Country Plots in the Santiago Foothills: What to Check Before You Build

The Santiago foothills —Colina, Chicureo, Pirque, San José de Maipo and surroundings— are among the most sought-after places for a country plot and building your own home. Before you start, it's worth checking a few points that define the success (and cost) of your project.

1. Utility feasibility

Water, electricity and wastewater management aren't always resolved on a plot. Confirm feasibility before buying or designing: a well, an electrical connection or a treatment plant can change the budget.

2. Soil and slope

Foothill terrain often has a slope. That affects the foundation, earthworks and the orientation of the house —and the budget too: we detail it in the factors that determine the price per m²—. Good orientation also harnesses the sun and reduces climate-control spending: we explain it in plot orientation and thermal gain.

3. Access and regulations

Check access (key for transporting materials) and the municipality's regulations: subdivision, coefficients, setbacks. Having this clear avoids surprises in the building permit: we explain it in the municipal permits guide.

4. Santiago's thermal swing

In this area, summers are hot and winters cold. Here the Canadian Metalcon system performs especially well: continuous insulation keeps the temperature stable and lowers the climate-control bill all year.

If you've been looking at plots in other areas, our plot-buying checklist also works as a general guide.

Our experience in the foothills

We've built Canadian houses in Chicureo and Colina, Paine and the Farellones–Lo Barnechea area, adapting each project to the terrain, in both American and Mediterranean styles.

Have a plot in the Metropolitan Region? Visit our page on Canadian houses in Santiago and the Metropolitan Region or tell us about your project.

Country Plots in the Santiago Foothills: What to Check Before You Build