Land Descriptions

Question 1

Improvements

Answer 1

Man made items permanently attached to land. Buildings, sidewalks, decks, sewers, etc

Question 2

Agreement of the Parties

Answer 2

The most important test of whether an item is a fixture or not. Clarify who gets it in the contract

Question 3

Air Rights

Answer 3

The right of the owner/lessee to use the air above a property even without necessarily habing rights to the land below

Question 4

Annexation

Answer 4

The process of affixing or attaching personal property to real property so that it becomes a fixture & is now considered real property

Question 5

Appurtenance

Answer 5

The rights, privileges & improvements that go with a transfer of the land even though they may not be part of it such as water rights, right-of-way or easements

Question 6

Attachment (fixture)

Answer 6

The manner in which a fixture is attached may determine if it’s personal or real property

Question 7

Base Lines

Answer 7

East to West lines that cross a principal meridian at a specific point forming boundaries of Townships in the Governmental Survey System

Question 8

Benchmark

Answer 8

A fixed point or marker placed by a surveyor and used to establish elevations & altitudes above sea level

Question 9

Boundary Line

Answer 9

A line indicating a boundary-can be rivers, streams, etc

Question 10

Bundle of Rights

Answer 10

Rights of ownership in real property

Question 11

Chattel

Answer 11

Tangible personal property such as vehicle, jewelry, etc

Question 12

3 Types of Legal Descriptions

Answer 12

Governmental Survey System, Metes & Bounds, Subdivision (Lot, Block & Tract)

Question 13

Check

Answer 13

A correction line used to compensate for the earth’s curvature every 4th Township line, bringing it back to a full 6 miles in the GSS

Question 14

Quandrangles

Answer 14

An area of land measuring 24 miles on each side

Question 15

Emblements

Answer 15

Farm crops of a tenant farmer which are not transferred with real property & are considered personal property. (A new owner must allow seller to return to harvest crops)

Question 16

Governmental Survey System

Answer 16

Used for large parcels in non-urban areas. Based upon principal meridians & baselines which for quadrangles, Townships, sections & fractions of sections

Question 17

Land

Answer 17

The surface of the earth from its core center up through the sky. Includes all natural attachments (trees, water & minerals)

Question 18

Lot and Block System

Answer 18

Identifies a parcel by reference to a recorded plat map, using a lot number within a specific block which lies within a specific tract

Question 19

Metes and Bounds

Answer 19

Useslandmarks, such as rivers, or by man-made structures, such as roads, or by stakes or other markers to begin. The land boundaries are run out by courses and distances.

Question 20

Mile

Answer 20

5,280 feet

Question 21

Acre

Answer 21

43,560 Sq Ft. 4,840 Sq Yds. 1/640 Sq Mile

Question 22

Mineral Rights

Answer 22

Rights to subsurface minerals, oil, and gas

Question 23

Personal Property

Answer 23

Movable property, also known as chattels

Question 24

Plat

Answer 24

The legal description in map form of a subdivision

Question 25

POB

Answer 25

Point of Beginning in metes and bounds-must also end there

Question 26

Principal Meridian

Answer 26

Runs N & S, crossing baselines at a specific point. 36 in the US

Question 27

Range

Answer 27

6 mile wide strip that runs N & S of a baseline and numbered E & W of a principal meridian

Question 28

Real Estate

Answer 28

Land plus all improvements, running from the center of the earth up through the sky.

Question 29

Real Property

Answer 29

Real Estate + Bundle of Rights

Question 30

Section

Answer 30

1 mile long on each side. = 640 acres. 36 sections in a 6 sq mile township