ANTELOPE VALLEY REAL ESTATE INFO

Driving around, in addition to noticing the extraordinary natural beauty of the area — the Joshua trees, fields of California poppy flowers, alfalfa farms, ranch-style homes and horse corrals — the land might seem a little remote and undeveloped. Keep in mind though, that as little as ten years ago bustling main sections of Palmdale, Lancaster and Rosamond looked the same. Development happens very quickly in the Antelope valley once it starts.

I highly recommend detouring a little on your way home to explore these cities, and get a sense of the white-hot growth happening in this region- the housing tracts, shopping malls and commercial development activity. Construction is everywhere. Antelope Valley real estate prices, and especially prices for Antelope Valley land, have been skyrocketing. CharlieLand is still cheap!

Every property I sell is accurately and specifically described in legal descriptions recorded with the county planning department, surveyor and assessor's offices. In addition, prior to acquiring them all properties were checked against US Geological Survey maps to make sure they are level and far away from any flood areas or other natural hazards. Additionally, the State of California requires a Natural Hazard Report and Disclosure be done by an independent private firm, which you will receive through escrow. In escrow you will also get a preliminary title report detailing the exact legal description of the land. After you have approved the title report and escrow closes, you will get a full policy of title insurance which guarantees that the property conforms exactly to its legal description. The title insurance policy also fully describes any and all easements or liens on the property, so you take posession of a clearly delineated and guaranteed legal parcel, with no surprises.

To my knowledge, none of my properties has been physically surveyed on the ground and staked out with markers. Most lots in the region are unsurveyed. You can usually drive to within 50-100 feet of most of my parcels, and with 30 mile visibility, you know you're looking at the land generally. To see the exact physical boundaries of a parcel as described in the legal description, you'd need to hire a surveyor and sink stakes. That's all part of the development process if you're going to build.

These are high quality parcels of raw, undeveloped California vacant land sold for low prices. Unless otherwise noted, utilities are not already in place. Water is usually available by sinking a well, or via public utilities, and power can be run from the nearest access. These costs may be part of developing a parcel for use. If you intend to build immediately, it's a good idea to research the suitability of the land to your needs and budget prior to purchase.

These properties are sold primarily as investment land to hold for future price appreciation. As development in the area increases, more infrastructure will be built including roads, power lines and possible local water district or aqueduct service, significantly reducing development costs. You should be aware, however, that buying a parcel of land to build immediately may involve considerable expense.

The following information is provided as a general guide to what might be required to develop a parcel for immediate use.

WATER

This information comes from Bryant Pump and Supply in Lancaster. Bryant is an old, well-established local well drilling company with an excellent reputation since 1929. They are not the cheapest, however, and you may be able to get a better deal if you shop around. Bryant can be reached by phone at 661-945-6798.

The entire area apparently sits atop a huge aquifer with good water. Wells should be dug around four hundred feet; Bryant charges $30 per foot for drilling. An additional $1000 covers county permits and cement. Then, depending on pumping capacity, a complete pump and tank system will cost between $6-12 thousand more. It may also be possible to drill your own well, and save significant money. Kern County building codes also require some sort of sewage setup, such as a septic tank / leach field system.

GRID POWER

According to Southern California Edison, each project has to be evaluated uniquely, so it's not possible to exactly estimate the cost of running power to a property. Generally speaking, if the land is within 125 feet of existing power, Edison will likely run a line free of charge. However, there may be other expenses involved if, for example, they must install a transformer. Beyond 125 feet, Edison charges $22 per foot as a discounted price, but they wouldn't run a line, say, 3000 feet or more for only one home-- at least not at a discount. Full price, without a discount, is in the neighborhood $36 per foot. In accordance with the California Energy Commission, Edison grants all projects large or small a $1247 allowance. When I asked the Edison representative if this means any project costing under $1247 is free, he said it's more accurate to say you'll get a credit for the first $1247 of any job to run power out to your parcel. I'm no sure how those semantics translate into economics.

SOLAR and WIND POWER

The Tehachapi mountains are home to one of the largest "windfarm" power projects in the world, and hundreds of these beautiful, silent, non-polluting wind rotors can be seen spinning on a distant mountainside from many of my properties. This clean and green, ecologically sound energy source is surprisingly practical and affordable.Wind power already provides all the energy needs for many residents in the area. The cost of solar power has come down dramatically in the last 20 years, and it's a really great option for those who can think outside the box and want to unplug from 'the grid'. There are also significant tax credits for solar energy systems. Some systems completely pay for themselves within as little 5 years. Gaiam/Real Goods has been around a long time. They are one of the leaders in the alternative energy industry, and are wind and solar power experts. Check them out--click here: http://www.realgoods.com/calsolar

ZONING

Unless otherwise indicated, all properties are zoned to allow one residence per parcel.