Land Research Guides
GIS & Parcel Research
Every county exposes different GIS layers — parcel boundaries, zoning, flood, soils, easements. These guides show how to pull verified data from county portals instead of relying on listing photos.
County GIS flood overlays are a starting point, not the official record — pair them with how to check FEMA flood zones before buying land.
9 guides in GIS & Parcel Research
- How to Read a Plat Map Before Buying LandLearn how to read lot lines, dimensions, bearings, easements, roads, rights-of-way, survey notes, and other recorded details on a plat map before buying land.12 min
- How to Search County Property Records Before Buying LandSearch official county property records by parcel number, confirm the property match, and identify acreage, access, and land-split questions before buying land.5 min
- Why County GIS and Property Searches Work DifferentlyLearn why county GIS and property searches work differently, how web and AI access vary, and the next steps when you cannot retrieve a record.5 min
- How to Find Your Property’s Zoning Using County GISUse LandGauge to find county GIS resources, search a parcel, locate its zoning designation, and identify what to confirm with the local planning office.5 min
- How to Find a Parcel Map: Free County GIS GuideLocate a parcel on a free county GIS map, confirm you have the right property, and understand what the map does not prove.9 min
- Parcel Map vs. Plat Map: What's the Difference Before Buying Land?A parcel map identifies a tax parcel. A recorded plat documents how land was divided. Neither one is a survey — here is what each proves and what to verify next.10 min
- How to Use a County Parcel Viewer Before Buying Vacant LandA step-by-step walkthrough of a free county parcel viewer: confirm the right parcel, read the layers, spot physical challenges, and know what the map never proves.12 min
- Using the County GIS FinderHow to find the right county GIS portal and pull parcel-level data you can trust.4 min
- County Research DirectoryVerified GIS, assessor, recorder, and planning links — organized by state and county.2 min
Other categories
Utilities
Power, water, sewer, and gas — what to verify before pricing a deal.
Septic & Perc Tests
Perc tests, soil evaluation, drain fields, and septic feasibility on vacant land.
Water & Wells
Water wells, well records, water quality, and water rights on vacant land.
Lot Splits
Minor subdivisions, frontage, access, and the economics of 1–4 lot splits.
Zoning
Read code, verify allowed uses, and avoid entitlement surprises.
Due Diligence
Checklists and the recurring mistakes that turn wins into losses.
Land Value & Comps
Estimate raw, researched, builder-ready, and subdivided land value.
Access
Legal and physical access — easements, frontage, and recorded rights.
Flood Zones
FEMA flood maps, AE / A / X zones, and what they mean for buildability.
Getting Started
Orient yourself in LandGauge and set up a repeatable workflow.
Using Knowledge
Save, organize, and reuse what your team has already researched.
Ready to put a deal through LandGauge?
Plug in the asking price, acreage, and parcel basics. LandGauge helps you review the deal math, split potential, and risk picture in minutes.
Analyze a Land Deal