Property Transfer Flashcards
Deed
Receipt for real property
Legal title
Ownership of real estate (not a physical thing).
Cloud on title
Something wrong w/ the ownership of the property.
Chain of title
History of the property’s ownership.
What happens when there is a cloud on title?
The seller must fix before closing. The buyer’s bank will NOT finance if there are any defects on the title.
Where can you find clouds on titles?
Title search. This lists information on the property as public record.
It is not necessary to register the information to make it public, however if the owner does, it will avoid any further issues regarding ownership of the property in these terms.
If there is a loan from a bank for a property, a title search will be mandatory & making is public record.
How much do transfer fees cost? What are these fees? how are they calculated?
Transfer fees (also known as recording stamps/excise fee). Seller pays for this. These make public record of transfer or ownership in a sale. Calculation: Round up to the nearest $500. Then divide by $500. Then multiply by $2.28 (that is usually the fee per $500).
For deeds to be valid they must:
- Be in writing (per statute of frauds).
- The grantor must be legally competent (grantor needs to sign).
- They must name the grantee.
- They must involve the exchange of consideration (evidence by a recital of consideration).
- They must include a complete & accurate description of the land (“full legal description”).
- They must include a granting clause (usually just the words “grant to”).
- They must have delivery & acceptance.
Is it required to record a deed?
No. However, if a deed is not recorded, a future deed could take precedence over the unrecorded deed.
When does title pass?
Upon delivery & acceptance of the deed.
Metes & Bounds survey
Outlines lots of land (boundaries of the property) by describing directions (bounds) & distances (metes) between monuments (markers like concrete posts) or benchmarks (permanent markers established throughout the US) starting at a point of beginning.
How long is 1 link?
about 8 inches
How long is 1 foot?
12 inches
How long is 1 yard?
3 feet
How long is 1 rod?
16 feet 6 inches
How long is 1 chain?
66 feet
How long is 1 mile?
5280 feet
How big is 1 acre?
43,560 sq. feet (207ft. x207ft.)
How big is 1 sq. mile?
640 acres (1mi. x 1mi.)
Lots & Blocks survey
- Breaks down land by streets into blocks. then breaks down blocks into lots using metes & bounds surveys.
- Plat maps: publicly recorded layout of a subdivision or town.
Government Rectangular survey
-Not used in MA.
-Land Ordinance Act of 1785.
Also known as the “public land survey system” or “rectangular survey system”.
-Standardizes land descriptions & is used in most of the US (except the 13 original colonies).
-Devises land into rectangles using intersection principal meridians (running north to south) & base lines (running eat to west).
~There are 37 principal meridians in the US, each referenced by a name or number.
~No parcel of land is described using more than one principal meridian.
Sizes for each area in a government rectangular survey:
- Quadrangle/Check: 24x24 miles; 576 sq. miles; 368,640 acres
- Township: 6x6 miles; 23,040 acres
- Section: 1x1 mile; 1 sq. mile; 640 acres
- Half-section: 1x1/2 mile; 1/2 sq. mile; 320 acres
- Quarter section: 1/2x1/2 mile; 1/4 sq. mile; 160 acres
- 1/2 of a quarter section: 1/2x1/4 mile; 1/8 sq. mile; 80 acres
- 1/4 of a quarter section: 1/4x1/4 mile, 1/16 sq. mile; 40 acres