Description of Land Flashcards
What is the purpose of describing land?
To determine its boundaries so an owner or buyer can determine what he owns.
What is used to determine whether a structure is encroaching on someone else’s property? Who performs this task?
A survey, performed by a surveyor who may be qualified by the state (a registered surveyor).
A survey often contains what two elements?
A map and a text description
What are four methods to describe land?
Metes and bounds; lot and block numbers; monuments or occupancy; rectangular survey
What description of land begins at a place identified as the point of beginning (POB), ends at the same place, and in between the survey calls distances and angles, enclosing a tract of land?
Metes and bounds
What description of land is used after a subdivider or developer has filed a subdivision plat at the courthouse?
Lot and block
What are blocks?
Parcels of land within the subdivision that have been carved into individual lots suitable to build upon. Lots are numbered.
Explain monuments or occupancy descriptions of land.
They use certain objects to help establish boundaries. A certain stream, large tree, rock outcropping, or other natural or man-made object is reference in the description. Occupancy might be stated as ownership (“Smith’s farm”).
What is the rectangular survey method?
It is used in certain states. It is based on principal meridians, which are imaginary lines that run North-South, and on base lines, which are imaginary East-West lines.
Townships are how large (sq miles)?
6 miles on each side (36 sq miles)
What are townships divided into? How big are these?
36 sections, each 1 mile square
How are townships identified?
By the distance in miles from the base line and meridian.
How are sections divided?
Into fractional parts, e.g., 1/2 or 1/4
How are fractional parts identified?
By the portion of the section they occupy, for example, NW or SE.
How large is a section?
1 square mile
