Ch. 8 Real Estate
Example of metes and bounds
"Beginning at an iron pipe marked A, common to the southwest corner of Section 14 and the northeast corner of Section 15, and thence running South 8 degrees 15 minutes East 75 feet to a pipe marked B, thence North 78 degrees 27 minutes East 34 3/10 feet to a pipe marked C, thence North 11 degrees 28 minutes West 74 9/10 feet to a pipe marked D, thence South 78 degrees 27 minutes West 30 2/10 feet to the place of beginning containing 2410.7 square feet, more or less."
how big is a section? 400 square yards 2 square miles 1 square mile 1 square hector
1 square mile
sq foot
144 sq inches
Rod
16.5 feet; 5.5 yards
cu yard
27 cu. feet
Vara
33 1/3 inches (This measurement is specific to Texas real estate and is used according to Texas statute).
Acre
43,560 sq. feet; 160 sq. rods
Mile
5,280 feet; 1,760 yards; 320 rods
Section
640 acres
sq Mile
640 acres
Based on Texas standards, what is the length of 2 varas? 66 2/3 inches 33 1/3 inches 34 inches 3 feet
66 2/3 inches
Chain
66 feet; 4 rods; 100 links
sq yard
9 sq feet
What type of survey is often used as a base to design future improvements?
A boundary and topographic survey
Cadastral land survey
A detailed survey with more information Shows exactly where boundaries, easements, and property lines are located Surveyors typically go to the property and make real-time measurements. Measurements are compared with archived land records to create a complete picture of what is located where
Land surveyors: people use them to assess
Boundaries for properties Topography for engineering designs Outline elevations for flood insurance for home sites Title for real estate transactions, subdivisions, and other construction projects
there are a number of different surveys
Boundary survey Location survey Topographic survey Site planning survey Subdivision survey Construction survey Geographic positioning system ALTA/ACSM survey
Geographic Positioning System
GPS surveys use portable receiving antennas to gather data transmitted from satellites. Those are used to calculate the position of the object being located on the surface of the earth.
what is a site-planning survey used for
Houses Residential subdivisions Stores Shopping centers New streets or highways Playgrounds
Point of beginning
In the Metes and Bounds method, this is the corner at which the boundary description starts.
Difficulties with the metes and bounds systems
Irregular property shapes made for more complex descriptions. The descriptions became challenging as the landscape changed, trees died, or streams moved by erosion. It wasn't useful for the large, newly surveyed tracts of land being opened in the west, which people were selling sight unseen to investors.
metes and bounds
It identifies the boundaries of a parcel of real estate using reference points, distances, and angles.
What does the Public Land State notion mean, according to US PLSS? It is a state in which public lands were owned by public companies It is a state in which public lands were owned by private people It is a state in which public lands were owned by the state authorities It is a state in which public lands were owned by the United States Government
It is a state in which public lands were owned by the United States Government
What does monumentation mean? It is the establishment of historical monuments It is the establishment of permanent on-the-ground objects that mark meridians and parallels It is the establishment of temporary on-the-ground objects that mark exact locations of surveyed points and lines It is the establishment of permanent on-the-ground objects that mark exact locations of surveyed points and lines
It is the establishment of permanent on-the-ground objects that mark exact locations of surveyed points and lines
What are the characteristics of a subdivision plat map? It must comply with federal surveying standards and ordinances It must comply with local surveying standards and ordinances It is used in the rectangular survey system It divides surveyed into sections
It must comply with local surveying standards and ordinances
What type of survey is a boundary survey with the additional location of all the interior improvements?
Location survey
Public land survey system (PLSS)
People use it to survey and classify land parcels before naming an owner, particularly in rural or undeveloped land
What is also referred to as the Rectangular Survey
Public land survey system
a legal description is required for
Public recording Creating a valid deed of conveyance or lease Completing mortgage documents Executing and recording other legal documents
Property surveys can be done for:
Residential land Commercial land Undeveloped land
House location survey
Sometimes called a drive-by survey Designed to show the location of the house and other large structures on the property, as well as the orientation of those structures in relation to each other Gives property owners a sense of what is present and where
What does Texas law require in order to record a plat with the county?
That all taxes, both current and delinquent, be paid
Which of the following is a distinctive feature of metes and bounds descriptions? They use meridians and base lines. They identify an enclosed area, beginning and ending at the same point. They use lot and block numbers. They incorporate elevation into the descriptions.
They identify an enclosed area, beginning and ending at the same point.
ALTA/ACSM Survey
This is a detailed survey that lending institutions often require. It is strictly geared towards companies purchasing commercial property.
construction survey
This survey uses surveying techniques to stake out buildings, roads, walls, utilities, etc. This includes horizontal and vertical grading, slope staking, and final as-built surveys.
