Parcel Research with County GIS\n\nLearn to pull parcel data — owner, acreage, zoning, assessed value — from county assessor and GIS systems (e.g. ArcGIS REST endpoints). We walk through a real lookup in Shelby and Jefferson County, Alabama.

Going Deeper (Intermediate)

Before spending real money, research the parcel: APN, ownership, size/shape, zoning, current use, utilities, legal access, flood zone, topography, and any liens/easements. Sources: the county assessor/GIS, recorder, and planning department.

Advanced / Pro-Level

Build a data room and hunt for deal-killers early:

• Assessor (APN, owner, assessed value), GIS layers (zoning, FEMA flood, soils, easements), a title preliminary report, and aerials/topo (USGS/LiDAR).
• Red flags that end deals: floodplain, blocking easements, landlocked/no legal access, steep slopes, wetlands.
• Consider parcel assembly (combining lots) to reach a viable size. The research decides whether the deal is worth pursuing before you spend on DD and entitlement.

Practice Challenge

Your research shows a parcel has no frontage on any public road and is surrounded by other owners. Why is this a potential deal-killer? (Answer: it's landlocked — no legal access — without an access easement or frontage you can't legally reach or develop it; access (and the cost/feasibility of obtaining it) must be solved before the parcel has any development value.)

In Practice

A developer makes an offer, then discovers from the county GIS that half the parcel is wetlands — info they could have pulled for free first. Research the parcel before you offer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Making an offer before researching the parcel
• Not checking zoning, acreage, and assessor data
• Skipping free public GIS records

Takeaway: Pull the parcel facts (owner, zoning, acreage) from county GIS before you ever make an offer.