Building own house in Scotland.

Engeroosi

Where do I start? I am looking to build my own house somewhere around Aberdeen, I currently have a mortgage of 137k on the house in Aberdeen, worth 165k, thats being conservative. Also have a flat with mortgage of 50k and worth 85k, again conservative price. I rent this out which covers mortgage. My wife also has a 50% share in a flat with her mate, who covers all the mortgage and bills so costs my wife nothing. Unsure of the exacts on her mortgage but I think they have little or no equity.
I earn around 40k a year and wife earns around 23k. We both get overtime on top also.
Anyway thats the background, what are my chances of being able to build our own paradise in the countryside but not too far from Airport, say 20 miles.

Glitzkiss

How are your savings? Land within a 20 mile radius of the airport is very expensive. This tiny part of someone's back garden is going for offers over 85k

http://www.aspc.co.uk/cgi-bin/public/SINGLE?ID=285800

Plus there's building costs on top of that.

Engeroosi

7k in savings as we overpay on the mortgage rather than put into savings.

I know the land is expensive, are you from the area? I was hoping to maybe find someone who knows someone willing to sell land. ha ha. We are looking to live in the country a wee bit, currently live in the town of Dyce.

Not exactly sure how much the building costs will be, was hoping to get a rough idea on here.

Glitzkiss

I wouldn't call Dyce a town - more a suburb. And yes I'm local. Anyone looking to sell land will want the market value for it. After all Aberdonians aren't reknowned for being generous :D

If you only have 7k I doubt this is feasible as I seem to recall banks won't lend to buy land. I may be wrong though so perhaps you should pop over to the mortgage and enowments board and ask the experts. As for building costs check out the DIY board for an idea

Gwhiz

There are 3 main self build mags and lot's of self build sites so lot's of places to go for research.

googler

Engeroosi wrote: »

I know the land is expensive, are you from the area? I was hoping to maybe find someone who knows someone willing to sell land. ha ha.

Finding someone to sell a small parcel may be easy, but finding a small parcel which is zoned for housebuilding as opposed to agriculture or commerce will be more difficult, and anyone selling such with either outline or detailed planning consent will be wanting the market rate for same, as in the £85k plot mentioned above. The large sites outlined in the council's local plan will likely be land-banked by the big housebuilders, leaving the infill sites where owners subdivide their big back garden into a small garden plus a land plot to be sold off.

Typical single-house plots with consent are retailing for £60k to £75k down my way (East Central Belt).

Why would anyone sell it to you at below market value when they can get full value selling to someone else?

Engeroosi

Ok found a plot of land with planning permission for a 1.5 storey house, I would like a 2 storey house, is it likely i will encounter problems changing to a 2 storey?

Also the land is advertised for 70k on estate agents but the seller is saying she will accept 25k, this is making me slightly suspicious as to why she wants rid of it, or if it is even her land. She claims that it was given to her daughter but she doesnt want it as its too far from the city.

googler

Engeroosi wrote: »

Ok found a plot of land with planning permission for a 1.5 storey house, I would like a 2 storey house, is it likely i will encounter problems changing to a 2 storey?

There's probably a reason why the current owner applied for 1.5 storey - surrounding properties are bungalows, so a dormer bungalow won't look out of place, that kind of thing. What's around it?

Look up the planning application on the council's website, or go to the planning department and read the planning officer's report in which they granted the permission. See if you can deduce from this why a 2-storey wasn't applied for. Check any conditions on the current planning application, as these may restrict you in the future. Check if there's a limit date on the current application within which work must start or the application lapses.

If you do re-apply, it will cost you the planning application fee, etc etc plus - you may not get the permission.

googler

Engeroosi wrote: »

Also the land is advertised for 70k on estate agents but the seller is saying she will accept 25k, this is making me slightly suspicious as to why she wants rid of it, or if it is even her land. She claims that it was given to her daughter but she doesnt want it as its too far from the city.

If it was given to the her daughter (and you spoke to the mother) then the mother won't own it, and can't be the seller.

If you get to the stage of making an offer, one of the things the selling solicitor will do is 'exhibit the title' to your solicitor, the buying solicitor. Essentially, you won't get to the stage of buying it if either the mother or daughter don't own it. The selling agent should have verified the ID of the owner and seen some documentation of ownership, but a reduction like that would make me suspicious too.

GothicStirling

You should talk to the council first off.

I live in Stirling, and there are all sorts of planning regulations because of it's historic location. Every thing has to 'fit into the spirit of the town.' I can't even get double glazing into my 1908 flat.