Chapter 6 - Legal Descriptions Flashcards
Base and Meridian
Imaginary lines used by surveyors to find and describe the location of private or public lands. In government surveys, a base line runs due east and west, meridians run due north and south, and are used to establish township boundaries.
What are the 3 most common methods to legally describe real estate?
- Metes and Bounds
- Government Survey
- Lot and Block
Government Survey
A method of specifying the location of a parcel of land using prime meridians, base lines, standard parallels, guide meridians, townships, and sections.
Lots and Blocks
A legal description of land used for plotted properties, stating the number, lot, and block in a particular sub-division, including details like streets, sections, monuments, and public easements.
Metes and Bounds
A term used in describing the boundary lines of land, setting forth all the boundary lines together with their terminal points and angles. Metes (length or measurements) and Bounds (boundaries) description is often used when a great deal of accuracy is required using monuments (visible markers), benchmarks (elevation), and points of beginning (POB) (metes and bounds measurement both begin and end at same place)
Section
Section of land is established by government survey, contains 640 acres and is one mile square.
Surveying
The process by which a parcel of land is measured and its area is ascertained; also the blueprint showing the measurements, boundaries and area.
Townships
In the survey of public lands of the United States, a territorial subdivision six miles long, six miles wide and containing 36 sections, each one mile square, located between two range lines and two township lines.
Survey
blueprint / land survey map that describes the measurements and land area generally using the metes and bounds method. In addition to describing the lot lines and their angles, the survey can confirm the dimensions and how the home, garages, sheds, or other buildings are situated on the lot and their orientation to true north. Any easements, setbacks, or encroachments will be described in the survey. Landscaping may also be part of the description
Gross Living Area (GLA)
total finished living area of residential space that is, under most conditions, above grade. An above-grade area is part of that residence that’s above the earth’s ground line (basements excluded).
- -must be habitable (occupiable safely and reasonably comfortably) all year when heated and cooled and finished to the same standards as the rest of the home
- -each room must have a minimum ceiling height of 7ft
- -if the room has little light and improper ventilation, you can’t include it in living area
How do you calculate gross living area (GLA)?
measure the perimeter of the structure, including above-grade living space. For structures taller than 1 story, calculate each level by its exterior dimensions
Gross Building Area (GBA)
total finished living area of commercial space, including all areas that are heated and cooled, which may consist of a basement if utility, finishing and access are similar to the rest of the structure
Net Rentable/Leasable Area
actual square footage of the property that’s to be leased, that is, the area upon which a lease or rental payment will be based. Generally excludes stairways, common areas, and any areas dedicated to maintaining the building’s cooling/heating systems
Area of a square or rectangle
Area = Width x Depth (Length)
Area of a Triangle
Area = (Height x Base) / 2
