However like a tree they are very tough and sharp so renting a bobcat or something would be Money well spent .

@John BlackmonIt seems like I have read other posts on here that say you’re not allowed to cut timber.I suspect this is one of those things where one person’s idea of ‘timber’ may be another’s idea of trash trees.

I have this rental property that has numerous gopher holes and tenants have been unable to plant any flowers or trees into the ground because of the gopher problem.

After the roof was completed, I had to take down a couple of massive trees that were rotted out and were one windstorm away from coming down on the new roof.

But it is not the garden of Eden where you just walk out and pluck a deal off the tree.  

They may also recommend constructing the roof with longer eaves/overhang on the face with prevailing {summer} sun to shade the windows during mid-day {this will reduce your cooling load} and have recommendations on where to plant trees or place screens.Your architect may have already done this in the design ... s/he would also be a good person to recommend a resource to address your fenestration needs.

You have raw land,semi developed,and developed.Raw land is where trees and everything is untouched.Semi developed is usually where they might have torn down the house and cleared some trees.Developed is where it is cleared and graded,utilities and entrance is in place and they just haven't gone vertical with any structure yet.The best use of a parcel of land might not be it's current zoning use.When you want to build on the land will factor into it as well.Example a developer might have gotten zoning and approval for a particular use.Now too many of those properties have saturated the market or the demand is no longer there.Now you have to figure out in the current economy what would work there and what the ultimate rents would be to determine a price for the land.How much dirt you have to move around to get a site ready for vertical improvements is key as well.You can have 2 sets of the same size parcel.One is listed at 300,000 and acre and the other at 175,000 an acre.Looking at face value you would think 175,000 is cheaper.You learn however that with the topography of the land to clear the site ( 3 acres ) will cost 200,000 an acre.The other parcel at 300,000 will cost only 50,000 an acre as it is relatively flat already with little to no brush to take down.So 300,000 times 3 is 900k plus 150k for clearing land is 1,050,000 to get site ready.Land at 175k is 525k plus 600k in clearing costs is 1,125,000 plus the site will take longer to get ready to develop.Land prices are down in mnay areas as well because used to a developer could form an LLC and pay any price and it the project tanked they could walk away non-recourse.Now lenders want heavy down payments,recourse,and cross collateral of the developers existing trophy properties.So now developers are real picky on what price they will pay for a property.I can go much more in depth than this about land development but I don't want to write a book here.If you have a more specific question just ask.I only provided basic info here and does not include anywhere near all development costs.

I'd factor in the cost of cutting the tree down and ask the neighbor for approval.

Nothing has been done on this property in 5 years but a couple trees being cut down, the lawn maintained, an exterior paint job which I contriubted $16k toward and he wants more.We're in the middle of a lawsuit so asking for a copy of this, that or the other is already in motion..

I realize pay is somewhat regional and a pay cut might come with moving.Ideally live in a center-of-town area...sidewalks, trees, community, the more walkable/bikeable the better, trying to stay away from the cookie-cutter homes and suburban sprawl.Bonus points for universities nearby, airports and highways within reasonable driving distance.