Skip to content
×
Try PRO Free Today!
BiggerPockets Pro offers you a comprehensive suite of tools and resources
Market and Deal Finder Tools
Deal Analysis Calculators
Property Management Software
Exclusive discounts to Home Depot, RentRedi, and more
$0
7 days free
$828/yr or $69/mo when billed monthly.
$390/yr or $32.5/mo when billed annually.
7 days free. Cancel anytime.
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
Buying & Selling Real Estate
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated over 10 years ago on . Most recent reply

User Stats

233
Posts
39
Votes
Eric Benzenhoefer
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Houston, TX
39
Votes |
233
Posts

Help breaking down a Legal Description - Land Investing

Eric Benzenhoefer
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Houston, TX
Posted

Howdy,

I have a motivated seller with a piece of land and neither him nor the county knows where it is. I have the legal description, and so I was hoping for help understanding how to read a legal description, and then I can go from there.

Here is the format:

First line:

(2 Letter Code) (2 digit number code) (First name initials of surveyor) (Last name of surveyor)

Second Line:

P# (2 digit number code)-(1 digit number code)

Third Line:

I# (3 digit number code)/(3 digit number code)

Here is a fake description in the Texas format.

FT 87 E J BENZENHOEFER

P# 19-3
I# 123/385

Anyone know what the different parts mean?

Most Popular Reply

User Stats

124
Posts
70
Votes
Josh James
  • Professional
  • Wichita Falls, TX
70
Votes |
124
Posts
Josh James
  • Professional
  • Wichita Falls, TX
Replied

First, there is no state format for a land description. I varies based on many factors.

I suggest you take it to a local title company, one in the county where you both think the land might be located. Another possible source of information is to search the clerks indexes for the previous owner. His deed may have a different description.

Just a guess by looking at your description, your first line is a township / range, and surveyor. The second line might be a tract or parcel number, and the third line looks like it might be a volume and page where you might find something recorded in the clerks office.

I could do a lot better with the actual description, and the county where it is located. If you don't want to post it, message me and I will try to help.

Edit: There are a lot of abbreviations and short hand notation used in legal descriptions. Without the actual description, I will really be in the dark about it. I see you are in Houston. Is the property there in Harris county, or a neighboring one? Any other information you can give will be helpful. For example, any number following an A is usually an abstract number. North, South, East, and West are abbreviated sometimes, and not other times, all depending on context.

Loading replies...