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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