Real Estate Florida: Unit 10

survey

A survey is a drawing of a parcel of land showing its boundary lines.

A property costs $34,848 per acre. What is the cost per square foot of the property?

The answer is $0.80. $34,848 ÷ 43,560 square feet in an acre = $0.80.

tier

Each resulting six-mile-wide horizontal (east-west) strip of land on either side of the BL is called a tier or simply township.

range

Each resulting six-mile-wide vertical (north-south) strip of land on either side of the PM is called a range.

Which method of legal description is used in subdivisions and is contained in recorded plat maps?

The answer is lot and block. The lot and block method is used for single-family dwellings located in developed subdivisions where plat maps have been recorded in the public records.

legal description

The purpose of a legal description is to describe a parcel of land with sufficient detail that it will be accepted by a court of law.

assessor's parcel number

To accomplish this task, each parcel is assigned a parcel ID (PID) number or assessor's parcel numberby the county property appraiser's office.

True or False: To reduce errors and potential liability, real estate licensees should refer to a reliable document for a full and accurate legal description when inserting the legal description into sale contracts.

The statement is true. Real estate licensees should refer to a reliable document, such as the deed that transferred the property to the current owner, or the tax roll/property appraiser's website for a full and accurate legal description.

True or False: Description of lot and block numbers is a type of legal description.

The statement is true. The most common type of legal description used for single-family dwellings located in developed subdivisions is the lot and block method of land description.

True or False: The purpose of a legal description is to specify a particular parcel of land with sufficient detail so that it will be accepted by a court of law.

The statement is true. The primary purpose of a legal description is to describe a particular piece of property in a way that uniquely identifies that parcel from any other parcel so that it will be accepted by a court of law.

True or False: Township T3S, R2E is located in the second tier south of the base line and the third range east of the principal meridian.

The statement is false. Township T3S, R2E is located in the third tier south of the base line and the second range east of the principal meridian.

True or False: There are 130,680 square feet in 3 acres.

The statement is true. 43,560 square feet × 3 acres = 130,680 square feet.

True or False: There are 20 acres in the legal description S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 10.

The statement is true. 640 ÷ 2 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 20 acres.

True or False: A section contains 640 acres.

The statement is true. A section is one mile on each side containing one square mile or 640 acres.

True or False: North 15 degrees 25 minutes 20 seconds West is written in symbols as N 15⁰ 25′ 20″ W.

The statement is true. Boundary directions are given in degrees (⁰), minutes (′), and seconds (″).

True or False: Each parcel of land on a tax map is assigned an assessor's parcel number.

The statement is true. Each parcel is assigned a parcel ID (PID) number or assessor's parcel number by the county property appraiser's office.

True or False: In a metes-and-bound description, metes refers to distance.

The statement is true. Metes refers to distance, and bounds refers to direction.

True or False: Range lines run north and south (vertical lines) six miles apart.

The statement is true. Range lines are vertical (north-south) lines parallel to the principal meridian every six miles.

point of beginning (POB)

A metes-and-bounds description begins at an exact reference point, called a point of beginning (POB). Starting at the POB, the first boundary is determined from the legal description that indicates the direction and the distance to the first corner of the parcel, followed by another direction and distance to a second corner, and so on, eventually returning to the POB so that the parcel is enclosed within its boundaries

base line

An east-west line designated in the Land Ordinance of 1785

government survey system

Congress chose a massive undertaking called the government survey system. The government survey system is based on the logic that you can identify a parcel by reference to two intersecting lines. By dividing the land into squares, the survey created land descriptions by identifying the square(s) in which the land was located. The process was to create a large grid with every square of the grid uniquely identified.

section

Each township is further divided into 36 sections. Each section is one square mile or 640 acres. Sections are numbered in an S-pattern, beginning in the northeast (upper right) corner of the township with section number 1. The sections are numbered from 1 in the northeast corner and then consecutively to the west through section 6. The section numbers then wrap around in an S-pattern. The second horizontal row begins directly under section 6 and progresses west to east (left to right) from 7 to 12. Section 13 is directly under section 12, and one moves west (to the left) with section 18 last in that row. This method of numbering is repeated until section number 36 is reached in the southeast, or lower right, corner of every township. The numbering pattern of sections repeats itself inside each township (see Sections in a Township).

lot and block

Probably the most common type of legal description used for single-family dwellings located in developed subdivisions is the lot and block (recorded plat) method of land description.

