Building Lot in Bloomington (Indianapolis, Carmel: for sale, real estate, custom home)

[Will B IN]

We are looking for a building lot within 6 miles of Bloomington. At least a half acre, large enough for a house plus detached garage. Most we have seen are too steep or have other problems. Please reply if you know of anything that has not been on Zillow already. We know we will have to pay market value, but are surprised at how few lots are available in Monroe County. We left B-town 40 years ago and most areas look the same as they did when we left; the only significant development has been on the near south side and around Ellettsville. Thanks.

[601halfdozen0theother]

No one who left Bloomington 40 years ago uses the term "B-town", and Bloomington looks nothing like it did 40 years ago.

[rrah]

Having lived in Monroe County for the past 21 years, and previously worked in real estate for 8 years, the idea that Bloomington and Monroe County hasn't developed is kind of odd to me. Maybe you were looking at the core areas or something? Lots of examples out there, but an easy one-Whitehall Crossing shopping center was built in the mid/late 90's.

Even when we purchased our two lots 22 years ago initially it seemed like we had many options. The reality was a bit different. BTW-our primary requirement was at least 3 acres. Later we decided we didn't want to live on the far east side as access to the highway was too far for us. We did however find the perfect spot for ou house with a good real estate agent and some dumb luck.

The requirement that a lot is located within 6 miles of Bloomington is pretty specific but also nonspecific. Do you mean within 6 miles of downtown or within 6 miles of the city limits?

The big problem you'll face is that most lots will be located within a development that does not allow detached garages. Not knowing your price range, my educated guess is that you're going to have to adjust your requirements. The detached garage is probably not going to happen unless you're pretty far out in the county and luck into something that is a single lot for sale.

I have no idea what the lot sizes is in this development, but it is within 6 miles of Bloomington and not on Zillow: https://www.livesomo.com/homesites.html You won't be able to have a detached garage or build a custom home. Long time builder, Wininger Construction owns the development.

[Martinberg]

Originally Posted by Will B IN

We are looking for a building lot within 6 miles of Bloomington. At least a half acre, large enough for a house plus detached garage. Most we have seen are too steep or have other problems. Please reply if you know of anything that has not been on Zillow already. We know we will have to pay market value, but are surprised at how few lots are available in Monroe County. We left B-town 40 years ago and most areas look the same as they did when we left; the only significant development has been on the near south side and around Ellettsville. Thanks.

N I dont have any idea about to this ?

[Will B IN]

Thanks rrah for your comments. I do agree that some parts of Bloomington have changed but my perspective may be warped because I've lived in Hamilton County where it seems like there's something new every week.
Thanks for the link to SOMO. We've looked there and you are correct that the lots are too small for a detached garage.
When I mentioned 6 miles from town I should have been more specific. I was thinking more of around 6 miles to a drugstore or grocery store.
You are correct that we may be overly restrictive and may have to loosen our requirements!

[rrah]

Makes sense if you live in Hamilton County. Our daughter and son-in-law live in Carmel. I'd suggest you think about drive time versus mileage. 6 miles in Hamilton County might take one 10-15 minutes to drive. I typically drive about 12 miles to the grocery story in 10-15 minutes because for me most of it's on the highway.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

No one who left Bloomington 40 years ago uses the term "B-town", and Bloomington looks nothing like it did 40 years ago.

Things change, including nicknames of cities. When I lived in Indiana over 40 years ago, hardly anybody referred to Indianapolis as "Indy". Especially on TV and the newspapers, in school and daily conversation. Most people called it Indianapolis, Circle City and/or Naptown. The only thing "Indy" was the Indy 500.

I think the "Indy" term came from the national exposure and the Indy 500 and it became used by more people outside the Indianapolis television viewing area than the people who lived inside Indianapoliis television viewing area because the Indy 500 Race was always blacked out on the Indianapolis television stations. I never seen the 500 race on tv live until I moved to Texas over 40 years ago, where just about everybody refers to Indianapolis as "Indy".