Buying and Selling Homes Building a Home

Relocate to Connecticut Build vs Buy

last year

I am tentatively considering relocating to Connecticut (Norwich area). Ideally, I would build a small or even tiny house on an acre or five. I would also consider a multi family home with two units. My mind is open!! My budget, not as much 😉

With many differences from the Midwest like zoning and code, basements, water wells and heating with oil.... What questions should I asking? What other things do in need to consider?

Featured Answer

Toronto Veterinarian

last year

" Many jurisdictions do not allow the construction of small homes. "

Wow, that's really horrible. And wasteful. And, I think, short sighted.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Cecelia Watkins
Original Author
last year
A 900 square foot cottage sounds great! What regulations do you mean?
David Cary
last year
last modified: last year
Many jurisdictions do not allow the construction of small homes. The usual reason is to maintain RE values for current residents and also as a tax base. The other regulation is that much of land is zoned for single family housing and can't be two units. Those are the 2 that come to mind. So you could buy a 3 acre tract but have to build a 2000 square foot single unit on it. No small houses, no two units.

I have no personal knowledge of Norwich codes but these things are pretty typical.
Related Professionals
Doctor Phillips Architects & Building Designers · Five Corners Architects & Building Designers · Schiller Park Architects & Building Designers · Bartlesville General Contractors · Jackson General Contractors · West Whittier-Los Nietos General Contractors · Oak Hill Architects & Building Designers · Chula Vista Home Builders · El Sobrante General Contractors · Hamilton Square General Contractors · Leon Valley General Contractors · Makakilo General Contractors · Monroe General Contractors · Panama City Beach General Contractors · Tuckahoe General Contractors
kempek01
last year
Personally, I would not want to move to a new area and build right away. I would either buy something or rent for at least a year.

At this point, you aren't familiar with the builders in the area. You'll need time to research that. By waiting on your build, you will also avoid combing the stress of the move with the stress of the build.
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
Norwich or anywhere, find a buildable piece of land in your price point. Contact the seller's agent for answers to your questions. Yes, there are state regulations, but there are also town regulations. No one here can advise you properly, unless of course, one of us houzzers are knowledgeable about Norwich.

The market in CT has fluctuated in the last 10 years. Now that the pandemic rush has subsided, you may be able to purchase a house in your budget. Norwich is not a high end town. Check realtor.com
Toronto Veterinarian
last year
"People who want little room are shifted towards apartment living, or sharing dwellings. "

Yes, as I said: A horrible idea, wasteful and short-sighted.
dan1888
last year
Check the local zoning regs,

What is the minimum square footage for a house in CT?

§ 154.051 MINIMUM FLOOR AREA. Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 120 square feet of floor area for the first occupant thereof and at least 70 additional square feet of floor area for every additional occupant thereof, the floor areas to be calculated on the basis of total usable floor area of habitable rooms.

Look for land on Zillow.
PRO
Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
last year
Often less expensive to buy resale than build & develop on a larger parcel.
worthy
last year
Connecticut is a high tax state. So if there's no job or family related reason, consider a lower tax state. That's why we were set to move two states north till sudden surgery and inertia intervened.

. The

The lighter the colour the less the tax burden.