How to Use the Market Research Tool

When it comes to successful land investing, information is everything.

Understanding the dynamics of a market; how quickly land sells, at what price, and how supply is shifting, can be the difference between a profitable acquisition and a costly mistake.

That’s why Land Portal’s new Market Research Tool is a game-changer for land investors.

This tool provides access to nationwide MLS data in a dynamic, visual format, allowing you to assess market activity, pricing trends, and investment opportunities with just a few clicks.

Whether you're looking to enter a new county or refine your acquisition criteria, this tool equips you with the data you need to make smarter, faster decisions.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to use the Market Research Tool step-by-step, accompanied by detailed screenshots to help you navigate each feature effectively.

Step 1: Log into Land Portal

To get started, log in to Land Portal if you haven’t already.

Step 2: Access the Market Research Tool

Start by clicking the "Market Research" tab on the left-hand side of Land Portal dashboard. This opens the main interface where your market exploration begins.

Step 3: Explore the Map Options

You’ll land on an interactive map showing counties across the U.S. You can:

Type in a state, county, or zip code, or use the Heatmap for a visual representation of key data points.

Step 4: Understand the Heat Map Colors

The heat map uses a five-color scale:

Red = Poor
Orange = Fair
Yellow = Average
Light Green = Good

This gives you a quick overview of market performance in each area.

Step 5: Adjust Your Filters

Before digging deeper, refine your view:

Timeframe: Change from the default 24 months to 12, 6, or even 3 months.
Land Type: Keep it set to land.
Acreage Range: Select all, or focus on specific acreage bands (e.g., 2–5 acres).

Data Metric

Choose from:

Inventory Count
Median Price
Median Price Per Acre
Days on Market (DOM)
Sell Through Rate (STR)
Absorption Rate
Months of Supply

Step 6: Interact with the Map

Turn on "Popup on Hover" option.

Hover over any county to see detailed stats (based on the filters you select) via a popup:

Timeframe
Acreage
STR (Sell Through Rate)
DOM (Days on Market)
Median Price Per Acre

Using the example below, you can see that hovering over Butler County, OH, shows:

Timeframe: 24 Months
Acreage: All Acreages
STR: 385.48%
DOM: 72 Days
Median PPA: $58,507

Step 7: Compare Metrics

Want to see how areas compare by another metric?

Switch from "Inventory County" to "Days on Market" or another stat.

This helps you identify trends like slow-moving or undervalued markets.

Step 8: Drill Down into the County

Click on a promising county (e.g., Butler County, OH) to open its detailed Table View.

You’ll find:

Median prices across different acreage bands
Historical pricing by time range
Links to MLS listings for individual properties

Clicking any listing will open the actual MLS page on Land Portal, where you can see full property details and transaction history.

Step 9: Refine & Export Your Data

In Table View You Can:

Deselect outliers to clean your dataset by clicking on the eye icon
The bottom summary will recalculate medians in real time.
Export your filtered results to Excel for further analysis.

Step 10: Use the Full Dataset

Metrics like Parcel Counts, Sell Through Rate, Absorption Rate, Months of Supply and more are all accessible and exportable.

Use them to validate your acquisition strategies or identify under-the-radar hotspots.

Land Portal’s Market Research Tool is designed to simplify data-driven land investing.

With real-time MLS data, customizable filters, and powerful visualizations, it helps you make informed decisions quickly and confidently.

Ready to find your next land deal?

Log in now and start using the Market Research Tool to uncover the best opportunities in your target markets.