Before you buy land: guides

What the public maps say, what they don't, and who to call next.

Flood zones: what to check before you buy land

How to read a FEMA flood zone (A, AE, V, X, D), what 'unmapped' means, and what to ask before buying rural land or a building lot.

Is there power near this land? How to find out before you buy

How to tell whether rural land can get electric service: transmission vs distribution lines, what public maps show, and the questions to ask the utility.

Terrain and slope: reading the lay of the land before you buy

What slope percentages and degrees mean for building, driveways and septic on rural land, how elevation data is made, and what to check on site.

Wildfire risk for rural land: what the maps show

How to read wildfire data for a land purchase: FEMA's National Risk Index, CAL FIRE hazard severity zones, past fire perimeters and vegetation, and their limits.

Wetlands on land for sale: what the maps can and can't tell you

How to read National Wetlands Inventory maps for a land purchase, why they aren't a legal delineation, and when you need a wetland professional.