Escondido Land & Lots For Sale
How to find land in Escondido, CA
Many people wonder about buying land in Escondido to build a home, debating between buying an existing home vs. finding land. When buying land in Escondido to build a custom home, expert guidance proves critically important due to regulations and the complexity inherent in purchasing raw land.
Finding the right lot at the right price is the goal. Many people ask about “where to buy land in Escondido.” Escondido has hundreds of vacant lots, though they are not all on the market on any given day. Additionally, developers and owners split larger parcels of land into new lots, so new lots are always coming on the market.
At Buildable, we employ a proprietary Active Search process to bring opportunities that may not be on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to our clients. We are watching every lot that comes on the market for our clients and have the process to move quickly when we find one right for you. Here’s an overview of finding land in Escondido:
Search on the MLS
The most common place to see lots for sale is the multiple listing service, or MLS. Real estate agents use the MLS to post their lots, which creates a database of properties available for sale. In the past, real estate agents functioned as the gatekeepers for these listings and required you to work through them to see available real estate. With services like Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Trulia, and others, you can directly access the MLS. You may find multiple MLS feeds in your area; for example, San Diego has the SDMLS and CRMLS. Use various sites when searching for land to ensure you don’t miss an opportunity.
When searching, you can filter by “Home Type” to remove the existing homes in the market. Choose the “land” option to see only the results of raw land or vacant lots. The challenge is land only accounts for 3% of real estate transactions in San Diego, and the sites are not optimized for a regular person to review. Buildable can help you sift through the dirt to find a gem.
Do you have to buy land to build a house? Not exactly. You could find an existing home in significant disrepair but on a lovely lot. The only note is a premium to this, as raw land will always be cheaper than a lot with a home on it. Buildable is adept at this and will be an invaluable partner if that’s your approach.
Look for expired listings
Expired listings may be tough to access unless you are a real estate agent. Listings expire due to incorrect pricing, buyers dropping out, or seller dissatisfaction with their agent. Buildable markets to these sellers to bring opportunities to our clients.
Use word of mouth
Ask your friends, family, and coworkers if they know anyone with land for sale. This lets you catch an off-market opportunity. You can also join real estate groups on Facebook and other platforms. Ask if anyone owns lots in your desired locations; just be very cautious.
Seek out wholesalers
Take caution as this approach is only for experts. Real estate wholesaling is a business strategy in which a wholesaler enters into a contract on a home before eventually selling the contract to a new buyer. The wholesaler acts as an intermediary, selling the property on behalf of the property owner and keeping the profit. These transactions can be risky in that you may have little to no inspection period. It is essential that you have experts with you. Without the proper support, you could make a costly mistake.
There are a few companies out there that specialize in this. You can find wholesalers on Facebook groups around “real estate” and “Real estate” investing. Again, proceed with caution.
If you would like to learn more about the process, read our 7 Steps to buying land in California to build a house.
Have an expert team around you
The most critically important part of buying land in California is conducting due diligence. You need to make sure it’s buildable and not cost-prohibitive. That’s why Buildable works with people from the beginning, so you don’t get involved with something that will end up a nightmare.
Our expert team at Buildable will conduct a 28-point Land Report of your lot to ensure it’s buildable. We’ll make sure that the needed land improvements align with your budget and that the site will support your vision. Buildable will provide you with a complete picture of the lot without the hassle, confusion, and risk of doing it yourself. You can find a description of everything we do here.
You have questions. We have answers. Get as much information as possible.
How much does land cost in Escondido, CA?
Escondido has many different areas from its Central City area, Old Town, San Pasqual Valley, Hidden Meadows, and Jesmond Dene — each with different land/lot prices. Typically you’ll find lots in the .25 AC in the middle of town and 3+ AC range the further you go out. We estimate that a straightforward lot with minimal improvements will cost somewhere in the range of $200,000 - $450,000.
Land in Escondido, CA includes the following zip codes: 92025, 92026, 92027, 92029, 92030, 92033, and 92046
If you would like an estimate for your project, use our Land/Build Calculator.
How much does it cost to build a home in Escondido, CA?
The cost to build a custom home in San Diego County will vary based on many different factors. Lot location and size, permits and fees, and specific design choices will all impact the all-in cost to build a custom home in San Diego. We estimate that the cost to build a home in Escondido, CA is approximately $400 - $500 per square foot, including some modest allocations for improvements and soft costs. If you’re interested in learning more about the cost breakdown, you can read our article about how much it costs to build a home in San Diego. If you would like an estimate for your project, use our Land/Build Calculator.
Build Your Home With Buildable
Building a home in San Diego takes an immense amount of time and effort, and can appear overwhelming to those who start the journey alone. However, building a home can be straightforward when you approach the process with experts by your side who can guide you through every step.
At Buildable, all of the people you need to have a stress-free home build will work with you to create the home of your dreams. Read about our team, talk to us, and get the answers to questions you may have about starting the custom home building process in San Diego.