Had a similar experience myself—thought I'd covered every angle, but zoning changes can blindside you. Honestly, I was skeptical about diplomacy at first, but turns out council members are human too... who knew? Patience isn't my strong suit, but sometimes it's the only way forward.
Haha, council members being human... who'd have guessed, right? I feel you on the patience thing—when we refinanced our place, I swear the paperwork multiplied overnight. Thought I'd lose my mind waiting for approvals. But hey, sounds like you're handling it pretty well. Hang in there, zoning headaches eventually fade into funny stories you tell at BBQs... or therapy sessions. Either way, you're not alone!
Good points there—zoning can definitely test your patience. I've found that buying land without immediate plans can sometimes trigger extra scrutiny from councils, especially if the area is seeing rapid growth or rezoning. A few things I've learned the hard way:
- Check if there's a timeline requirement for building once you purchase.
- Watch out for hidden maintenance costs (like mandatory mowing or fencing).
- Be aware of potential tax implications if the land sits vacant too long.
Have you run into any unexpected holding costs yet?
"Watch out for hidden maintenance costs (like mandatory mowing or fencing)."
Yeah, those maintenance costs can sneak up on you fast—I had a client who didn't realize fencing was mandatory until the council sent a notice. Have you checked if your insurance premiums change significantly for vacant land?
"Have you checked if your insurance premiums change significantly for vacant land?"
Good point about insurance—it's something people often overlook. I had a buyer once who assumed vacant land meant minimal costs, but turns out the insurer considered it higher risk (go figure...). Also, don't underestimate mowing; one client ended up hiring someone regularly because the council was strict about grass height. Little things like that can really add up over time.
