The New Map That Makes Land Buying EASY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8 The video teaches a step‑by‑step framework for evaluating rural land using the Land Portal mapping tool, focusing on quickly screening properties, estimating value with comps, and streamlining due diligence so buyers avoid costly mistakes.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) ## Detailed video outline - **Intro: Why online land research is hard (0:00–4:09)** - Explains that buying land “from your desk” is surprisingly difficult because listings lack critical data like exact boundaries, buildability, soil, and access.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Shows county GIS as powerful but slow, clunky, and fragmented by county, making multi‑county searches painful for serious buyers.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **What the video will cover (4:09–4:59)** - States goals: - Pull a Zillow listing into Land Portal. - Run a quick ASSESS screen to see if the land is even worth pursuing. - Use comps inside Land Portal to approximate market value. - Demonstrate due diligence workflows and advanced features.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Example property from Zillow (approx. 4:59–6:33)** - Chooses an 8‑acre listing on Manley Smith Road in Columbus County, NC, with road frontage, cleared and wooded areas, and two older single‑wides (one burned, one intact) plus existing well and septic “condition unknown.”[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Notes that the listing looks great at first glance but lacks the embedded mapping detail needed to make a confident offer.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Land Portal basics: pulling up the parcel (6:33–11:21)** - Copies the parcel ID (APN) from Zillow and uses it to search in Land Portal by state (North Carolina), county (Columbus), and APN.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Shows: - Seamless multi‑county coverage (all counties on one system). - Parcel info panel: acreage, county/state, owner name and contact, land use, AI‑driven slope/buildable acreage, elevation, structure details, last sale data, assessed value, and loan info.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Demonstrates navigation: zooming, 3D view, measuring tools (length and polygon area), and viewing adjacent parcels with one click.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **ASSESS framework introduction (11:21–14:00 approx.)** - Presents **ASSESS** as a quick preliminary evaluation framework to decide if a property is even worth deeper due diligence.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - ASSESS stands for: **Access, Soil, Slope, Environmental, Street view, Satellite view**.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Emphasizes using ASSESS before calling utilities, digging into zoning, or getting lost in minutiae.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **A – Access (legal and physical) (14:00–18:00 approx.)** - Distinguishes legal access (right to reach the land) vs physical access (actual drivable access).[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Confirms the subject parcel fronts a county‑maintained public road, giving both legal and physical access.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Measures about 150–155 feet of road frontage and explains implications: narrow front means long, deep lot; more frontage could allow easier subdivision into multiple road‑front lots.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **S – Soil (18:00–23:00 approx.)** - Uses Land Portal’s soil layer to view soil series and characteristics on and around the property.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Identifies the mapped soil series as poorly drained, which is a major concern for septic feasibility and can affect up to “80% of the market value” in rural areas.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Connects the listing’s “septic in ground, condition unknown” to likely septic failure and regulatory changes, warning that old systems from the 70s–80s may not be replaceable under current standards.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Suggests buyers verify any existing septic with records and a contractor before relying on it.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **S – Slope (contours and buildability) (23:00–27:14)** - Turns on contour lines to show how to manually calculate slope from elevation differences and horizontal distance.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Notes that Land Portal also gives a detailed slope analysis: average grade, percent of land in flat/minimal/moderate/heavy/extreme categories, and buildable acreage.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Finds this specific property is very flat, which is generally favorable for building.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **E – Environmental (wetlands and floodplains) (27:14–33:00 approx.)** - Toggles wetlands and FEMA flood layers.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Identifies freshwater shrub/forested wetlands on the back half of the property, constraining buildable area mostly to the front.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Shows nearby flood zones (AE 100‑year, X 500‑year) and notes that the 500‑year zone usually has few building restrictions, though buyers should check local rules.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Measures roughly 3.3 acres of buildable area outside wetlands, explaining that impacting wetlands may require costly credits and is usually impractical for typical buyers.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **S – Street view (Google / mobile app) (33:00–36:00 approx.)** - Uses Google Street View to visually confirm the property, structures, and surrounding context.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Spots the burned mobile home near the road and recent fire evidence, highlighting this as a risk factor that requires explanation.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Observes standing water in roadside ditches, reinforcing concerns about poorly drained soils.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Comments on neighborhood character (single‑wide across the street, open road, manicured lawns, manufactured‑home‑friendly environment with few restrictions).[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **S – Satellite view (landscape patterns) (36:00–39:47)** - Uses satellite imagery zoomed out to see broader landscape patterns: wet, dark‑green areas likely indicating unmapped wetlands.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Identifies the area as part of a **Carolina bay**, an elliptical, wetland‑type landform common in the coastal plains of the Carolinas.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Concludes that wet soils are not just at the back but also influence the front and surrounding area.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - After ASSESS, he would still consider the property, but with skepticism about soil, septic, and the burned structure.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Using comp reports to estimate land value (39:47–approx. 47:00)** - Introduces Land Portal’s AI‑powered **comp report**, which aggregates nearby comparable sales and generates a value estimate.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Reviews comp report for the subject property: - AI value estimate around $73,266, with analytics like price per acre, slope, and road frontage.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Opens specific comps: - A 7.4‑acre property that sold for $75,000 with no wetlands, no floodplain, and better soils, judged as superior to the subject despite similar size.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - A ~7.3‑acre property on Swamp Fox Highway with better‑drained soils and more usable acreage than the subject.