Worked Listing X-Ray · Comal County

A listing says “unrestricted,” “utilities nearby,” and “private-road access.” What does that actually prove?

Very little by itself. This worked example turns a synthetic listing into the documents, public-source paths, and questions a buyer can verify before making an offer.

The synthetic listing

Marketing language first; verification questions second.

“Unrestricted 12 acres in Comal County with utilities nearby, shared private-road access, a seasonal creek, owner financing, and no perc test on file. Buyer to verify all information.”

The Listing X-Ray should not convert this text into a yes/no verdict. It should identify which phrases are claims, which important topics are missing, and what evidence would be needed before relying on them.

Claim-by-claim teardown

What each phrase leaves unresolved

Listing phraseWhat it does not establishNext verification step
“Unrestricted”Does not establish the absence of deed restrictions, covenants, subdivision rules, health rules, or use limits.Request the deed and recorded restrictions; use county public-record routing and title review.
“Utilities nearby”Does not show that a provider serves the parcel, that capacity exists, or what an extension costs.Identify likely providers and request written availability, distance, capacity, and extension-cost information.
“Shared private-road access”Does not establish recorded legal access, maintenance duties, driveway approval, or emergency-access suitability.Request the recorded easement/private-road agreement and check county permit and right-of-way paths.
“Seasonal creek”May raise drainage, floodplain, water-feature, and usable-site questions without proving a restriction.Check FEMA/community flood sources, county floodplain routing, wetlands mapping, and site-specific professional review.
“No perc test on file”Confirms an information gap, not whether an onsite sewage facility can or cannot be permitted.Contact Comal County Environmental Health and ask what site evaluation, soil, design, and permit steps apply.

The highest-priority documents

Ask the seller before spending more

  1. Current survey or plat and the deed/legal description.
  2. Recorded access easement and private-road maintenance agreement.
  3. Any prior OSSF/septic design, permit, inspection, soil, or site-evaluation records.
  4. Written utility-provider availability and extension information.
  5. Recorded restrictions, covenants, POA/HOA documents, and subdivision rules.
  6. Floodplain, drainage, driveway, or permit correspondence already received.

What remains unknown

The page does not decide the parcel

  • actual boundaries or encroachments;
  • legal/title access;
  • septic suitability or approval;
  • utility feasibility, cost, or timing;
  • floodplain/wetland jurisdiction;
  • whether the intended use will be allowed or permitted.

Official and public source paths

Where the buyer starts checking

These source paths were already verified for the Comal County pilot dataset. Availability and page structure can change; confirm the current office and record path when you use them.

SourceUse it forLink
Comal County GISParcel context and county map routingOpen source
Comal County property searchAppraisal and tax-record lookup pathOpen source
Comal County permitsPermit, driveway, right-of-way, and engineer-office routingOpen source
Comal County Environmental HealthOSSF/septic program and local contact pathOpen source
Comal County FloodplainCounty floodplain information and local verification pathOpen source
FEMA Map Service CenterFederal flood-map starting pointOpen source
USFWS Wetlands MapperNational wetlands-screening starting pointOpen source
USDA Web Soil SurveySoil-map starting pointOpen source

Decision ladder

Use the smallest next step that matches the decision

Still browsing

Run the free Listing X-Ray and save the seller/county questions.

Specific parcel, serious interest

Review the sample report and confirm the county is in paid coverage.