How many acres are in a parcel described as the SW¼ of the NE¼ of the SE¼?

The answer is 10. 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 10 acres.

Which section is located directly south of section 1?

The answer is 12. Section 12 is located directly south (below) section 1.

How many acres are in a parcel described as the SW¼ of the NE¼ and the SE¼ of the S½?

The answer is 120. 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 40 acres; 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 2 = 80 acres; 40 + 80 = 120 acres.

Which range is farthest from the intersection of the principal meridian and the base line?

The answer is R22W. The farther from the principal meridian, the larger the number of the range.

Which partial description describes a vertical strip of land six miles wide that touches where the principal meridian and base line intersect?

The answer is Range 1 East. Townships are north or south of the intersecting point; ranges are east or west of the intersecting point. Range 1 East is the first vertical strip of land east of the principal meridian and touches the intersecting point.

A line pointed in the direction opposite North 20 degrees East is

The answer is South 20 degrees West. The line opposite North 20 degrees East is South 20 degrees West. The number of degrees does not change, only the compass directions.

What term is used to describe fractional pieces of land less than a full quarter section located along the banks of lakes and streams?

The answer is government lot. A government lot is composed of fractional pieces of land less than a full quarter section located along the banks of lakes and streams.

Which government office assigns parcel ID numbers to land within a tax district?

The answer is property appraiser. Each parcel is assigned a parcel ID number by the county property appraiser's office.

Which description BEST fits if one were to shade in sections 14, 15, 16, and 17 of a township?

The answer is rectangle. The sections are contiguous and form a horizontal strip that is longer on two sides, forming a rectangle.

Which direction describes a range?

The answer is vertical. Ranges are vertical (north-south) strips of land parallel to the principal meridian.

principal meridian

The beginning reference is the intersection of a north-south line called a principal meridianand an east-west line called a base line

township

The grid pattern created by the intersection of two range lines and two township lines forms a 6-mile square called a township. A township contains 36 square miles (6 miles × 6 miles = 36 square miles).

metes-and-bounds description

The metes-and-bounds description is the oldest method of land description. Today, surveyors use computer software and laser equipment to create the most accurate surveys possible. The metes-and-bounds method is used for both regular and irregular shaped parcels. Metes refers to distance (measured in feet), and bounds refers to direction.

True or False: A property costs $26,136 per acre. Therefore, the property costs $0.75 per square foot.

The statement is false. $26,136 ÷ 43,560 = $0.60 per square foot.

True or False: A check is a square six miles on each side.

The statement is false. A check is a square 24 miles on each side.

True or False: A survey of real property is a questionnaire about the property's location.

The statement is false. A survey is a drawing of a parcel of land showing its boundary lines and includes the legal description of the property.

True or False: An acre contains 44,575 square feet.

The statement is false. An acre contains 43,560 square feet.

True or False: Each township measures 36 miles on each side.

The statement is false. Each 36-square-mile township measures six miles on each side.

True or False: Tax maps are based on legal descriptions in recorded deeds.

The statement is false. Tax maps are based on recorded plat maps.

True or False: The opposite of N 15⁰ 25′ 20″ W is N 45⁰ 25′ 20″ E.

The statement is false. The opposite of N 15⁰ 25′ 20″ W is S 15⁰ 25′ 20″ E. The number of degrees does not change, only the compass directions.

True or False: The section immediately south of Section 2 in a given township is Section 10.

The statement is false. The section immediately south of Section 2 is Section 11.

monument

The surveyor identifies each corner of the parcel with a visible marker called a monument. Monuments are fixed objects used to identify the POB, all corners of the parcel, and the location of intersecting boundaries. Monuments are made of concrete, iron, or brass, and they are carefully placed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or trained private land surveyors.

township line

The surveyors also established horizontal (east-west) township lines parallel to the base line (BL) every six miles.