The Top 8 Things You Need to Know about Living on an Acreage

If life in the big city or suburbs is getting you down, you may be tempted to purchase an acreage to get away from it all. There's a lot to be said for living out in the country on acres of land, but you need to be absolutely sure that this kind of living is right for you. People often daydream about lazy days spent on porch swings sipping glasses of lemonade, but the reality can be decidedly different. A nice compromise is to purchase an Austin luxury home in an upscale development like Spanish Oaks. These communities feature spacious homes and large lots, but they don't involve the kinds of work you'll have to contend with on an acreage.

• Prepare to be Busy - Unless you can afford to hire people to maintain your property for you, you can expect to spend several hours per week doing so. The more acres you have, the more work there will be to do. As long as you find it to be rewarding, you're sure to enjoy it and will love living on an acreage.



• Find Out about Future Zoning - Nothing is worse than building something on an acreage and finding out that future zoning puts it in jeopardy. Before making any major changes to your acreage, find out about future zoning and other plans. In fact, you should do that before you buy a property in the first place. It's the best way to avoid major disappointment later.
• Expect a Lot of Visitors - When people find out you live on an acreage, they'll come out of the woodwork. You'll suddenly have more visitors than you can handle. From the very start, you should set ground rules about when people can visit and how many can visit at a time. Let everyone know these rules right away to avoid stepping on people's toes. One fun idea is to plan a big, annual gathering on your acreage. If you have enough room in your home, you could even put up most of your guests, or people could camp out on the acreage.
• Do Research before Building a Home on an Acreage - If you're looking for an acreage on which to build an Austin luxury home, do your homework. Even if you get a great deal on the land, the cost of bringing services to it can be prohibitive. The best luxury home builders in Austin will be able to guide you through the process to ensure that you don't bite off more than you can chew financially.



• Study Up about Insurance Early - You're obviously going to need homeowner's insurance when living on an acreage, but you'll probably need additional insurance too. For example, you'll probably have at least a few outbuildings on your property, and you should be able to buy extended insurance coverage for them. Depending on the nature of the land, you may want to buy additional fire insurance or other forms of coverage. Talk this over with an insurance agent before signing anything.
• Watch Out for Protection Covenants - Don't assume that owning an acreage means you can do whatever you'd like with it. In many areas, protection covenants put major restrictions on how land can be used. For example, you may be restricted in terms of the types of animals you can keep on your land, or you may not be allowed to build certain types of structures. It's a lot better to be aware of these things ahead of time than it is to be surprised by them later.
• Make Money with Your Land - If you're going to live on an acreage, you might as well take advantage of it. Depending on where your land is, you may be able to rent it out from time to time. You might also consider allowing people to keep their horses on your property for a fee. Some acreage owners even rent out their land for weddings and other special events.



• Keep Location in Mind - Right now, your acreage may be far removed from the city. Urban sprawl is continually at work, though, and that could change in a decade or two. Before you know it, you may be a lot closer to city life than you'd like. An upside to this is that your land will probably skyrocket in value. Check with luxury home builders in Austin to get a feel for how quickly urban sprawl will reach your location. If you're especially concerned about it, a better alternative may be to buy a luxury home in a community like Spanish Oaks. You'll be insulated from urban sprawl and be able to lead the kind of lifestyle you want for a long time to come.

When it comes to buying or building a home in Austin, the possibilities are endless. Whether you choose to move into a premium community or if you decide to buy your very own acreage, you're sure to be thrilled with this part of the state. There's never been a better time to buy or build, so put your plans in motion now.