Govermental Rectangular Survey?

[stefan olafson]

Stuart,

The simple answer is to go backwards. I'll try to explain, however it's covered in The Appraisal of Real Estate, pages 191 and 192.

A Section of land contains 640 acres, an acre is 43,560 Sq Ft in size. A section of land is 1 mile by 1 mile in size or 5,280' x 5,280'.

A half section contains 320 acres and is typically a mile by a half mile or 5,280' x 2,640'

A quarter section contains 160 acres and is typically a half mile by a half mile or 2,640' x 2,640'.

A legal description can be figured out by going backwards, here's an example;

SE1/4SE1/4SW1/4-1-152N-40W

Going Backwards you are in Section 1 which is 640 acres, within the section you are in the SW1/4 which is 160 acres; within the quarter section you are in the SE1/4 which is 160 divided by 4 or 40 acres; within that 40 acres you are asked how many acres are in the SE1/4, and the answer is 10 acres....One side would be 660' in length.

Hope that helps!

 

[patty613]

Draw a large box and follow along. From my book: "A legal description might read N /2, NE 1/4 of NW 1/4. Always start from the end of the description and work backwards. We are talking about the NW 1/4, so look at the upper left corner of the section, then read the rest of the the description to determine which part of the NW 1/4 is being talked about." Source:Residential Site Valuation & Cost Approach, 2004 Hondros Learning.
From my class: Remember FIVE TO-MA-TOES. 5,280 ft = 1 mile. one section is a mile or 5,280 ft. so you take the 5,280 and divide it by the fractions they give you(the denominators). I think you may have mixed up some of the test quesions. they may ask you for front foot. 5,280 divided by 2 then divide again by 2 gives you 1,320 ft which I believe would be the answer to your western border question. And most probably the question asked if the lot was purchased for $128,500 what is the cost for the front foot. $128,500/1320 = $97.35
Then if they want how many acres, you have to use the 640 acres in a section. Divide by the denominators only like Donna and others have tried to show you. Remember on the tests they may add in extra information that is not relevant to solving the question, just to trip you up. And it is best to draw it out so you don't miss a step. If they want sq. ft. then use the 43,560 sf in an acre. Ok have fun chewing on all this.

 

[Ken B]

NW 1/4, S 1/2, SE 1/4, E 1/2

Working backwards (reading from right to left) from E 1/2:

(1) 640 x .5 = 320
(2) 320 x .25 = 80
(3) 80 x .5 = 40
(4) 40 x .25 = 10

Area = 10 acres

Solve for length of one side:

As area is a square (last division, reading from right to left, was 1/4; if last division was 1/2, area would be a rectangle)

10 acres x 43,560 sf = 435,600 sf

square root of 435,600 = 660

Length of side is 660'

Work backwards to prove the answer.

660 x 660 = 435,600

435,600/43,560 = 10

 

[greens601]

Thanks for the help everyone. Let me note that I didnt have to take the AI Appraising residential properties class as it wasnt a requirement for my General Certified License in the state of NY at the time. This has never come up in any work that I have done on the East Coast.

It was probably covered once in one of my classes 3 years ago. Its easy now that I understand it.

 

[greens601]

Patty,

They did not ask for front foot or cost for the front foot.

Just asked the size of the lot, and size of its western border. That I am sure of. Anyway with everyone's help I understand. Wish me luck when I take the General Certified again.

 

[Ken B]

Patty,

They did not ask for front foot or cost for the front foot.

Just asked the size of the lot, and size of its western border. That I am sure of. Anyway with everyone's help I understand. Wish me luck when I take the General Certified again.

Glad we could help. Any examples of any other sort of question you found particularly challenging?

 

[stefan olafson]

Stuart,

I don't believe they use the rectangular survey in your area of the country? I think the survey system found more favor and is used in the midwest and western part of the country.

We have difficulties around here when we run into the odd metes and bounds description.


Good luck on your test!

 

[Wayne Tomlinson]

The rectangular survey system is not in use in the eastern states. Most of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, then east of the Mississippi River then Alabama and Louisiana, then Texas all use the metes and bound system

I heard once of a legal description in Texas where the starting point was " Starting at the point where _____________used to tie his boat, thence___.

That was reported in an old issue of the Wall Street Journal.

Metes and bounds are tricky.

Wayne Tomlinson

 

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks for the help everyone. Let me note that I didnt have to take the AI Appraising residential properties class as it wasnt a requirement for my General Certified License in the state of NY at the time. This has never come up in any work that I have done on the East Coast.

It was probably covered once in one of my classes 3 years ago. Its easy now that I understand it.

Don't worry, lots of CGs skip the residential stuff. There is really no need to acquire that knowledge; CGs usually have a residential guy they are supervising who already knows what they are doing, so if the CG really wants to know about residential work, all they have to do is ask.



Sorry, I know what you meant, I just couldn't resist taking a shot.

 

[Ken B]

The rectangular survey system is not in use in the eastern states. Most of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, then east of the Mississippi River then Alabama and Louisiana, then Texas all use the metes and bound system

Florida uses the rectangular survey system also, but I guess the State is not really one of the eastern states as you have to go north to get to the South.