Your comparison is a little bit of hyperbole.  Looking at a home and deciding if it could have drainage or flooding issues isn't exactly rocket surgery or even like trying to design the newest Tesla.  By the guy's own admission he sees the levee every time he is on his way home.  By its very nature that means that water is expected to be higher than his house.
I have looked at the drainage of water and investigated any possible flooding issues on every one of the houses that I have ever bought or even considered buying.  If there was ever a concern about flooding it takes one phone call to your insurance agency to get a flood map.  Better yet, its all online now.  FEMA has a flood map service where you can type in your address.  You don't have to be a professional to do just a little bit of digging prior to making one of the largest investments that the vast majority of people will ever make.  Not to mention it doesn't take a professional to figure out water flows downhill.