Unit 5: Legal Descriptions in Texas

Texas Principles of Real Estate I: Unit 5: Legal Descriptions in Texas

A method of identifying a particular parcel of land that specifies the boundaries and location of that piece of real property; NOT the same as a street address

Legal Description

Professional, on-site measurement of the lot lines and dimensions of a property, including the location of any improvements (such as a house) and any encroachments or easements

Survey

Where to Find Legal Descriptions?

Deeds of conveyance,Mortgages, Claims of title, Leases Title insurance policies, Easements Offers to purchase, Tax assessments, tax rolls and other tax records

Texas requires that a property's entire legal description be

included with or attached to each purchase and sale agreement in the state.

The three most common methods of legal description are:

Metes and bounds, Lot and block, & Rectangular (government) survey system

Uses compass headings and directions, starts at point of beginning (POB)

Metes and bounds

Provides description by reference, plat, or lot and block

Lot and block

Divides surveyed land into six-square-mile townships, which are further subdivided; NOT used in Texas

Rectangular (government) survey system

limited to properties that have not sold since the date of the last survey (Related to this: In Texas, the T-47 Residential Real Property Affidavit says that the property hasn't changed since the last survey was performed, and must be submitted with the existing survey in transactions where the parties wish to use the existing survey instead of getting a new one.)

Reference to a previously recorded document

1 foot =

12 inches

1 square foot =

144 square inches

1 yard =

3 feet

1 square yard =

9 square feet

1 cubic yard =

27 cubic feet (3 × 3 × 3)

1 mile =

5,280 feet

1 acre =

43,560 square feet

1 section =

1 square mile = 640 acres = 5,280 feet × 5,280 feet

• 1 foot = 12 inches

• 1 square foot = 144 square inches

• 1 yard = 3 feet

• 1 square yard = 9 square feet

• 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (3 × 3 × 3)

• 1 mile = 5,280 feet

• 1 acre = 43,560 square feet

• 1 section = 1 square mile = 640 acres = 5,280 feet × 5,280 feet

Common Land Measurement Conversions

Point from which the elevations are measured

Datum

A permanent mark-usually a brass marker set into concrete-that indicates datum points

Benchmark

• Area for a square = side x side

• Area for a rectangle = length x width

• Area for a triangle = (.5 x base) x height

• Acreage = property size divided by 43,560 square feet

• Price per square foot = sales price divided by area

Common Calculation Methods

Area for a square =

side x side

Area for a rectangle =

length x width

Area for a triangle =

(.5 x base) x height

Acreage =

property size divided by 43,560 square feet

Price per square foot =

sales price divided by area