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Argues that the AI estimate is high because it does not “see” qualitative negatives like burned trailers, demolition cost, and marginal soil.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Proposes his own value view closer to $65,000, assuming one functional 3‑bedroom septic can be permitted.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Due diligence with Land Portal (approx. 47:00–52:00)** - Explains that a full due diligence checklist has many items, but roughly half can be gathered quickly from the Land Portal property details panel.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Mentions a free downloadable due‑diligence checklist available through Acrewell’s website.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Shows additional features: - Skip tracing owners to get phone and email. - Mailing center being built to send letters/offers directly from the map. - MLS and marketplace integration to see active and sold listings on the same map, filter by time, and analyze new comps.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Demonstrates filtering sold properties (e.g., last 90 days) to find a 4.9‑acre parcel that sold for $65,000 with similar poor soil but better road frontage, reinforcing his $65k value opinion.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Advanced features & positioning of Land Portal (52:00–end)** - Highlights: - Drawing polygons to define target areas and export filtered lists. - Exporting mail files for campaign work. - Evaluating both off‑market and listed properties in one interface.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Frames Land Portal and Acrewell’s Land Purchase Navigator course as **essential tools**, not luxuries, relative to typical land purchase amounts ($50k–$200k+).[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Promotes: - Free Land Portal trial via his referral link. - Land Purchase Navigator online course (5 hours of content plus guides and spreadsheets) and free resources like the roadmap and checklist.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Closes by reiterating that these tools save large amounts of time and money and teeing up a related video, “How to Find Land Values in 60 Seconds.”[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) ## Critical take‑aways - **Use a structured quick‑screen (ASSESS) before deep due diligence.** - Apply Access, Soil, Slope, Environmental, Street view, and Satellite view to decide in minutes whether a parcel is worth serious pursuit.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - This prevents wasting time on zoning calls, utility research, and site visits for fundamentally flawed properties.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Poor soils and wetlands can quietly destroy value.** - Poorly drained soils and mapped or unmapped wetlands are often the biggest constraint on rural land use and can heavily drive market value.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Old “mystery” septic systems, especially from decades ago, are a major red flag and may not be replaceable under current regulations.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Road frontage and usable acreage matter more than raw acres.** - Narrow frontage limits subdivision potential and access options even when total acreage looks attractive.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Buildable, dry, accessible acres in the right place on the parcel are more valuable than nominal acreage swallowed by wetlands or steep terrain.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **AI valuation tools are guides, not verdicts.** - Automated comp tools can give a starting estimate, but they miss qualitative factors like demolition cost, fire damage, and nuanced soil risk.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Human judgment—comparing comps on wetlands, soils, frontage, and improvements—is essential to refine the number.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Integrated mapping platforms dramatically compress the workflow.** - Having parcel data, environmental layers, comps, owner contact, and mailing tools in one system replaces juggling multiple county GIS sites and third‑party tools.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - For frequent buyers, the time savings and avoided mistakes can easily justify a monthly subscription relative to typical land prices.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Education and checklists reduce expensive mistakes.** - A structured due‑diligence checklist, combined with map‑based tools, helps ensure no critical item (like floodplain, access, soil, or title clues) is overlooked.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Learning a repeatable evaluation process (like Acrewell’s course) is positioned as more valuable than relying on ad‑hoc advice or guesswork.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) ## Action items for a land buyer - **Adopt the ASSESS framework in your own workflow.** - For any candidate parcel, quickly run through Access, Soil, Slope, Environmental, Street view, and Satellite view before doing anything else.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Treat a fail on soil or access as a potential deal‑breaker unless there is a clear mitigation path.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Systematically use parcel IDs and a mapping platform.** - When you see a listing on Zillow or similar, grab the APN/parcel number and load it into a unified mapping tool (Land Portal or equivalent).[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Use built‑in layers (contours, soils, wetlands, flood, ownership) to assemble a first‑pass profile within 5–10 minutes.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Quantify buildable area, not just total acreage.** - Turn on wetlands and slope layers and measure the dry, reasonably flat portion you can actually build on.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Note road frontage and think through driveways, potential splits, and how the buildable envelope shapes house placement.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Validate septic feasibility early.** - For any rural property needing septic, use soil maps and visual cues (standing water, ditches) to flag risk, then budget for a professional soil/septic evaluation before closing.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Treat existing “unknown condition” septic systems as suspect until proven otherwise.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Rebuild AI value estimates using hand‑picked comps.** - Pull several nearby sales of similar size and context from inside the mapping tool, then manually compare wetlands, soils, frontage, and improvements.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Adjust the target value up or down from the AI number to reflect demolition costs, inferior soils, or superior usability.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Use checklists and templates for due diligence.** - Download or create a comprehensive due‑diligence checklist and populate as many fields as possible directly from the mapping property details page.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Reserve calls to county offices and utility providers for clarifying questions that the mapping data cannot answer.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - **Consider investing in education and tools if you plan multiple deals.** - If you intend to buy or flip land repeatedly, evaluate whether a mapping subscription and a structured course like Land Purchase Navigator will pay for themselves in saved time and avoided mistakes.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) - Take advantage of free trials and free checklists/roadmaps first, then upgrade if the workflow fits your deal volume.[youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8) 1. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLItz2DyJb8)