Property & Land Guides
Practical guides to property lines, parcel maps, APNs, land measurements, property ownership and parcel research. Written in plain English, with the limits of each method spelled out.
Start here How to Find Your Property Lines Six ways to find your property lines, from free parcel maps and plats to GPS and a licensed surveyor, and when each one is enough.Property Lines
How to find, check and understand property boundaries, and when a survey is the right call.
How to Find Your Property LinesSix ways to find your property lines, from free parcel maps and plats to GPS and a licensed surveyor, and when each one is enough. How to Find Property Lines by AddressType an address, get the parcel outline. See why the map sometimes shows the wrong lot, and when an address search isn’t enough. How Accurate Are Online Property Lines?Counties say their parcel lines are approximate, with errors from several feet to several hundred. Here’s why, and what to do about it. Property Line Map vs Land SurveyA parcel map is a research tool, a survey is a legal measurement. Learn what each shows, what they cost you in time, and which to use. How to Find Property CornersFind property corner pins with a plat, a tape and a metal detector. Learn what markers look like and when to call a surveyor. Property Lines Before Building a FenceBefore you build a fence, confirm the line, easements and local rules. Why a map or phone GPS isn’t enough to place posts.
Parcel Maps
What parcel maps show, how to read them and what they cannot tell you.
What Is a Parcel Map?A parcel map outlines each parcel a county tracks for taxes. See what it shows, what it leaves out, and how it differs from a recorded parcel map. How to Read a Parcel MapLearn to read a parcel map: find the parcel, read its number and acreage, decode lines and symbols, check neighbors, then compare the map with the ground. Parcel Map vs Plat MapA plat is a surveyor’s recorded drawing of a subdivision; a parcel map is the county’s tax map. See how they differ, what each shows and which you need.
APN & Parcel IDs
Parcel numbers explained: what they mean, where to find them and how to search with them.
What Is an APN?An APN is the number a county assigns to a parcel of land. See what it looks like, how to read one, when it changes and how it differs from an address. How to Find the APN for a PropertyFind a property’s APN from an address, a map spot, a tax bill or a deed. Includes a step list and fixes for when the address search fails. APN vs Parcel IDAPN, parcel ID, AIN, folio and tax map number are usually the same kind of number. Learn the look-alikes, such as account numbers and PINs, that aren’t.
Property Ownership
How to find out who owns a house, a lot or a piece of vacant land.
How to Find Out Who Owns a PropertyFind a property’s owner through the county assessor and recorder, see what the record shows and what to do when an LLC, trust or hidden record comes up. How to Find the Owner of Vacant LandNo address? Find the parcel on a map, get its APN and read the owner of record. Covers LLC owners, missing records and how to write to the owner. How to Find a Property Owner by AddressSearch an address on the county assessor’s site or a parcel map to see the owner of record, and what to do when it doesn’t match or shows an LLC. How to Find Out Who Owns the Property Next DoorFind who owns the parcel next to yours, check for a tenant, LLC or trust and write a respectful first letter.
Land Measurement
Measure area and perimeter, calculate acreage and understand land units.
How to Measure Property Area and PerimeterFive ways to measure a property’s area and perimeter, from recorded acreage to a survey, with a table for choosing, plus slope and fence-length math. How to Calculate Acreage of a PropertyDivide square feet by 43,560. Worked examples for rectangles, triangles, trapezoids and irregular lots, plus yard, meter and chain conversions. How Big Is an Acre?An acre is 43,560 square feet. See it in square meters and hectares, against a football field, with side lengths and fence perimeters by lot size. How to Check the Size of a ParcelCompare the listing, deed, assessor’s record and map outline to check a parcel’s size. Learn why the numbers differ and when to order a survey.
GPS & Mapping
Using your phone’s location with parcel maps, and where GPS runs out of accuracy.
How to Find Property Lines With GPSA field routine for walking a boundary with your phone’s GPS: how to check the dot, spot noise and know when to stop. Can You Use GPS to Find Property Lines?Phone GPS is good for orientation, not for the legal boundary. See typical accuracy and when you need a surveyor. How to Find a Property by GPS CoordinatesPaste latitude and longitude into a parcel map to see the parcel at that point. Covers decimal vs DMS formats, converting them, precision and edge cases.
Legal Descriptions
What a legal description is, how to read one and how it differs from a street address or an APN.
What Is a Legal Description?A legal description defines land in deeds and title papers. See the three types (lot and block, metes and bounds, PLSS), examples and where to find yours. How to Read a Legal DescriptionRead lot-and-block, metes-and-bounds and township-range-section descriptions: bearings, thence calls, section numbers and what wins when numbers conflict. Legal Description vs Street AddressA street address finds a building, a legal description defines the land and an APN is the county’s ID. See which controls and which to use.
Buying & Researching Land
Practical steps for researching land, including parcels that have no street address.
How to Find a Property That Has No Street AddressVacant land often has no street address. Find it by map location, coordinates, APN, owner name, a nearby road, a neighbor or a legal description. What to Check Before Buying LandLand due-diligence checklist: parcel, owner, legal access, title, survey, zoning, septic, flood and mineral rights. Know what to verify before you sign. How to Research Vacant LandScreen vacant land from your desk: find the parcel, APN and owner, check road access, flood, wetlands, soil, taxes and zoning, then visit. How to Research Neighboring ParcelsTap the parcels around a property to learn who the neighbors are, how the land reaches a road, and what patterns may mean. Step-by-step.