Boundary Lines and Surveys: Why Property Lines Aren’t as Obvious as They Look

The Illusion of Precision Most people assume property boundaries are exact and easily defined. "The fence is here. The hedge is there. The driveway curves just so. Surely the lot lines follow something visible and intentional." But they often do not. Boundary misunderstandings are one of the most co

Protections Title Insurance Will Never Offer

  Title insurance does an important job. But it is a narrow one. Many of the risks most buyers worry about (or should worry about) live entirely outside its scope. This chapter is about defining where title protection ends. Title Protects Ownership, Not Use This is the most important boundary to und

“Clean Title” Is Not the Same as Simple Ownership

  In real estate practice, “clean title” is shorthand. It means the title company is willing to insure the transfer of ownership based on what appears in the public record. It means there are no known defects that would invalidate the seller’s right to convey the property. That is an important thres