[xoxoxoBruce]

What happens around here is a chunk of land will become available and developers bid huge sums for them. Then they break it up into building lots which they sell, or more likely build houses on and sell. In the process of breaking up the land into individual building lots, they include covenants (rules) in the deeds, that strictly limit the buyer... and all future buyers.

An individual can't out bid them, so you have to look for a single lot for sale, or a house that doesn't have any covenants in the deed. That makes it very hard to buy a newer house.

Even if you find a lot or house that isn't restricted by covenants, the taxing authority still has zoning restrictions unless you move pretty far out into the sticks. My brother is in the process of buying 653 acres in Massachusetts and building a race track. The hoops and hurdles with federal, state and local laws are daunting. Wetlands, environmental impact, traffic studies, noise abatement, impervious surface, storm runoff, emergency services access, etc, etc, etc.