Research The Terrain You've found a few places that might work and you've decided on a few general layout plans so you can mock up the footprint on your lot.  Now you've got reason to spend some money and do a little research.  Depending on where you're planning to build you're going to have potential problems.  If you're in a more rural area without any homes close by you might have bigger problems versus a plot that is seated between homes on either side. If you're building on a plot near other homes or perhaps tearing down an old home and building a new one then you most likely won't need to worry about providing power and water and sewage to the plot.  It should already be there or at least close to your location.  If you're in the country and there's not a neighbor for miles you might need to spend a lot of money just to get the plot ready for living, without the house. There are also geological factors to consider.  You don't want to build your house on sand so you may need a geologist to survey the area that you want to build on.  This can add another significant cost to the equation. Building on a lot can save money and create equity in your home almost instantly, but it can also end up costing you a lot more money.  Make sure to check out a lot of options and do your research.