Elevation
To describe property located above or below the earth's surface, such as the air rights of a condominium, a surveyor must know the property's ________
What reference is used to describe a township? Range Greenwich Strip Two consecutive meridians and two consecutive baseline parallels
Two consecutive meridians and two consecutive baseline parallels
What is a legal description not required for? Usage on specialized Internet platforms Public recording Creating a valid deed of conveyance or lease Completing mortgage documents
Usage on specialized Internet platforms
What was the metes-and-bounds system used to describe? Small settlements and undeveloped lands Undeveloped lands A town of around 3 miles and of any shape A town of around 4-6 miles and of generally rectangular shape
a town of around 4-6 miles and of generally rectangular shape
legal descriptions
accurately locates and identifies the boundaries of the subject parcel to a degree acceptable by courts of law in the state where the property is located.
Parallels
also called Township lines, run east and west. A base parallel or base line is the designated line for identifying townships. There is a base parallel for each principal meridian.
meridians
also called range lines, run north and south. A principal meridian is the single designated meridian for identifying townships in the principal meridian's geographical "jurisdiction." There are 37 principal meridians in the national survey.
township
area enclosed by the intersection of two consecutive parallels.
To simplify matters, surveyors have identified local elevation markers, called _______ to provide reference elevations for nearby properties.
benchmarks
Location survey
boundary survey with the additional location of all the interior improvements this type of survey may be required for obtaining a loan
Metes-and-Bounds system
describes property lines based on local markers and bounds that people had drawn. They were usually based on the topography
the term metes refers to
distance and direction
In a rectangular survey system, parallels run which direction
east and west
Monumentation
establishment of permanent on the ground objects that mark exact locations of surveyed points and lines
systems of legal description
facilitate transfers of ownership prevent boundary disputes prevent problems with the chain of title
the term bounds refers to
fixed reference points, or monuments and landmarks
site-planning survey
his survey uses a boundary and topographic survey as a base to design future improvements.
which of the statements was not a difficulty connected with usage of the metes and bounds system It required huge amount of red tape Irregular shapes for properties made for much more complex descriptions The descriptions became challenging as the landscape changes trees died or streams moved by erosion It required people available to maintain records
it required huge amount of red tape
What is the main characteristic of the early surveying of Ohio Lands? It required a lot of people available to maintain records It was done with more speed than care It was done slowly, but very accurately The system of surveying was very simplified
it was done with more speed than care
A boundary survey is also referred to as what? Land Survey Plat Property Plat Plat Survey Property Line Survey
land survey plat
Licensed surveyors are trained in techniques which allow them to determine the
legal description of a parcel of property
Boundary survey aka a land survey plat
locates and verifies all property corners and boundaries. shows the location of all improvements in relation to the property lines. includes an area of the overall property. shows any existing encroachments.
topographic survey
locates improvements and features such as elevations of the land, embankments, contours, water courses, roads, ditches, utilities, etc. People often use this survey in conjunction with a location survey in order to prepare a Site Design Map and a Subdivision Map.
A certain legal description contains the phrase,"...southeasterly along Happ Road to the stone landmark..." What kind of description is this? Plat survey Government grid Metes and bounds Rectangular survey
metes and bounds
British developed what type of land survey system
metes and bounds
What land survey system relies on point of beginning
metes and bounds
Three accepted methods of legally describing real estate are
metes and bounds rectangular survey system, or government survey method lot and block method, or recorded plat method
subdivision survey
often includes a topographic survey of a parcel of land. That will be divided into two or more smaller tracts, lots, or an estate division. It can also be used for site design of lots, streets, and drainage. This survey is for construction and recording.
sections
rectangular survey system divides a township into thirty-six squares called each side of this is one square mile, or 640 acres
Datums
standard elevation reference points. They have been established throughout the country.
Artificial landmarks are typically ______________________
surveyor stakes
The Public Land Survey System began shortly after
the American Revolution. This is when the federal government became responsible for areas of land west of the original 13 states.
tier
the east-west area between two parallels also known as a township strip identified by its relationship to the base parallel all of these are six miles wide
Range
the north-south area between consecutive meridians identified by its relationship to the principal meridian all of these things are six miles wide
What must a surveyor know to describe a property located above or below the earth's surface?
the property's elevation
How may the benchmarks be characterized? They were provided in order to simplify surveys They identify meridians They are very complicated for usage They identify parallels
they were provided in order to simplify surveys
What type of survey is often used in conjunction with a Location Survey in order to prepare a Site Design Map, a Subdivision Map, or an Erosion Control Plan? Construction Survey ATC Survey Plat Survey Topographic Survey
topographic survey
natural landmarks include
trees rocks rivers lakes
lot and block system
used to describe properties in residential, commercial, and industrial subdivisions. It is called the recorded plat method
When are property surveys most often conducted
when land is being sold
