Metes and bounds
A way of describing land using specific distances and directions from marked points. Common in older or rural properties. Newer subdivisions usually use lot and block numbers instead.
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Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
An older or rural lot is often described by distances and directions from a marker rather than a lot number. The description on the deed is what the survey and the title policy use, and an error in it is a title issue.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your deed reads "beginning at an iron pin on the north line of County Road 12, thence south 88 degrees east 210 feet..." for half a page.
| The description | What it means for the sale |
|---|---|
| Metes and bounds that match the survey | Copied into the new deed; nothing more |
| A description with a typo or a missing call | A corrective deed before closing |
| A subdivision lot and block | Simpler; the plat does the describing |
Metes and bounds is the lot written out in words, and the words have to be right.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the description is boilerplate. It is the legal shape of the property, and a survey checks it call by call.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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