Understanding Basemaps: Google Maps, Streets, Satellite, and NAIP
When analyzing land and counties inside Land Portal, you can switch between different basemaps to change how the map looks and what kind of information stands out.
With our latest update, Land Portal now uses Google Maps, giving you faster performance, more accurate imagery, and a smoother overall experience when evaluating properties.
Basemaps are especially useful in land investing and flipping because they let you view properties from different perspectives, from road access to aerial photography.
You can change basemaps in just a few clicks.
How to Switch Basemaps (Step-by-Step)
- Login to Land Portal.
- In the bottom-right corner, click Map Filters & View.
- At the top of the panel, you will see the Basemaps: Gmaps, Streets, Satellite, or NAIP.
The map will update instantly when selected.
You can toggle overlays like Parcel Boundaries, Owner Names, Contour Lines, FEMA Floodplain, and more while viewing any basemap.
Gmaps Basemap
What it is:
Google Maps’ default basemap, combining clean visuals with detailed geographic data, labels, and terrain context.
How to use it:
- Select Gmaps in Map Filters & View
- Turn on Parcel Boundaries to see lot outlines
- Use as your primary working view when scanning for deals
Why use it for land investing:
- Best overall default view for browsing counties and properties
- Clean, modern map with strong readability
- Reliable road data and geographic context powered by Google
Streets Basemap
What it is:
A simplified road and reference map showing roads, place names, and administrative boundaries.
How to use it:
- Select Streets in Map Filters & View
- Turn on Parcel Boundaries to see lot outlines
- Use with Owner Names or City/ZIP overlays for additional context
Why use it for land investing:
- Identify legal road names and nearby highways
- Confirm proximity to towns, services, and transportation
- Great for logistics, directions, and marketing materials
Satellite Basemap
What it is:
High-resolution satellite imagery powered by Google, showing real-world features like vegetation, buildings, and water.
How to use it:
- Select Satellite in Map Filters & View
- Turn on Parcel Boundaries to see which features fall inside the lot
- Combine with overlays like Contour Lines or FEMA Floodplain to evaluate buildability and risk
Why use it for land investing:
- Spot clearings, driveways, buildings, and ponds
- Evaluate vegetation cover and usability of the land
- Visualize what’s physically on the property before visiting
NAIP Basemap
What it is:
The National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) provides aerial photos captured by the USDA during the growing season (“leaf-on” imagery).
This imagery is orthorectified, meaning it’s corrected for scale so distances and measurements are accurate.
How to use it:
- Select NAIP in Map Filters & View
- Keep Parcel Boundaries visible to align imagery with property lines
- Use with overlays like Wetlands or Soil Type to identify environmental constraints
Why use it for land investing:
- Best for spotting vegetation, crop or pasture patterns, and tree cover
- Helps identify wetlands or low areas based on vegetation health
- Offers a consistent seasonal view compared to standard satellite imagery
Quick Comparison
- Gmaps: Best overall default view for browsing, navigation, and general analysis
- Streets: Best for access, directions, and proximity to towns and services
- Satellite: Best for viewing structures, clearings, water features, and real ground conditions
- NAIP: Best for vegetation, agriculture, and seasonal land characteristics
Choosing the right basemap in Land Portal helps you see land from different perspectives and make smarter investment decisions.
Gmaps gives you a clean, reliable default powered by Google, Streets helps with access and logistics, Satellite shows what’s really on the ground, and NAIP adds seasonal and agricultural insight.
By switching between them and combining overlays like Parcel Boundaries, FEMA Floodplain, and Soil Type, you’ll get a much clearer picture of any property before you market or flip it.
Ready to explore properties with confidence?
👉 Log into Land Portal and start switching between basemaps today.