Home Buyer Information

Home Buyer Resources

Purchasing a home is an exciting time and those looking to buy a home will likely have a lot of questions. The City of Woodbury wants to make sure that home buyers are informed of some of the policies of the city and that they seek information and ask important questions before they purchase a home. General questions can be directed to Karl Batalden, Community Development Coordinator.

Home Buyer Counseling Services

Purchasing a home may be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, and navigating today's housing market can seem overwhelming. Homeownership counseling and education are effective tools for achieving successful homeownership.

Washington County Community Development Agency

Informed homebuyers are successful homeowners. Prospective homebuyers can benefit from the in-person classes offered through the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, a Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-Approved Housing Counseling Agency that adheres to the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling.

FRAMEWORK

Alternatively, the internet-based FRAMEWORK Home Buyer Education Course developed by the Minnesota Homeownership Center offers a high quality, interactive way to learn how to be a smart, confident and successful homeowner. Framework provides the facts you need to become well-informed about every step in the process. The program meets the National Industry Standards and all the requirements of the HUD Housing Counseling program, so you are guaranteed quality content from an independent source.

Home Owner Resources

Many home buyers assume the area in which they buy a home will always look the way it does the day they purchase their home. This is not necessarily the case. Nearby land that is vacant when a home is purchased will probably be developed into housing or commercial or industrial uses, depending on the zoning. In addition, public facilities such as water towers, parks, and other public buildings may be built throughout the city. Roads are often expanded from two to four lanes. These changes can be positive or negative depending on the perspective of the home buyer. A four-lane road can mean great access to one home buyer, while it can mean traffic noise to another.

Visit the Homeowner Resources page to get an understanding of some of the city's policies that could affect your home.

Questions to Consider Before Purchasing a Home

There is a vacant property near the home I am considering purchasing. What will be there?

The City of Woodbury is a dynamic community which is developing at pace with market demands. Most vacant land you see in the city is privately owned and may be privately developed. The city has limited authority, through its zoning ordinance, over what can be built on the property and at what pace. A zoning district can allow multiple types of development within it and, often times, property owners request changes to the zoning.

The city encourages you to call or visit the Planning Division at City Hall at 651-714-3533 to ask about the zoning of adjacent property, e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, and what types of development could occur.

How do I know which school my children will attend?

Three school districts serve Woodbury:

District 622 (North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale)
District 833 (South Washington County)
District 834 (Stillwater)

You should determine the school district in which your home is located, then contact the district office for information about which school(s) your children will attend. The school your children attend is based on enrollment and other factors. It is possible that they will not attend a school in your neighborhood or in the City of Woodbury. In addition, each school district has attendance boundaries that are changed within the school district, from time to time, to meet enrollment needs.

For more information on schools, including private schools, visit the Woodbury Schools page.

There are private covenants within my development. What are these and who enforces them?

Private covenants are private rules covering all of the properties within a development. They can regulate things like the size and type of fences, the permitted colors of homes, or whether sheds or other accessory structures are allowed. They are not enforced by the city. Your developer/builder or home owners association can help you with specific questions regarding your development. Be sure to ask for a copy of the covenants and review them.

Will parks and trails be developed near the home I am considering purchasing?

The city has plans for how parks and trails will be developed. It should be noted that public facilities such as park buildings, monopoles, city well houses, and other buildings are often built within parks. Contact Parks and Recreation with specific questions at 651-714-3583.

Does the city provide a warranty for work done by builders and developers?

No. A warranty is a seller's assurance to the buyer that the final product will be as represented. Warranties are private contracts between buyers and sellers. The city regulates the development process, but has no authority regarding private contracts or warranty work. Items such as drainage and workmanship are part of the contract between buyer and seller. The city's responsibility is to review plans and perform inspections to ensure compliance with city codes during the development and construction phase.

Some builders offer a warranty program. You should ask your builder about his/hers.