People in the market for new single-family houses usually don't worry as much about the land those houses occupy because they tend to work with developers, who purchase huge tracts and then subdivide them. The customer buys the land and the house as a package, though the authorities see it as two purchases and assess property taxes accordingly. In such transactions, either the new house is already on the property or the customer is obligated to buy a model from the developer or a partner and have it built on the land.

But some people prefer a house constructed to their own specifications, and so they want to purchase a piece of land first and then hire a builder to put something on it. Though seemingly straightforward, this approach is more complicated than buying a predesigned home.

If we assume that location is the first concern, it's easier for potential home buyers to explore new housing developments within a chosen city or town. Otherwise, they have to visit numerous vacant lots in the company of real estate agents, and weigh the pros and cons of each one, which can be time-consuming unless they know exactly what they want and are able to convey those preferences successfully to the agent.