Before you buy mountain land for a rental cabin

The 10 things to check

Built from the checks Plotnomics runs on every lot. The full checklist adds what to check, the questions to ask and the costs to watch for each one.

1. 1Rental rules: county, town, HOA and deedThe fastest way to lose money on a rental cabin is buying land where short-term rentals aren't allowed.
2. 2Septic and the perc testA lot that fails the soil test may not be buildable at all, and an engineered system can add $15,000 to $40,000.
3. 3Legal road access and winter accessNo recorded access means no permit, no loan and an unsellable lot. A steep drive that ices over cancels bookings.
4. 4Power, water and internetRunning utilities a long way is one of the most underestimated costs, and guests expect fast Wi-Fi.
5. 5Slope and the building siteSteep land means more site work, retaining walls and foundation cost, and fewer places to put a cabin.
6. 6Flood zone and creeksCreek-side lots are beautiful and cheaper, but flood zones bring extra building rules, insurance and lender questions.
7. 7Minimum house size and how many housesMany mountain subdivisions require a minimum house size or allow only one house, which can break a small-cabin plan.
8. 8Taxes: property and occupancyProperty tax and occupancy tax vary from county to county and come straight off your return.
9. 9Build costs and local quotesOnline cost-per-square-foot figures are averages. Mountain sites, access and labour can push costs well above them.
10. 10The numbers: rent you need and the most to payDecide your walk-away price before you visit, so you don't fall for a lot that can't pay its way.