How to Identify (and Avoid) Wetlands - Part 1

0:00 - Intro
0:16 - How are wetlands defined and identified?
2:15 - Why are wetlands important?
2:58 - Why can wetlands be a problem?
3:25 - Seth shares his lesson learned from wetlands
5:30 - Online tools to help identify wetlands
9:00 - Final thoughts

Ultimately - the only way to be 100% confident about the presence of wetlands is to enlist the help of a wetlands consultant and/or have the appropriate government agents (usually from the US Army Corps of Engineers and possibly others at the state and local level) come out and conduct their wetland identification and delineation on-site.

The problem is - this is a lot to ask. Especially when a property is sold at a small fraction of market value and the transaction needs to be closed quickly. This kind of "textbook answer" on researching the wetland situation isn't always the most pragmatic.

If you're looking for a faster, easier way to identify any obvious red flags WITHOUT leaving your computer, it is possible to do some reconnaissance-level research to get an educated idea as to whether wetlands are present on your property. I'll explain how it works in the video above.

DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind that using the Wetlands Mapper is NOT the same thing as hiring a wetlands consultant and/or having the USACE do a delineation on your property (so realize, there are no guarantees with this approach). However, it can be a good starting point if you're just looking for an educated guess.

[terrykellum]

I'm so very thankful that I came across your video. In 2 weeks i was going to close on 70 acres that i was going to develop and part of it has standing water. It was overgrown so it was hard to tell how large of an area this affected. The FEMA flood map showed no issues but old timers in the area told me it had issues for years. Upon watching this video I looked it up and it showed nearly 30 acres was considered wetland. This video saved me lots of headaches and plenty of money!!! Thank you so much

[LandAcademy]

Amazing video on wetlands and why we as land investors should avoid it. Thanks for sharing.

[shaunchoy]

What was the cost with consultants and surveyors?

[perrinpartee]

They can boost value in MIssissippi flyway. Some wetland Duck hunting properties in Arkansas 10k per acre

[annfla]

Thank you for sharing this great info.

[RayEALLC]

Good job. Yes, flood mapping, soil mapping, and wetland mapping is only a guess from high elevation photography. Much of the mapping is decades old now as well. In 1995, we conducted a study of 24 sites in agricultural areas of the glaciated Midwest just 10-15 years after areas were interpreted for the NWI The accuracy of these products. Soil or NWI mapping alone was only 60% accurate to estimate hydric soils or functioning wetlands on site. Even with these products combined, they were only 80% correct, compared to on the ground delineation using the Y-87-1 methods still in use today.

[robertgrays]

Land I'm interested in buy has riverines running by or through it. Can a building still be constructed in the area?

[WiseSilverWolf]

How did you find the property for 2k? most of the lots where I live that you can find on Redfin, Zillow, etc have asking prices of 50k+

[zivahbelen]

Awesome information
I have a question regarding the invasion of Poultry Farms taking over American it's a outrageous!
Stinky and bad for the air quality.
It's there information to avoid this as well?

[ThePrettyGirlInvestor]

Are you looking to buy more land? I have 219.14 acres and 5 houses in Dallas, GA!

[chuba]

Thank you this video. This was a great information.

[davidfisher]

What about the recent Supreme Court case that requires surface contact?

[cooldeesir]

Great video. How much does it cost for an agent to do a wetlands delineation?

[megg]

Back in Europe we just put a stick into the soil far as it goes, several meters and if the stick is wet then you know it won't pass the perc test. We might test the soil under different weather conditions.

[p]

Why isn't this stuff disclosed? It's basically a government easement. Seems like something a lender or title company would care about too.

[DavidRanalli]

Wetlands are a real estate opportunity if you know how to make them functional for things beyond creating buildings.

[markbrody]

At least you have nothing to complain about. Turning $4, 500 into $45K is every real estate investor's dream, i.e. making 1000% profit minus expenses.

[drbrianmicheal]

If you're buying property without knowing it holds wetlands you shouldn't be a real estate investor.

[darlenechaney]

I bought 5 acres for a great price, I now know why, I have .37. of an acre of buildable property. happy happy joy joy. NOT !