Guides
The checks that kill land deals
Most bad land purchases fail on one of a handful of questions. Each guide answers one of them directly — first the answer, then the detail, with every claim tied to the authority that publishes it.
How to check if land floods before you buy
The three-step flood check for any US parcel: FEMA flood zone, observed surface water in satellite imagery, and when to pay for an elevation certificate — with what each step can and cannot tell you.
Landlocked parcels: how to verify legal access before buying land
Road frontage on a map is not legal access. How to check for deeded access and recorded easements, why 'the neighbor doesn't mind' fails, and what an access flag on a report means.
Water rights: what to verify before buying rural land
In much of the US West, owning land does not mean owning its water. Prior appropriation vs riparian rules, where rights are recorded, and the questions to answer before you rely on a well, creek, or pond.
Perc tests: cost, process, and what failure means for a land buyer
What a percolation test is, what it costs, how the process runs, and your real options when a parcel fails — including why unpermitted workarounds are the most expensive path of all.
How much of a parcel can you actually build on?
Deeded acres are not buildable acres. How slope, floodplain, wetlands and setbacks each subtract from usable ground, and how to estimate the buildable remainder before you make an offer.
Land due diligence checklist (2026): every check before you buy
The complete pre-purchase checklist for vacant land, in the order that wastes the least money: desk screen first, paperwork second, boots on the ground third.
Best land research & due-diligence tools (2026), honestly compared
LandBenchmark, Regrid, Land id, LandGlide, AcreValue, onX and free county GIS — what each actually does, what each costs, and which to use for which job. Written by LandBenchmark, disclosed as such.
LandBenchmark vs Regrid (2026)
Regrid is the parcel-data company; LandBenchmark is the measurement company. Where each is strong, current pricing, and when the right answer is both.
LandBenchmark vs Land id (2026)
Land id makes beautiful custom maps for land professionals; LandBenchmark makes cited measurements for buyers. An honest comparison, with pricing as of July 2026.
LandBenchmark vs LandGlide (2026)
LandGlide answers 'whose parcel am I standing on?' from your phone; LandBenchmark answers 'should I buy this parcel?' from satellites. Different jobs — here is which tool fits which.
LandBenchmark vs AcreValue (2026)
AcreValue estimates farmland value from soils and sales; LandBenchmark measures physical condition and risk with cited provenance. Which to use, and when both belong in the same purchase.