8. Legal Descriptions Flashcards
Air Lot
Designated airspace over a piece of land. An air lot, like surface property, may be transferred.
Base Line
One of a set of imaginary lines running east and west and crossing a principal meridian at a definite point, used by surveyors for references in locating and describing land under the rectangular survey (or government survey) system of property description.
Benchmark
Permanent reference mark or point established for use by. surveyors in measuring differences in elevation.
Datum
A horizontal plane from which heights and depths are measured.
Improvement Survey
When a survey also shows the location, size, and shape of improvements located on the lot.
Reflects buildings, fences, sidewalks, pools, and other structures situated on the parcel and any conflicting boundary evidence or visible encroachments, easements, and underground utilities.
Legal Description
Description of a specific parcel of real estate is complete enough for an independent surveyor to locate and identify it.
Legally Sufficient
Deeds, sales contracts, and other documents require the property be identified.
Lot and Block
Description of real property that identifies a. parcel of land by reference to lot and block numbers within a subdivision, as specified on a plat of subdivision duly in the county clerk’s office.
Metes and Bounds
A legal description of a parcel of land that begins at a well-marked point and follows the boundaries, using direction and distances around the track back to the place of beginning.
Monument
A fixed natural or artificial object is used to establish real estate boundaries for a metes-and-bounds description.
Point (place) of Beginning
In a metes-and-bounds legal description, the starting point of the survey is situated in one corner of the parcel; all metes-and-bounds descriptions must follow the boundaries of the parcel back to the point of beginning.
Principal Meridian
An appraisal principle holding that the maximum value is realized when a reasonable degree of homogeneity (sameness) exists in a neighborhood.
Range
A strip of land six miles wide, extending north and south, and numbered east and west according to its distance from the principal meridian in the rectangular (government). survey system of land description.
Rectangular Survey System
A system established in 1785 by the federal government providing for surveying and describing land by reference to principal meridians and base lines. Also, called the government survey system. Not used in Texas.
Section
A square with mile-long sides and an area of one square mile, or 640 acres.
