Finding land that is not publicly listed can feel like searching in the dark. But these days, you do not have to fly blind. With the right mix of data, zoning insights, and direct outreach, you can uncover deals that almost nobody else sees.
What Is Off-Market Land
Off-market land refers to parcels that are not listed on public sites like Zillow or Realtor.com. It could be a vacant infill lot, farmland, or a property owned by someone who has not decided to sell yet.
Why Go Off-Market
- Less competition
- Better pricing
- More room for negotiation
The Challenges
- Finding parcels in the first place
- Figuring out who owns them and how to reach them
- Understanding zoning, land-use rules, and development potential
Helpful Tools
- Reonomy: Ownership and market data
- Plotzy: Unlimited property searches, zoning checks, and verified owner contacts
- DataFlik: Identifies owners who may be ready to sell
- VestRight: Land-use and zoning analysis
Steps to Find Off-Market Land
- Use Plotzy or Reonomy to identify potential properties.
- Check zoning and local plans to confirm development potential.
- Reach out directly to owners using personalized outreach.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Features | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Reonomy | Ownership data, market trends | Broad property research |
| Plotzy | Zoning filters, verified owner contacts | Developers targeting off-market parcels |
| DataFlik | Finds likely-to-sell owners | Buyer outreach |
| VestRight | Zoning analysis, land-use maps | Understanding build limits |
Related Video
Using AI Tools to Find Unlisted Land
If you are hunting for land that is not on the market yet, AI tools are your edge. What used to take weeks of cold calls and manual searches can now be done in an afternoon.
Research Platforms
Plotzy and Reonomy are the two most useful starting points.
- Plotzy lets you search unlimited parcels, filter by zoning, and pull owner contact matches in seconds.
- Reonomy gives a broad view across the entire U.S., showing ownership patterns and sales trends.
Think of them as your scouts: Plotzy digs deep while Reonomy scans wide.
Making Zoning and Parcel Analysis Easy
Gone are the days of flipping through PDF zoning codes. AI tools now surface zoning and permitted use information instantly.
| Platform | What It Does | Perfect For |
|---|---|---|
| Plotzy | Instant zoning filters, parcel-level data | Finding development opportunities |
| VestRight | Zoning maps and overlays | Understanding land-use restrictions |
| Google Satellite | Visual inspection, terrain and access | Quick site review |
Finding Owner Contact Information with AI
Tracking down owners used to mean long hours in county assessor databases. Today, it is data-driven.
- DataFlik spots owners who are statistically likely to sell soon.
- Plotzy includes built-in contact data, so you can export lists or plug them into your CRM.
- Deal Machine makes outreach simple if you are handling your own mailers or skip tracing.
Smart workflow:
Use Plotzy to find promising parcels → verify zoning with VestRight → reach out through DataFlik or Plotzy’s owner contact tools.
How Plotzy Helps You Find Unlisted Land
Plotzy was built for this exact purpose: finding hidden land and getting in touch with the right owners quickly. It is especially useful for developers, brokers, and acquisition teams who need fast, zoning-aware lead generation.
Here is how the plans break down (accurate as of Plotzy Prospecting):
| Plan | Includes | Owner Contact Matches | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Unlimited parcel searches, property data, zoning info, exports | 200 / month | Individual brokers, early-stage developers |
| Pro | Everything in Basic plus zoning Q&A, municipal resources, shapefile imports | 1,000 / month | Development and acquisition teams |
| Enterprise | Custom data integrations, API access, multi-user accounts | Custom | Firms managing large portfolios |
All plans include:
- Unlimited parcel searches
- Zoning checks and filters
- Ownership lookup
- CRM-ready data exports
Example: Let’s say you are searching in Florida for commercially zoned land over one acre near new infrastructure. Plotzy can instantly narrow down parcels, show you the zoning classification, and reveal owner contact info for outreach. No cold-hunting required.
Using Reonomy for Market Research
While Plotzy focuses on zoning and owner connections, Reonomy gives you a broad view of ownership and market activity across the country.
“Reonomy provides access to nearly every parcel in the country, making it an indispensable tool for identifying off-market land opportunities.”
Use Reonomy to spot patterns across states and metros, then switch to Plotzy to dig into the details such as zoning, permitted use, and ownership.
It is like using a telescope and a microscope together.
Why Off-Market Deals Often Win
- No bidding wars since the land is not listed publicly
- Direct communication with decision makers
- Easier to negotiate creative deal structures such as seller financing
- Better zoning clarity through Plotzy’s zoning and permitted use filters
Conclusion
Off-market land hunting is no longer only for insiders. Tools such as Plotzy, Reonomy, and DataFlik make it possible for anyone to find, vet, and contact property owners with real accuracy.
The process looks like this:
- Use Plotzy to identify and filter parcels that fit your project.
- Double-check zoning and municipal plans.
- Use Plotzy’s contact matches or your own outreach strategy to connect directly with owners.
Whether you are a developer, investor, or broker, these tools shorten research time and help you reach opportunities before the market catches on.
FAQs
What Is a CRE Platform
A Commercial Real Estate (CRE) platform helps professionals find and analyze properties. Tools like Plotzy and Reonomy combine ownership data, zoning information, and market analytics in one place.
How Do AI Tools Help in Finding Off-Market Land
AI platforms analyze patterns in ownership, sales, and zoning to find properties that might be available even before they are listed.
For example, Plotzy can show you parcels in newly rezoned areas with commercial potential, and Reonomy can reveal how long each owner has held their property.
What Are the Main Benefits of Using AI in Real Estate
| Benefit | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Smart Predictions | Identifies likely sellers early |
| Time Savings | Reduces research time significantly |
| Better Market Insight | Reveals overlooked patterns and value trends |
How Should I Reach Out to Property Owners
Keep it short, specific, and personal. A message like this works well:
“I noticed your property at [address] looks like a great fit for a small development given the new zoning in the area. I would love to connect and see if there is potential for us to work something out.”
It is not about hard-selling. It is about starting a real conversation.
