Land: You are well off.

For a long time, subdivisions were associated with a number of preconceived ideas: plots that were too small, impersonal houses built on top of each other, restrictive regulations... Fortunately, this era is over. Created in consultation with local elected officials, they are far from being all alike and make a point of integrating into the landscape while minimizing the environmental impact. The subdivision corresponds to current lifestyles. Financially, it makes home ownership possible for many families. It offers many advantages in terms of comfort, space and layout.
All this while respecting the rules that ensure good living together.

Choosing your lot

To buy a plot of land, several parameters must be taken into account. You certainly have personal criteria, but you must also take into account the constraints imposed by the land itself. First of all, find out about its location. This is essential. Is it close to shops and schools? Is it well served by transportation? These are all questions you need to answer to make the right choice.
The second important criterion is exposure. This parameter can make all the difference. A good orientation in relation to the sun can allow you to make energy savings while improving your comfort. The view also counts. If you don't want to find yourself face to face with your neighbor as soon as you open your shutters or to have an "unobstructed view" of his living room, choose subdivisions with large plots.
Finally, find out about the quality of the soil and subsoil, as this can have both practical and financial consequences on the construction of your house. If you are in an area where a geotechnical study is mandatory, the developer will have done so. Contact him to consult this document.

Good to know

Remember to consult the subdivision's composition plan to find out the number of lots and the layout of the buildings, the composition of the roads and networks, and the presence of green spaces.

A plot of land ready to use

If you are looking for a building plot, you will quickly understand why a subdivision is often preferable to an isolated plot where there is everything to do and check before buying. While the land in a subdivision is the "easy" solution. It will be :

- buildable. This may seem obvious, but it is not always the case for a plot of land in a subdivision where you will have to find out about it before doing anything. With a purchase in a subdivision, you will have the certainty of being able to build on the land of your choice;

- serviced. Work related to the road, connections to the different networks (gas, electricity...), sanitation... you will not have to take care of anything! The cost of these different connections is included in the purchase price of the land;

- delimited. The surface area of your land is guaranteed. It will have been determined beforehand by a surveyor who will have placed boundary stones. No one will be able to contest the limits of your land!

guaranteed. The developer provides you with a certain number of guarantees (hidden defect, ten-year guarantee on the networks...).

A developer who knows how to subdivide

The subdivision is a real estate operation which divides a piece of land into lots, in order to receive constructions. These constructions will be sold together or separately, after the developer has built access roads, servicing works, connections to the networks and collective spaces. He will then follow all the steps of the construction:

- define the possibilities of land division;

- study the various urban planning documents relating to the land (Local Urban Plan, land registry...);

- establish a subdivision project;

- to constitute the file of request for authorization to subdivide;

- to establish the financing plan of the infrastructure works of the grounds and studies of the grounds;

- to make the specifications of the allotment;

- to carry out the road works and the installation of the various networks;

- prepare and coordinate the works;

- and finally to market the lots, either directly to individuals who will build their house, or to a real estate builder who will build the constructions and sell them individually.

Everything is well supervised

When it is planned to divide a plot of land into two building lots and to plan to build roads and common areas, the project will require a development permit. If the subdivision does not correspond to these criteria, it will not be subject to a prior declaration. The file must be transmitted to the town hall of the commune which must provide a response within three months. This answer can be favorable, unfavorable or subject to a stay of execution. No promise of sale can be made before the development permit is obtained. Then, living in a subdivision implies the respect of certain rules for serene and peaceful neighborhood relations. It also means accepting certain obligations relating to urban planning and construction...
In order to guarantee a minimum of unity between the constructions, most of the time, the subdivision is governed by strict specific rules. In addition to the town planning rules (PLU...), the "colotis" (the owners of a lot) must respect

- the regulations which gather the rules concerning the implantation of the buildings in relation to the road and to the other constructions, the height and width of the frontages, the external aspect of the constructions or the fences. It can also set rules on the architectural level with certain types of materials to be used or colors to be respected for the construction. Be careful, they can be stricter than those provided for by the PLU of the commune;

- the specifications are more of an "instruction manual on how to live in a housing estate". It is not compulsory and its purpose is to define the private relations between the owners of the lots, their rights and obligations. It will concern various aspects of community life (for example, rules relating to the maintenance of gardens, professional or commercial activities authorized or not, water drainage, etc.).

How much does it cost?

It is difficult to give a price, as the range varies greatly from one area to another. But what is certain is that if the cost of purchasing the land exceeds that of a plot in a dispersed area, it should not be forgotten that it includes the road improvements, the water supply, the drainage system, the construction of the building site and the construction of the building.The cost of the land is higher than that of a plot in a dispersed area, but it should not be forgotten that it includes road improvements, servicing, demarcation and sometimes even the supply of certain equipment (fencing, hedges, mailboxes, rainwater collection tanks, etc.). This can represent between 20 and 40% of the price of the lot. Under these conditions, the selling price is competitive compared to that of a non-developed plot.

Marie-Christine MENOIRE