Unit 4

informal reference

An informal reference, such as a street address, is not adequate to convey property but is acceptable in a lease.

A section A) is one square mile. B) has 640 acres. C) all of these. D) is part of a township.

c

The legal description that uses principal meridians and base lines to describe a property is A) metes and bounds. B) the reference to recorded plat. C) the government survey. D) the octagonal survey.

c

Reference to a recorded plat

A method of land description that uses lot and block numbers. The third legal description commonly used is by reference to a recorded plat (lot-and-block or recorded plat system). It is a system that uses lot and block numbers—referred to as a plat or subdivision—placed in the Registry of Deeds of the county where the land is located. This is the most common and worry-free method of describing property in urban areas.

survey

A professional land surveyor is trained and licensed to locate a given parcel of land and to determine its legal description. The surveyor does this by preparing a survey, which sets forth the legal description of the property, and a survey sketch, which shows the location and dimensions of the parcel.

Reference to a recorded deed

A reference to a publicly recorded document, usually an earlier deed. The referenced document typically contains a legal description of the property.

Example of Metes and Bounds

Beginning at the intersection of the east line of Jones Road and the south line of Skull Drive; thence north 90° east along the south line of Skull Drive 200 feet; thence south 15° east 216.5 feet, more or less, to the center thread of Red Skull Creek; thence north 4° west along the center line of said creek to its intersection with the east line of Jones Road; thence north 105 feet, more or less, along the east line of Jones Road to the place of beginning.

rectangular survey system

By dividing the land into rectangles, the survey provided land descriptions by describing the rectangle(s) in which the land was located. The system is based on two sets of intersecting lines: principal meridians and base lines.

A legal description that refers to angles and points of beginning is a monuments description. TF

F A legal description that refers to angles and points of beginning is a metes-and-bounds description.

calculating the square footage of various shapes

To calculate the square footage of various shapes:SQUARE: Length × Width = Square footage (L × W = area)RECTANGLE: Length × Width = Square footage (L × W = area)TRIANGLE: Base × Height / 2 = Square footage (B × H / 2 = area) To calculate square yards (necessary for carpeting, for example):Length × Width (in feet) and divide by 9. (L × W / 9 = square yards.)

topo survey

When a survey shows the lay of the land, such as where there are hills and valleys, it is called a topographic survey or topo survey.

A survey would do all of the following EXCEPT A) reveal illegal zoning use. B) establish boundaries. C) find encroachments. D) create legal descriptions.

a

A broker listed a rectangular parcel of vacant land that measures 195 feet by 425 feet. If the owner wants to sell the land for $35,000 per acre, what is the list price? A) $66,500 B) $85,000 C) $82,875 D) $68,250

a 195 ft. × 425 ft. = 82,875 sq. ft. ÷ 43,560 = 1.9 acres × $35,000 = $66,500 LP

-measures distance -starts from a point of beginning -follows compass directions or angles -uses monuments

metes and bounds method metes measure distance bounds follow compass directions

principal meridians run

north and south

The government survey system is commonly used in North Carolina. tf

F The government survey system is not used in North Carolina nor in any of the original British colonies.

If a calculation requires you to determine front footage, use the length of the lot and multiply by its width. TF

False To calculate front footage, one only needs the dimension of the front of the lot, which would be the first number listed in the dimensions. In other words, in a lot that is 100 feet by 70 feet, the only measurement needed is 100 feet.

real estate profs should be able to

Real estate professionals are often called upon to determine the size or area of a parcel or of a structure. They should be able to determine square footage (for all types of structures); verify the area (acreage, square footage) of lots/parcels of land; determine the volume (cubic feet) of buildings; convert acreage to square footage and vice-versa; calculate square yards; determine the cost or price per square foot, acre, square yard, front foot; and calculate the acreage of a portion of a section of land (Government Survey System).

metes and bounds start

Such a description starts at a definitely designated place called the point of beginning (POB) and proceeds around the boundaries of the tract (clockwise or counterclockwise) by reference to linear measurements and compass directions, referred to as calls. Each call gives the distance (metes) and direction (bounds). Each call begins with either North or South (the cardinal directions), then the number of degrees East or West, using a surveyor's compass. A metes-and-bounds description always ends at the POB so that the tract being described has closure.

ranges

The land on either side of a principal meridian is divided into six-mile-wide strips by lines that run north and south, parallel to the meridian. These north-south strips of land are called ranges. (See Range Lines.) They are designated by consecutive numbers east or west of the principal meridian. For example, Range 3 East would be a strip of land between 12 and 18 miles east of its principal meridian.

physical survey

When a survey also shows the location, size, and shape of buildings located on the lot, it is referred to as a physical survey, a mortgage location survey, or an identification survey.

