Are you working with a builder or architect?

now is when you bring an architect in to advise you

Kudos to you for asking questions before you purchase a property. Your questions are with regard to cost and feasibility. You'll get more informed and accurate answers if you consult with local folks who actually build stuff and write checks to suppliers and trades as part of their day job. To be clear, that would be a builder (un constructeur) for the cost part, and a geotechnical engineer (un ingenieur geotechnique) for the feasibility part. I suggest you meet with both at the site a la fois. Bonne chance.

A primal question in land evaluation: what orientation would the house have? Would the front with the view face in a desirable direction for the particular climate?

@JJ No, we are not working with a builder or architect at the moment.

@cpartist You think so? Because we are not planning to start building before a year or 2.

@CA Kate z9 That's why we're planning to do a soil test before hand. But yeah, I would be concerned that all that filling starts to slide off.

@Charles Ross Homes Merci pour ta suggestion. We already talked to one of the house owner who also lives on the mountain for 10 yrs now, but really high level. It will be expensive just to be able to decide which land to buy, but I guess better this than being sorry.

@ulisdone to answer your question, both lands' orientation are North. So it's a good thing in the summer months, but not so great during winter when you want to have that glimps of sunshine. It would be feasable to build the house slightly (10%?) oriented towards the Westside.

The biggest unknown (meaning risk / unexpected expense) with a build project is what it takes to get the building "above ground" - so you are smart to ask these questions.

On the filled lot, you could see if the density was decent enough to support a house - there are professionals that do this type of thing - we filled out build site and had the geotechnical engineer out there about 10 times to measure the density of each 6-8" lift.

If the fill was not controlled or haphazard or differing in materials - you could be in a position to have to redo it.

I would consider engaging with a soils / geotechnical person to assess each site - if you have to blast rock - at least that's "known"....

Nobody can tell you what it's going to take to build in either of these sites on the internet. You need to work with your architect (and/or builder) and ask them to help evaluate the specifics of what it would take to build a house on either site. We ended up doing a walkthrough with our architect/builder (we went with a design/build firm) and used his input to decide on a site. More here if you're interested.

Thank you all for your great responses. I will be looking to contact the appropriate professionals.

In the mean time if you happen to know anyone/firm, please let me know. I know most of you are in the USA, but nerver know. I live in Quebec, Canada and the land is 2 hrs north of Montreal in the Lanaudiere region.

I WOULD NOT build a new home on a north (or northwest) facing lot in north Quebec! Or anywhere in Canada. Especially if it is on a steep, possibly light blocking slope. From an energy perspective, north west exposure (and its accompanying winds) with no heat gain from the sun, is bad news. And winds make any type of outdoor activity unpleasant.

A house’s micro climate is very important for the quality of life of its inhabitants.

@Isabelle P., maybe Architectrunnerguy, can help you. On demeure en Ottawa, and he was a great architect to work with. . https://www.houzz.com/user/architectrunnerguy

Merci @likestonehomes but I think Ottawa is way too far. I could ask just in case he happens to be in the area one day ;-)

And where will the septic system go? Is it capable to have one?

@Izzy Mn I don't see why it wouldn't be able to have one since the neighbour next door has one. The lands are big enough.

If the neighbour next door has one it may mean that you might be able to however septic systems depend on the type of soil. Any fill may allow one but rock will not.

@Isabelle P.. Doug, the architect lives in the USA. Il n’a jamais venu ici, a Ottawa, he designed everything from his home down south. You can send me a private message, pour plus d’information.