A property description reads 'Lot 15, Block 3, Oakwood Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 42, Page 18.' This is an example of:
Correct Answer
C) Lot and block description
This description references a specific lot and block within a recorded subdivision plat, which is the defining characteristic of the lot and block (plat) system of legal description.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option C is correct because the description contains all the key elements of a lot and block description: a specific lot number (15), block number (3), subdivision name (Oakwood Subdivision), and reference to a recorded plat (Plat Book 42, Page 18). This system is used exclusively for subdivided properties where a plat map has been officially recorded with local authorities. The reference to the plat book and page number confirms this is a lot and block description, as this recording system is the hallmark of subdivided properties.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Metes and bounds description
Metes and bounds descriptions use compass directions, distances, and natural or artificial monuments to describe property boundaries in a continuous path around the perimeter. This description lacks any directional bearings, distances, or boundary descriptions.
Option B: Rectangular survey description
Rectangular survey descriptions use the government survey system with townships, ranges, sections, and principal meridians. This description contains no references to townships, ranges, sections, or any government survey elements.
Option D: Monument description
Monument descriptions rely primarily on physical landmarks or monuments as reference points. While this description mentions a subdivision name, it's not using physical monuments as the primary means of identification but rather a recorded plat system.
The PLB Method
Remember 'PLB' - Plat, Lot, Block. When you see these three elements together (especially with plat book references), you know it's a lot and block description. Think 'Pretty Little Blocks' for subdivisions.
How to use: When reading a property description, scan for the PLB elements: if you see 'Lot [number], Block [number]' plus a reference to a plat book or recorded subdivision, immediately identify it as lot and block description.
Exam Tip
Look for the plat book reference - this is the dead giveaway for lot and block descriptions. No other legal description system references plat books and page numbers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Confusing lot and block with metes and bounds when monuments are mentioned
- -Not recognizing plat book references as the key identifier
- -Thinking any numbered property description is rectangular survey
Concept Deep Dive
Analysis
This question tests knowledge of the three primary legal description systems used in real estate: metes and bounds, rectangular survey (government survey), and lot and block (plat system). Each system has distinct characteristics and identifying elements that make them recognizable in property descriptions. The lot and block system is specifically used for subdivided properties where a developer has created a recorded plat map showing individual lots within numbered blocks. Understanding these systems is crucial for appraisers as legal descriptions are fundamental to property identification and valuation.
Background Knowledge
Legal descriptions are the precise methods used to identify and locate real property, and there are three main systems used in the United States. The lot and block system is most commonly used in urban and suburban areas where land has been subdivided into individual parcels and recorded as plats with local government authorities.
Real-World Application
In appraisal practice, lot and block descriptions are extremely common in residential appraisals of homes in subdivisions. Appraisers use these descriptions to locate comparable sales within the same subdivision and to verify property boundaries when conducting site inspections.
More Property Description Questions
Property zoned as R-2 typically allows for:
In the rectangular survey system, a section contains how many acres?
Which property right includes the right to receive rental income from a tenant-occupied property?
A property is located in a 100-year flood zone. This means the property has what probability of flooding in any given year?
In a metes and bounds description, the term 'metes' refers to:
People Also Study
Valuation Principles & Procedures
25% of exam
Market Analysis & Highest/Best Use
15% of exam
Appraisal Math & Statistics
15% of exam
USPAP (Ethics & Standards)
15% of exam
Report Writing & Compliance
10% of exam