How many lots, each measuring 72.5 feet wide by 100 feet deep, could be made from a 2-acre parcel of land? A) 12 B) 14 C) 7 D) 6

a 72.5 ft. × 100 ft. = 7,250 SF per lot; 2 acres × 43,560 SF = 87,120 SF ÷ 7,250 = 12 lots

n describing real estate, the system that uses feet, degrees, and natural markers is the A) rectangular survey. B) metes-and-bounds description. C) lot and block system. D) government survey.

b

A legal description states the following: "Starting at the corner of Elm Street, go 45 feet east to Happy Street, then 50 feet south to Ash Street, then 45 feet west to Adams Avenue, and then 50 feet to the point of beginning." The legal description has how many square feet? A) 22,250 B) 2,250 C) 2,500 D) 250

b 45x50=2250

There are two documents that should always have a legal description during the real estate process. One is any type of deed. What is the other? A) Government acreage allowance B) Contract for an interest in a mobile home C) Contract to convey real property interest D) Street address assignment

c Legal descriptions, once recorded, affect title to real estate and should only be prepared by a professional land surveyor or a lawyer. Real estate brokers who attempt to draft legal descriptions create potential risks for themselves and their clients and customers.

If the property being transferred is residential property within an established subdivision, the most commonly used legal description would be A) metes-and-bounds. B) street address. C) reference to a recorded plat. D) reference to a recorded deed.

c When properly signed and approved, the subdivision plat must be recorded in the public records in the county where the land is located to be a legally acceptable property description. In describing a lot from a recorded subdivision plat, the lot and block number, name or number of the subdivision plat, and name of the county and state are used.

Generally, a method used for land description is called reference to a recorded plat or lot-and-block. In North Carolina, this has a slightly different name and is called reference to A) a rectangular survey. B) a map point. C) a plat map. D) a recorded deed.

d

Which of these is MOST likely to create a correct legal description for a property? A) Real estate agent B) Mortgage loan officer C) Real estate closer D) Surveyor

d

base lines run

east and west

-divides land into rectangles -is measured from the intersection of principal meridians and base lines; is referenced by degrees of longitude and latitude; uses township lines, which run east to west parallel to and counted from base lines that are6 miles apart,in units called townships of 36 square miles each,in rows of townships called tiers, and is arranged so each township is divided into 36 sections of one mile square (640 acres), counted from northeast and running right to left, then left to right, et cetera; and uses range lines, which run north to south parallel to (and counted from) principal meridian, that are6 miles apart andin rows called ranges.

govt rectangular survey system

approved by the governing body, and filed in public records of the county where the land is located.

reference to a recorded plat method (lot and block)

a metes and bounds description

A legal description of a parcel of land that begins at a well-marked point and follows the boundaries, using directions and distances around the tract, back to the place of beginning. is the earliest form of legal description used in the United States and is still the primary method of describing property in the original 13 colonies and is considered the best to use for real estate contract and deeds in North Carolina. It makes use of the boundaries and measurements of the land in question. This description shows the boundaries of the parcel and where they meet.

What is the cost of a driveway that is 15 feet wide, 40 feet long, and 4 inches thick if concrete sells for $60.00 a cubic yard and labor is $1.25 per square foot? A) $694 B) $527 C) $1,194 D) $1,582

c L × W × H = cu. ft.; concrete = 4" ÷ 12 = 0.333" thickness of the slab 40' × 15' × 0.333 = 199.8 cu. ft. (27 cu. ft. = 1 cu. yd.) 199.8 ÷ 27 = 7.4 cu. yd. × $60 = $444 Labor = 40 × 15 = 600 sq. ft. × $1.25 per sq. ft. = $750 $444 concrete + $750 labor = $1,194

The method of legal description using meridians and base lines is called A) street address. B) metes and bounds. C) informal reference. D) government survey.

d

the first number listed in the dimensions of a property is the

front footage

Which statement is TRUE regarding surveys? A) A topographical survey shows the location of improvements on the parcel. B) Title insurance excludes many title defects from coverage if no property survey was completed. C) Encumbrances are discovered and disclosed by a survey. D) A locational survey shows the lay of the land or elevations.

B Title insurance routinely excludes coverage of title defects that would have been discovered by a survey, if a survey was not conducted.

an acre of land consists of how many sq feet

43,560 square feet.

monuments

A fixed natural or artificial object used to establish real estate boundaries for a metes-and-bounds description. are fixed objects used to establish real estate boundaries. Natural objects such as stones, large trees, lakes, and streams, as well as streets, highways, and markers placed by surveyors, are commonly used as monuments. Measurements often include the words more or less; the location of the monuments is more important than the distance stated in the wording. Problems are created in some instances when a monument has shifted or disappeared over the years.

a survey should be obtained:

A survey should be obtained to verify lot dimensions and identify easements and encroachments.