These sites have very generic and do not take into consideration things like, building codes, zoning requirements, light and air requirements, site orientation, utilities, soil capacity for foundation types, etc.

states with very high Tax are Texas and IL for example.. states or cities with pretty low tax's are Indy and Philly for example.2. weather and soil conditions.. not to pick on Texas but that state has a lot of expansive soil conditions that pop up on many homes wiping out a year or more cash flow..

Even if you have flat soil underneath, you need to compact it to make sure there won’t be settlement.

But, there are certain areas in NY since Sandy that did not and would never rebuild with basements.

Your lesson learned about the soil report/geotech report could help others save quite a bit of $. 

Then you need to check into the composition of the soil to see if the property is even buildable, you need to check with a soil engineer.  

WIth scale you almost always need hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment, pesticides and chemicals that damage soil and output over time.

The most expensive removals are buried oil tanks with soil contamination. 

@Sandy Moskovitz welcome to Bigger Pockets!

Our loamy, clay soil has a high-elasticity, which means it moves with shifting temperature and moisture levels.The soil under your home expands and contracts with shifts between hot and cold conditions and through dry and wet cycles — literally moving your entire home.Your home was designed to handle this, but over time or after a big weather event your home can move beyond its limitations — that’s when you get foundation problems."