This land investment scorecard tool helps you evaluate the investment quality of a piece of land by checking the same key factors professionals look for such as access, zoning, terrain, utilities, and red flags. Simply select the features that apply to the land you’re considering, and the tool will generate a score out of 100 along with a clear investment rating. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, this quick assessment gives you valuable insight into whether the property has strong potential or hidden risks, helping you make more confident, informed decisions.
Evaluate the land you're buying using the same criteria land experts use to decide whether it's a smart investment or one to avoid.
Land Investment Scorecard
Land Investment Quality Score
Check the boxes that apply to your land. The calculator will score the overall investment potential based on access, utilities, terrain, and other factors.
Access & Location
Utilities Nearby
Buildability & Terrain
Visual & Environmental Appeal
Negative Factors (check if true)
How to use our calculator
Found only on LandZero
Made By Pros
This scorecard was developed by experienced land professionals who know exactly what sells and what doesn’t. These are the key factors we evaluate when assessing a property’s resale potential, things like legal access, buildability, nearby utilities, and red flags that could hurt value. By using this tool, you’re tapping into the same checklist land pros rely on to determine whether a property is worth buying or likely to sit unsold.
Major Items
We carefully selected each item in this scorecard based on real world experience in land investing. The factors that increase the score, like road access, utilities, and buildable terrain, are traits that consistently make land easier to sell and more valuable. On the other hand, serious issues like no legal access, flood zones, or steep terrain significantly reduce the score because they often prevent development or turn off buyers entirely.
Minor Items
Some features are minor gains or losses to the ultimate score. Maintenance requirements such as grass or HOAs, carry smaller penalties since they’re manageable but still impact desirability. Same goes for land being cleared, which most land is not, so it won't hurt the score much. However, if it is, it can boost the score quite well. The scoring system reflects the true weight these factors have on a property’s marketability and investment potential in our experience.
Your Score
A scoring system like this is commonly used by experienced land buyers to quickly evaluate properties, and it has proven to be a reliable way to identify both strong opportunities and red flags. However, land is highly individual, each parcel is unique, and local factors vary widely across states and counties. This tool offers a valuable snapshot of a property's investment quality, but it should be used only as a guide, not a guarantee. Always consider the full picture and do further due diligence before making a purchase.
Understanding Land Investing
How do I know if a piece of land is a good investment?
A good land investment typically has legal access, is zoned for flexible or residential use, has nearby utilities, and is located in an area with demand. Investors often use a checklist or scoring system, like this one, to evaluate whether a property has strong resale potential or hidden risks. All land is quite unique though and in some cases, the land can have major value while still getting a low score depending on the use factors of the land.
What should I look for when buying vacant land?
Like anything in real estate, location should be your top priority. But you should also look for key features such as road access, utility availability (power, water, septic), suitable zoning, buildable terrain, and the absence of legal or environmental issues. It’s also important to check if the land is in an HOA (less desired in many cases), flood zone, or has restrictions that could limit future use or using the land.
What makes land hard to sell later?
Land becomes difficult to sell when it lacks legal access, is landlocked, has no utilities nearby at all, sits in steep or unusable terrain, or is burdened by zoning restrictions. Remote locations, poor lot shape, and properties with unpaid taxes or unclear title can also reduce marketability.
Is land without utilities a bad investment?
Not necessarily, but land without nearby power or water often requires higher development costs if the buyer want’s it. However, things have changed in the land industry. With advancements in solar, water well pumps, satellite internet and drone deliveries. Living off-grid has become hugely popular and rural land has become quite a hot asset with larger sale values. With buyers looking specifically for these properties, rural land is much easier to sell.
Does zoning affect land value?
Yes, zoning plays a major role in a property’s value and usage. Residential or mixed-use zoning is typically more valuable than strict agricultural or conservation zoning. Zoning also affects what can be built, so knowing your property’s zoning designation is critical before you buy. You should also know your zoning could even mean your property is simply unusable for anything at all. We have a good tool here Zoning Code Finder
How do I estimate the resale value of land?
Check recent land sales in the same area with similar size, access, and utility features. Use online listing platforms like Zillow and county data to compare. Consider market trends, demand in that region, and whether improvements (like clearing or fencing) would add value.
Why do land investors pass on certain properties?
Land pros avoid properties with no access, zoning that restricts development, floodplain issues, steep or unusable terrain, or those far from any infrastructure. These red flags can make resale difficult or lead to high holding costs with limited return on investment. There are a lot more factors that can be hidden at times with land with a trained eye and quality research skills you can find these rare loopholes. It takes time and experience, in some cases losses to learn exactly what land works for investing and what doesn’t.
Why Buying Land Is a Brilliant Investment
Land is one of the most stable and undervalued investments available. It doesn’t wear out, its supply is capped, and requires little to no maintenance. Unlike stocks or buildings, raw land is a tangible asset that holds value and often appreciates over time, especially as development expands. Whether you’re looking to build, hold, or resell, land offers flexibility, security, and long term gains.