How it works
Every lot gets the checks a careful investor would do, from public records and real terrain, in about 30 seconds. Then a clear green, amber or red verdict, exactly why, and what would make it work.
A town, your total budget, how many rental cabins, and any must-haves like mountain views or a hospital within 30 minutes.
Land for sale is pulled in and each lot is checked: slope, views, flood, soil, roads, utilities, drive times and the rental market.
What your budget buys, what it would earn, what could go wrong, and what to verify before you make an offer.
A real lot, checked live
The parcel in 3D, the flattest place to build, the view from the porch, and a green, amber or red verdict with the numbers behind it.
Example
3.39 acres near Pigeon Forge, TN
$175,000 · 3.39 acres · $500,000 all-in, paying cash
Where the flattest, most buildable spot is, and how much of the lot is under 25%.
USGS 3D Elevation Program
Sight lines in 24 directions, plus a 3D 'view from the porch'.
USGS terrain + aerial imagery
FEMA flood zone at the lot and water within a few miles.
FEMA, USGS National Hydrography
Whether the soil suits a drainfield, and why not if it doesn't.
USDA Soil Survey
Nearest road, and whether it's public, private or a trail.
U.S. Census road data
Which electric company serves the lot; internet providers and speeds.
HIFLD utility territories, FCC broadband data
Town, hospital, groceries, gas, vet, restaurants, bars, hardware.
OpenStreetMap via Geoapify
Boundary, acreage, assessed value and last sale in North Carolina and Tennessee. In North Georgia we link you to the county's parcel map.
NC OneMap and Tennessee Comptroller parcel records
Cabins sized to your budget, site costs scaled for slope and soil, rental income from nearby Airbnbs, today's mortgage rates.
AirROI, Freddie Mac, your defaults
Every lot gets a green, amber or red verdict against your plan in My defaults. Paying cash, Plotnomics looks for at least a 6% return on your cash a year: comfortably more than safe savings (about 4%) to pay for the risk and work. With a mortgage, the bar is covering every cost including the loan.
Every verdict comes with the reasons behind it, and for amber and red lots, what would change it. A red lot can still be right for you: different prices, costs or plans give different answers.
Every number shows where it came from, and Plotnomics tells you when a lot doesn't work. Most don't at today's prices and rates, so finding the ones that do is the point. AI only writes the plain-English summary; it never makes up figures.
Start with a town and a budget, or paste the address of a lot you're already eyeing.
