Most of North Georgia outside city limits is on septic, not sewer. That means a lot can only support a house if its soil can absorb wastewater at an acceptable rate — and the percolation test, or perc test, is how you find out. A lot that fails, or that only passes for a two-bedroom system, is worth a fraction of one that passes for a five-bedroom home, and they can sit right next to each other.
I came to real estate from construction management, and this is where that background matters most. Before a client buys land, I want the perc results, the well site or water access, the topography, and the road frontage. A steep lot with a long driveway and an engineered foundation can cost six figures more to build on than a flat one with the same view.
If you’re buying land in Forsyth, Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, or Fannin counties, make the perc test a contingency. Every time. It’s the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy on a property.