Confirm legal ownership and boundaries
Obtain an independent title search and current survey. Check liens, inheritance claims, communal or indigenous rights, easements and encroachments. Physical fences may not match legal boundaries. Confirm whether a foreign buyer may own the land directly and whether coastal, border or agricultural restrictions apply.
Secure legal and physical access
A parcel without enforceable road access can have little practical value. Verify recorded rights of way, road maintenance obligations and whether construction vehicles can reach the site. Seasonal flooding, steep grades or informal access across neighboring property can disrupt both construction and resale.
Test zoning and development feasibility
Ask the relevant authority for written confirmation of permitted use, density, setbacks, height, subdivision and environmental constraints. Do not rely solely on a broker’s statement that land is buildable. A concept plan reviewed by local architects and engineers can expose problems before closing.
Price infrastructure honestly
Investigate electricity capacity, water rights, wells, sewer or septic approval, drainage, internet and waste service. Bringing utilities to remote land may cost more than the parcel. Include roads, retaining walls, grading, stormwater control and professional fees in the development budget.
Match the land to proven demand
A technically buildable project still needs customers. Research completed sales, rental or hospitality demand and competing supply. Model construction delays, currency changes and slower sales. Land often produces no income while approvals are pursued, so carrying costs and patience matter.