Building on mountain land

Mountain land sells on the view, but the view is the easy part. The work is in the slope.

Roads come first

A mountain lot is only as good as the road to it. Grades must be gentle enough for a fire truck and a concrete truck, which often means switchbacks. Rock outcrops can make road cuts slow and costly.

Slope rules

Many mountain counties limit building on steep slopes and require engineered plans above a certain grade. Retaining walls and careful drainage keep soil where it belongs.

Septic on a hillside

Most mountain homesites are on septic. Finding a spot with good soil, enough depth and a workable slope for the drain field shapes where the house can sit.

Water

Many mountain homes rely on private wells. A good well site and its distance from the septic field are part of planning every lot.

The payoff

Done right, a steep wooded lot becomes a home with a long-range view that no flat lot can match.