Question 1

What is Off Grid Hubs?

Accepted Answer

Off Grid Hubs is a platform that builds free community apps for off-grid and rural communities. Each community gets its own branded app with GPS parcel maps, fire monitoring, SOS alerts, community tools, and more — completely free for residents.

Question 2

How is it free?

Accepted Answer

Paid parcel services are expensive because they cover every county in America. Off Grid Hubs focuses on specific communities, sourcing parcel data directly from free county GIS portals. That narrow focus is what keeps it free. Residents contribute local knowledge, and the community network effect makes the app more valuable over time.

Question 3

What communities are currently supported?

Accepted Answer

We currently support Holopaw (Suburban Estates, FL) and River Ranch Acres (Polk County, FL), with more coming soon — including Three Rivers Recreation Area (OR), R-Ranch Siskiyou (CA), California Pines (CA), and Humboldt River Ranch (NV). Each community gets its own dedicated app and domain.

Question 4

What features are included?

Accepted Answer

Every community app includes: GPS parcel maps with boundaries and owner data, NASA FIRMS fire monitoring (24/7 satellite alerts), one-tap SOS that broadcasts your GPS location to nearby residents, GPS trail recording that builds a community heatmap, a community marketplace, a local services directory, and tax deed auction tracking with parcel details and countdown timers.

Question 5

Do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

You need a free account to use the community app — this lets you receive SOS alerts, post to the marketplace, and save parcel searches. Basic parcel lookups on the website work without an account.

Question 6

Is there a mobile app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each community app is available as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on any browser, and as a native iOS and Android app. You can install it from the App Store or Google Play, or just open it in your browser — everything works the same either way.

Question 7

How does the fire monitoring work?

Accepted Answer

We pull active fire data from NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System), which updates every 10–20 minutes from satellite imagery. When a fire is detected within a configurable radius of your community, the app sends a push notification to all residents. You can see the fire location on the map and track its movement in real-time.

Question 8

What is a tax deed auction?

Accepted Answer

When property owners stop paying property taxes, the county can sell the property at a tax deed auction to recover the unpaid taxes. These auctions often sell land at below-market prices. Off Grid Hubs tracks upcoming auctions for parcels inside your community — including opening bid, parcel size, map location, and auction countdown — so residents can spot opportunities early.

Question 9

How do I get an app for my community?

Accepted Answer

Email us at hello@offgridhubs.com with your community name, location, and approximate size. We research parcel data availability from your county's GIS portal, configure fire monitoring for your area, and build a branded app for your residents — typically within a week. There is no cost to the community or to residents.

Question 10

Can I contribute parcel data or trail maps?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Residents can report corrections to parcel boundaries, add local knowledge (access roads, water sources, landmarks), and contribute GPS trail recordings. Every trail you record is added to the community heatmap, making it more useful for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions