option because life can surprise you.

It's not just you who need access, it's the fire department, a big, heavy propane truck if that's what you use, and both of those entities are connected to the county and will say yes or no to what you have in mind.  They have very big requirements for access and turning around without sinking in to the mud.

It's one of the biggest investments you'll make in life, so sinking that much money and effort into something that is that vulnerable is risky.

The infrastructure is more important than the building, so power, septic, driveway, water, foundation.

The second-most important consideration is water.  Where will that come from, how much will there be, how will the pump be powered, where will the power come from?  Solar may or may not work for a number of reasons that are discussed often on these boards.

Other than that,  Frank Lloyd Wright is one person who said don't build on top of a hill, build down just below the top.  He may have been thinking of esthetics first, but also because of wind.  Just a few wind storms a year can cause real damage in the long run, so don't take it lightly.  

I've noticed on these boards that depending on where people live, what they call a "hill" can be very different things.  People in flatter areas call a hill something you could easily coast a bicycle over, and others, in more mountainous areas call something that it would take a 4-wheel-drive to get over, a hill.   So if there is a degree of slope you can calculate, that often helps when researching.

And then the solidity of the ground for the foundation.  If it's expansive clay it will expand and contract with moisture/dryness and slowly contort a foundation that isn't built properly.  If the foundation isn't engineered to the soil it's on, or attached by piers to ground rock below the surface, it could be problematic in years to come, which means big expenses and vulnerability to years with heavy rains and bad storms.

Cristo Balete wrote:One of the most important things is access to it.  Do you have to get permission from a landowner to cross their property?  If you don't have a legal right-of-way for a driveway it would be very risky to build there.  

Yes road is next to the hill top next to flat area of the property. There is current water at top.

Just to be clear I have attached a scheme of the land, with red is the road and with blue the fence of property.

Oh, sorry, you did say 25%.   My bad.

So it's pretty steep.   Where I am, an engineered foundation is required, meaning a soils engineer has to come in, take soil samples down as far as possible to find bedrock, which will be important no matter where you build on that parcel.   They write a rather expensive report, which becomes part of the plans for the foundation.  You might want a deck on one side to give you some level "yard" space for sitting.  Even if you build on the top flat part, an engineered foundation would be protected from sliding.

Also, is it a legal parcel?  Meaning, has it been surveyed, and are the boundaries known Exactly?  The fence is up according to the survey, and not some 1890s notion of the boundary, and no one is disputing it?   Putting a dwelling or a large propane tank too close to one boundary sometimes is an issue, so leave as much room as possible.  

Where I am, a garage or carport is also required, so while this may not seem important, it does protect your vehicle, which becomes an expense and something one really needs to rely on.  A garage is preferable, because packrats and mice can get into the engine and chew the wires, causing problems, and sometimes starting vehicle fires.  But if a carport is the plan, then protect the vehicle in other ways.

In the long run, a carport or garage as near to the house is desireable, since making trips with groceries, propane (even if it is for the BBQ), items from the hardware store or large items in lousy weather is no fun.  Life is hard enough in a rural location, so give yourself some "luxuries" like that.

And while all of these things may seem expensive, they will pay for themselves in the long run in the value of your place increasing, and not having to do repairs or refits because it wasn't done right the first time.  Nothing gets cheaper over time, so you will save the most money on these things right now.

:-)

I'd be inclined to build right near the top edge of the slope, with the upper story level with the flat part, and the lower story along the lines of a walk-out basement. That way you get some of the advantages of an earth-sheltered home, but still have easy access to the road.