A 3.43-acre parcel at $250,000 works out to $72,886 an acre, or $1.67 a square foot. With 25% down ($62,500) and a 20-year loan at 8%, the payment is about $1,568 a month. At a zoning density of six homes per acre the gross figure is 20 homes (3.43 × 6, rounded down), but after setting aside 25% of the land for roads, retention and open space the realistic yield is 15 (3.43 × 0.75 × 6, rounded down), or about $16,667 of land per homesite ($250,000 ÷ 15). The starting numbers are Robert's 3.43-acre R-6 listing in Leesburg: the listing remarks say up to seven homes an acre, a 2025 Lake County staff report gives six per net acre, and this page uses six. Confirm with Lake County.
Zoning density is a ceiling, not a count
A zoning district or future land use category states a maximum number of homes per acre. Multiply by the acreage and you get the gross figure a listing often quotes. You rarely build that many, because part of every site goes to things that are not lots: internal roads, stormwater retention ponds, required open space, buffers, easements and any wetlands or flood-prone ground.
The set-aside slider models that loss. The tool multiplies acres by what is left and by the density, then rounds down. At 25%, 3.43 acres becomes about 2.57 buildable acres and, at six per acre, 15 homes instead of 20. The right percentage depends on the shape of the parcel, its soils and drainage, and the local code, so treat the result as a first screen. A civil engineer's concept plan and a conversation with the city or county planning office are what settle it.
Wells, septic and access
Rural land often has no public water or sewer at the road. That means a well and a septic system, and both depend on the ground. Ask whether central utilities are available and what connecting would cost, whether the soil has been tested for septic, where a well could go, and whether the parcel has legal, recorded access to a public road. A survey and a wetlands review come before a price per acre means much. Costs for these vary too widely to put a number in this calculator.
Agricultural classification
Florida lets land in bona fide agricultural use be assessed on that use instead of on market value, which can lower the property tax. It is granted by the county property appraiser on application, it depends on the land actually being used commercially for agriculture, and it does not automatically survive a sale or a change of use. Ask what classification the parcel has today and what your plans would do to it. The property tax estimator on this site covers homes, not agricultural land.
Why land loans ask for more down
Raw land produces no income, is harder to resell quickly than a house, and has no building to secure the loan. Lenders respond with larger down payments, higher rates and shorter terms than a home mortgage, and some do not make land loans at all. Local banks, farm lenders and seller financing are common routes. That is why this calculator starts at 25% down, 8% and 20 years. Those are placeholders for comparison.
Robert's record with acreage
Robert Moore's closed sales include land and acreage in Lake and Sumter counties. His largest sale was a 74-acre tract in Center Hill that sold for $825,000 in March 2023, where he was the listing broker. His largest buyer-side sale was a 10-acre property in Umatilla at $800,000 in June 2026. See current listings and the sold ledger, or contact Robert at 352-504-6371 about a specific parcel. Building a home on the land? Run the house through the mortgage calculator, and see the guides and neighborhood pages.
How the numbers are worked out
| Result | Formula | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Price per acre | Price ÷ acres | Arithmetic |
| Price per square foot | Price ÷ (acres × 43,560) | One acre is 43,560 square feet |
| Monthly payment | Standard fixed-rate amortization of price less down payment | Your rate and term |
| Gross homes | Acres × density, rounded down | Your zoning density |
| Net homes | Acres × (1 − set-aside) × density, rounded down | Your set-aside estimate |
| Robert Moore's largest land sales | 74 acres, $825,000 (March 2023); 10 acres, $800,000 (June 2026) | Sold ledger |
Questions people ask
How do I calculate price per acre?
Divide the price by the acreage. $250,000 for 3.43 acres is $72,886 an acre. For price per square foot, divide by 43,560 again: $1.67. Compare parcels on usable acres where you can, since wetlands and easements are priced in but cannot be built on.
How many houses can I build on an acre?
It depends on the zoning density and on how much land the site loses to roads, retention and open space. At six homes per acre, a 3.43-acre parcel has a gross figure of 20 homes and, with a 25% set-aside, a net yield of 15. Only the city or county planning office can confirm what a parcel is entitled to.
Is it harder to get a loan for land than for a house?
Usually, yes. Land has no building as collateral and no income, so lenders tend to ask for more money down, charge a higher rate and offer shorter terms, and some do not lend on land at all. Local banks, farm lenders and seller financing are common routes. Enter the terms you are actually offered to see the payment.
What should I check before buying acreage in Central Florida?
Zoning and future land use, legal road access, a current survey, wetlands and flood zones, whether water and sewer are available or a well and septic are needed, and the parcel's tax classification. Each of these can change what the land is worth more than the price per acre does. Robert's closed sales include a 10-acre and a 74-acre property, and he can walk you through the list.
