How Do I Know Where My Property Lines Are?

What Is A Property Line?

Property strains are the authorized boundaries of your property. They clearly outline who owns what items of land by dividing it. These boundaries might be apparent – like roads, ditches or fences – or they are often utterly invisible. Realizing property strains is a vital a part of shopping for a house and being a home-owner.

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Boundary Line Agreements

Boundary line agreements are written authorized contracts between neighbors made to settle disputes over property boundaries. They range barely by state, however the level is to have a manner the place property house owners can agree on property line utilization outdoors of going to courtroom.

Boundary line agreements should not the identical as boundary line changes. Boundary line changes are made when property house owners need to alternate land, redefining the property line between them, usually accomplished with out involving cash. Boundary line agreements are particularly used when there’s a dispute over land and its use.

One of the frequent causes for a boundary line settlement is when a neighbor has encroached in your property by constructing a construction on it. Typically, this situation is just made recognized since you did a land survey for one more undertaking and found your neighbor constructed in your land.

With the intention to retain the title to that piece of property, you’ll be able to create a boundary line settlement along with your neighbor. On this settlement, your neighbor acknowledges their mistake in encroaching in your property and also you permit the construction to stay standing. This lets you retain authorized possession, your neighbor to make use of what they constructed and for you each to remain out of courtroom. You keep the suitable to the property and if the construction is torn down or destroyed, the neighbor should rebuild it on their property.

When you want to cede the property to your neighbor, you’ll be able to file a boundary line adjustment, although you’ll must pay overview charges, and the method takes longer than an settlement. No matter your choice, you must do one thing if you happen to ever intend to promote or switch the property. A neighbor’s construction in your property could make issues extra sophisticated the longer it goes unaddressed.

Dig Out Your Deed for Further Data

In older neighborhoods, property house owners could have bought or bought off parts of their yards. Finding a survey pin gained’t offer you this data, however the newest authorized description recorded in your deed will checklist any such changes. When you don’t have a replica of your deed filed along with your home-owner data, get one on the register of deeds workplace, usually situated inside your county courthouse.

Discover Property Strains On-line

Daily, extra know-how is obtainable on-line, and property maps aren’t any exception. Many counties at the moment are digitizing their property data and importing them to interactive websites that permit residents to entry them from their very own computer systems. These websites make use of a geographical data system (GIS) as a way to pull up so much or parcel of land utilizing an deal with or an proprietor’s identify. Look in your county’s web site after which go searching for phrases like “Property Search” or “Parcel Search” to entry the GIS map.

Different on-line GIS websites may have the ability to assist, reminiscent of AcreValue, a favourite software of actual property brokers for locating property strains. The strains provides you with a common thought of the place your property boundaries lie, however they can’t pinpoint the precise property markers for you. For that, you’ll want to make use of one of many different strategies.

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Take a look at your property survey. The survey is a doc with a rendering of the property strains and measurements, and will have been given to you once you purchased your private home. The space from your own home to the property line and the road ought to be proven on the survey. Use the measurements and particulars about surrounding landmarks to visually decide the property strains and keep away from land disputes with neighbors.

Can My Neighbor Construct A Fence On The Property Line?

In case your neighbor is considering constructing a fence on the property line between your two properties, it’s essential that they’re conscious of all essential legal guidelines and laws. The place a neighbor can construct a fence on the property relies on jurisdiction legal guidelines, in addition to any deed restrictions on both of your properties. As a common rule, legal guidelines usually state {that a} fence should be constructed no less than 2 – 8 inches from a neighbor’s property line. A fence constructed instantly on a property line could lead to a joint duty of the fence between the neighbors, together with upkeep and prices. Simply as a precaution, if you happen to or a neighbor are pondering of constructing a fence on or close to one among your private home’s property strains, be certain to seek the advice of your real estate agent on any guidelines and laws.

Learn how to Discover Property Strains for Free

Home-owner’s Deed

A house owner’s deed ought to embody a authorized description of the plot of land, together with its measurements, form, block and lot quantity, and different identifiers reminiscent of landmarks and geographical options. If the language is hard, attain out to your actual property lawyer or agent for assist in deciphering it.

A Tape Measure

If you wish to visually affirm your property strains, you need to use a tape measure to find out the boundaries. From a recognized level detailed within the deed’s description, measure to the property’s edge and place a stake at that time as a marker.

In spite of everything the perimeters have been decided, measure the gap between the stakes. Examine the outcomes to ensure they match the corresponding deed or plat.

Current Property Survey from Mortgage or Title Firm

Most mortgage lenders require potential householders to have a present survey, and your title insurance coverage additionally relies on it. When you purchased your private home just lately however don’t have the survey, contact both firm to see if they’ve a replica on file.

Current Property Survey from County or Native Municipality

A property’s historical past and legalrecords are usually stored within the municipality or county’s tax assessor’s workplace or in its land data or constructing division. You may often start your search by logging on to entry the related property data. Most municipalities provide this data at no cost, however some workplaces could require a small payment or ask that you simply entry the data in particular person.

Buried Pins

On the corners of your property, you might be able to discover metal bars which were buried, generally nonetheless seen, with a marked cap on the highest finish. These have been possible positioned in your land when a survey was accomplished. When you can’t readily see the pins (they might have been buried over time), use a metallic detector that will help you find them.

Whereas this isn’t a legally binding strategy to decide your property strains, it provides you with a good suggestion of the boundaries. Warning: Earlier than you begin digging, name 811, the nationwide call-before-you-dig hotline, to request the situation of buried utilities you don’t need to inadvertently dig into an underground utility line.

Use an App

Obtain an app like LandGlide that makes use of GPS to find out a parcel’s property strains. LandGlide is free for the primary seven days.

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Test your deed. The deed incorporates an outline of your property’s measurements and bounds in phrases. Measure from the landmarks within the description to the property strains. Mark every nook with a stake or different marker. Measure from every stake to the following all the best way round your property to make sure the measured strains match the deed. Bodily measuring the boundaries will help you visually decide the place the strains are and keep away from encroaching in your neighbor’s land.

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Why you may need to find property strains earlier than you buy a home

As a homebuyer, train warning relating to property strains as you progress by way of the acquisition course of. The earlier house owners could have didn’t account for property strains earlier than they began numerous residence enhancements and will have encroached on a neighbor’s property. Ask your lender for a replica of the finished survey – you might study that the property is smaller than you anticipated. Or, an encroachment situation might immediate you to renegotiate the deal or stroll away altogether. 

When you love the house, an appropriate compromise might contain a boundary line settlement after the acquisition. A boundary line settlement is a authorized contract to settle disputes between neighbors over property boundaries and gives an settlement on property line utilization with out going to courtroom.

There are quick, simple, exact, and cost-effective methods to seek out property strains, whether or not it’s for a property you personal or one you intend to buy. Be certain to assemble correct data when buying a home or beginning any building or landscaping undertaking.

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