Principles of Real Estate

Legal Property Descriptions

Dr. Stanley D. Longhofer

Describing Land

When you buy or sell property, it is essential that you know exactly what land is a part of the property and what is not A property description is legally

sufficient if it allows a competent surveyor to identify the exact boundaries of the property

Street addresses are generally insufficient because they are too imprecise

Describing Land

Three methods are used to describe real estate: Metes and bounds The rectangular survey system Recorded plats

Metes and Bounds Descriptions Under this system, the property is

described by conducting a tour around the property by locating identifiable landmarks The description must always end at the point of

beginning (POB) Metes are the distances used in the description Bounds are the directions of the boundaries

that enclose a piece of land Monuments are identifying landmarks used as

reference points in the description

Metes and Bounds Descriptions

Metes and Bounds Descriptions Example:

A tract of land located in Wichita, Sedgwick County Kansas, described as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the west line of Hampton Road and the north line of Thompson Lane; thence west 200 feet along the north line of Thompson Lane; thence north 15° east to the center thread of Buckskin Creek, being 175 feet more or less; thence easterly along the center line of said creek to its intersection with the west line of Hampton Road, being 220 feet more or less; thence southerly along the west line of Hampton Road to the point of beginning, being 160 feet more or less.

Metes and Bounds Descriptions

NHampton Road

Thompson Lane

Buckskin Creek

200 ft.

175 ft.

220 ft.

160 ft.

Metes and Bounds Descriptions

Rectangular Survey System

The government survey system was created in 1785 to standardize the description of land acquired by the newly formed U.S. government Principal meridians Base lines Township lines▪ Township tiers

Range lines▪ Ranges

Township squares Sections

Township Squares

Range

Township Tier

Base LineP

rincip

al Merid

ian

T2N, R3E

T1S, R2W

Township Lines

Range Lines

Sections in a Township

T3N, R2E

123456

7 8 9 10 11 12

131415161718

19 20 21 22 23 24

252627282930

31 32 33 34 35 36

Subdividing a Section

SE ¼(160 Acres)

N ½ of NE ¼(80 Acres)

SE ¼ of SW ¼(40 Acres)

W ½ of SW ¼ of NW ¼(20 Acres)

NW ¼ of SE ¼ of NE ¼(10 Acres)

NW ¼ of SE ¼ of SE ¼ of NE ¼

(2.5 Acres)

40 Chains, 160 rods80 Rods

2,640 Feet

1,320 Feet1Furlong

660Feet

Section 22

T3N, R2E

Correction Lines

Correction Lines

Recorded Plat System

Under this property description system, a subdivision plat is prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer The Plat divides the land into numbered or

lettered lots and blocks Legal descriptions may then refer to the plat

records▪ Lot and block number▪ Name or number of the subdivision plat▪ Name of the county and state

Subdivision Plat Map

Measuring Elevations

Elevations can also be a part of legal property descriptions Condominium units Air rights Subsurface rights

A datum is a point, line or surface from which elevations are measured or indicated