Vacant Land For Sale In Lithia, FL
Lithia is one of the best suburbs of Tampa. It offers a more serene lifestyle - with plenty of green space - while still being close enough to the city to work or play there. It’s also close to the beach and many other attractions in West Central Florida.
The town of Lithia has many great communities and housing options, from upscale developments to 55+ communities, to townhouses, condos, and single-family homes. There are also still many opportunities to buy vacant land in Lithia - the perfect place to build your dream home.
If you are interested in buying a new house in Lithia, we can help you search for the right property for your needs. Eaton Realty represents clients as they search for all types of properties - including land for new construction homes. Reach out today to talk to an experienced Lithia Realtor.
Living in Lithia, Florida
Lithia, Florida is a suburb of Tampa. Located 18 miles southeast of Tampa, Lithia is part of Hillsborough County. The population of Lithia is about 32,000 people.
While Lithia itself has a strong economy due to its proximity to MacDill Air Force Base, many residents choose to work in Tampa. A typical commute is 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Living in Lithia means that you get a more laid-back lifestyle while still being close enough to take advantage of Tampa’s many amenities.
Lithia is part of the Hillsborough County School District, which is known for having excellent schools. Public schools include Bevis Elementary, FishHawk Creek Elementary, Lithia Springs Elementary, Pinecrest Elementary, Stowers Elementary, Randall Middle School, Barrington Middle School, and Newsome High School. There are also two private schools in Lithia: St. Stephen’s Catholic School and Foundation Christian Academy.
Lithia is known as a family-friendly community. In fact, it was ranked as a top place in Florida for raising kids. Its reputation for being wonderful for families comes from its excellent schools combined with many activities for kids, such as parks like the Alafia River State Park, Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, Chito Branch Reserve, Keysville Park, Osprey Ridge Park, and the Fishhawk Skate Park. Lithia also has plenty of green space and access to nature, including Gulf Coast beaches.
There are lots of great established communities in Lithia, such as FishHawk Ranch, Fish Hawk Trails, and Hawkstone. However, there is also vacant land for sale that can be developed to suit your needs. Many people choose to purchase land in Lithia to build a new construction home.
Why Purchase Vacant Land?
Residential real estate is a smart investment. Buying vacant land gives you the opportunity to not only invest in real estate - but to build the house of your dreams.
Buying a lot gives you the ability to choose exactly where you want to live. Whether you pick land within an established community or in a more rural, undeveloped area, you have complete control over where you will ultimately call home. The only real restrictions are zoning and the suitability of the land for building.
Building a new house can often be expensive. When you purchase vacant land, you can choose to hold onto it until you are ready to construct your house. This may help to bring down costs later if you are able to purchase the land outright or pay off a land loan before you begin construction.
Of course, the main reason that most people purchase vacant land is simply because they fell in love with it or the area and want to live there. Unlike buying an existing home, buying land means having control over every aspect of the process - from where your house is situated to how your house will look. Our Realtors can help you find the perfect vacant lot for your needs in Lithia.
What Factors Should You Consider When Buying Vacant Land in Lithia?
Buying a piece of land might seem like a pretty simple thing, but there are some factors to consider that might not be present when purchasing a property with a home on it. This is particularly true if you are purchasing a plot of land with the intention of building a new house on it. Below, we list some factors that you should think about before purchasing vacant land in Lithia.
Type of Land
There are 3 basic types of vacant land that you might purchase:
- Raw land is untouched. It lacks any access to basic utilities such as water, electricity, gas, or sewer. It also will not have road access.
- Unimproved land may have some access to roads but usually does not have utilities.
- Improved land is ready for construction, with access to both roads and utilities.
The type of land that you purchase is incredibly important when it comes to everything from your ability to use it to how much it will cost to build on the land. Generally, the less developed the land is, the more it will cost to build on it. You should take this into consideration when deciding what land to purchase.
Costs
As mentioned above, the type of land that you purchase will affect the cost. This comes down to 2 major factors:
- Land loans: borrowing money for vacant land is considered a higher risk than borrowing money to purchase a house. For this reason, banks typically charge higher interest rates and require a larger down payment for a land loan. Loans for raw land and for undeveloped land will be more expensive than loans for developed land.
- Construction costs: if you are buying vacant land with a plan to build a new house on it, then the type and condition of the land you buy will affect the overall cost to build. If you have to put in utilities and a road and clear and grade the property, it will be more expensive overall than building on a plot of land that is already cleared and has the necessary access to roads and utilities.
Our Lithia real estate agents can help you understand how purchasing a particular piece of land might impact your budget.
Restrictive Covenants, Zoning, and Ordinances
When purchasing a piece of land, it is important to do your due diligence to make sure that it is a good purchase. Your research should include:
- Zoning: What types of development are permitted on the land? How difficult would it be to get the zoning changed?
- Restrictions: Are there any restrictive covenants or other restrictions (such as environmental regulations) on the land that would affect how you can use it?
- Property taxes: What are the annual property taxes on this property?
- Title: Does the property have a clear and marketable title?
- Easements: Are there any easements on the property?
An experienced real estate agent can help you learn more about these issues. They can also refer you to experts, such as title search companies, who can help you understand any factors that may impact your ability to use or develop the land.
Environmental Factors
If you plan to build on the land, you will need to know whether it is suitable for construction. Again, you will likely need to work with experts who can advise you on factors like soil quality, water table, slope, and vegetation. They can also advise you on whether the property is in a flood zone - which is particularly important in West Central Florida, where hurricanes and tropical storms are always a threat.
Location
In real estate, it’s all about location. You might find what you believe to be the perfect piece of land to buy - but it’s far away from stores and restaurants and outside of your preferred school district. Your Lithia real estate agent can work with the parameters you supply - such as acreage, availability of utilities, the closeness of neighbors, and zoning.
This list of things to consider may be daunting - but you don’t have to do it alone. Our award-winning Lithia realtors can help you with your property search and the necessary research to make sure that you are making a smart choice.
Nearby Cities
Eaton Realty is based in Lithia - and we happen to think that it is a wonderful place to live. Of course, we also know that the Tampa region is full of great communities. If you want to expand your vacant land search beyond Lithia, we can show you properties in: