Neighbor thinks he owns my land?

[EddieWalker]

I thing many folks just don't realize how things really work. I mean, by adding just 1% to every local sales tax we could eliminate all property taxes, kids would still go to school, the revenue would be the same, the only difference would be , the government would lose some power and control and they don't want that...the bureaucracy will keep it's boot on property owner's necks.

I think most of us get it. The government will add 1% to our sales tax, and for grins, add 1% to our property tax. Then they will increase spending by ten percent because they have 2% additional income to borrow against.

Eddie

 

[Ron JD670]

Strum, this thread has gotten pretty big and probably a little confusing to you, you are getting a lot of advice.

You asked how surveying works. That is kind of like asking how does a diesel engine work. You could describe that in one sentence, or write a 500 page book about it. A short summary is that we look for evidence. This evidence could be fence, an iron rod, a stone wall, a old surveyors rock etc. We try to match all the angles and distances up and make it fit the persons deed as best as possible. Its like so many other things, its not always black and white and is often a lot of judgement on the surveyors part.

At one time, we used to try to set up on the corners and measure the angles and distance between them. We don't do that very often anymore. You can imagine all the problems with things on line, such as trees and other things that get in the way. Instead we run what is called a random traverse. This is points we set in the ground, set our equipment up on, and measure the angles and distances between these points and then the property corners. We often run this traverse and make a closed loop to check the math for errors. Computers have really helped out and make the computations much simpler.

As far as a surveyor making a bad measurment? A good surveyor does good self checking techniques. .... Mistakes can get made, but a good surveyor will minimize the chance of this.

..... Often the most important tool is a spade and a locator and tile probe. This is how we look for evidence, which is really the important thing.

......

What often seems simple to a layman, is often complicated and takes a lot of work on the surveyors part.

..... If he is like so many other surveyors, he is hard working and has the best intersest of the public in his heart.

Great summary and points Dodge Man
Bring the discussion back to tractors I recommend before any of us move piles of rocks or push over and burn that old tree on the property line or corner you investigate if it is an old reference point or land mark. Especially if it is at a section corner or quarter marker besides being illegal to destroy or move them you make create a huge cost to sort it out. In well developed areas brass pins with caps have been placed. But, these and other pins are usually placed below grade (6" is standard here). So you may not realize you have hit a pin with that box blade. Especially if your asked to do work on your neighbors property.

For example A local realtor hired a contractor to build a access road to an empty lot adjacent to my property and told him to ignore the neighbors they were trouble makers. I tried to show him the pins but he ignored reference point the took his own sitings provided by the realtor and built the road at an angle starting three feet over the boundary on two neighbors property and touching my corner. Fortunately he only covered the pins a foot deeper. I informed the local MLS and let every showing realtor know there was an issue. They quit showing the property because of the liability. The recent survey confirmed my accretion when the survey found the pins (where i told him they would be) and placed flags three feet into the road.

One of the first thing I do is buy topo maps of the township and section that my property is located on. Then as noted earlier visit the recorders office and make friends at the surveyors office. Again the county surveyors office is a great resource. They are responsible to maintain the county survey records. These land marks are key to that. Check before you dig up a land mark.

Recently watched a program on older surveyors training young ones on how to find old blazes and stone markers in the more remote and less developed areas. Some of these go back to the 1800s. They are trying to preserve these until a current survey can be completed and brass pins placed. Probably less of an issue on the east coast.

A final note as Dodge Man commented it is not just all about angles but also documentation and evidence that may be over a hundred years old. One of the surveys I depend on was done in 1953 the year I was born the new survey confirmed they were spot on the section line over 3000 feet .. no computer !

Ron JD670
PS sent by iPhone sorry about typos and grammar

 

[brin]

I think most of us get it. The government will add 1% to our sales tax anyway and for grins, add 1% to our property tax, and increase spending by ten percent because they have 2% income to borrow against.

Eddie

Yep Eddie, you are right unfortunately that is the way it works...1% turns into ...no telling how many % and on and on...geeez !

 

[Bison]

My property boarders some government easement property. I maintain it (mow the grass, plant trees,etc) can I own that property one day?

Try it,let me know the results.
I border a million acre forest reserve,..just saying

 

[dodge man]

Just a note, you can't get adverse possesion against any kind of gevernment, except in very rare instances.

 

[JB4310]

Just a note, you can't get adverse possesion against any kind of gevernment, except in very rare instances.

Yeah I wouldn't think so, Government is always covered by their own laws, or maybe a better way to put it is, they are not covered by their own laws.

 

[JB4310]

If you lived in Texas or Nevada you could look into obtain an allodial title to your land.


.

Interesting, I never heard of it before, this wiki link mentions how all property in the US is subject to Eminent Domain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allodial_title

So i guess that pretty much proves our land is more or less just on loan to us. If some other use of it was determined to be needed.


JB

 

[LD1]

So, did you talk to the neighbor this evening???

 

[RobertBrown]

There is a place like that...where the children cannot go to public school. It's called Mexico.

I'm betting that every single one of your renters paid the tax thru their rent. I say betting because if you're not including the cost of the taxes in the rent then you're losing money, which you aren't. If you were losing money then you wouldn't own rent houses for 30 years.

WTF?
What does that mean? Mexico? HEH?

 

[RobertBrown]

I think most of us get it. The government will add 1% to our sales tax, and for grins, add 1% to our property tax. Then they will increase spending by ten percent because they have 2% additional income to borrow against.

Eddie

sad but true