Do You Need a Survey When Buying a New Property?

Houston Real Estate Podcast with Dale Ross

Do you need a survey when buying a property? I’ll go over the answer today.

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Recently, a client of mine asked, “Do I need a survey when I’m buying a property?”

Need is a strong word, but I highly recommend getting a survey. In today’s market, you’re actually able to obtain a past survey from a seller. The seller has to sign a T-47 affidavit, which states that nothing has changed or been added since the last survey. Unfortunately, sometimes a change or addition can slip the seller’s mind, like replacing a fence. In my opinion, it’s always best to get a new survey done with every new transaction.

A survey is not required unless you’re obtaining a mortgage to purchase a property. If you pay cash, a survey is not required, but the boundaries of the property are still mentioned in the title commitment. The survey must coincide with the boundaries mentioned in the title commitment, so whether you are getting a mortgage or paying with cash, getting a survey done will make things go much smoother.

When a surveyor goes out to measure a lot, they make sure the building lot has not been encroached, the fence is on the property lines, and they make sure that any additions such as a pool or covered patio are not encroached on the easements.

Always get a new survey to make sure you don’t run into any issues down the road.

Although many agents recommend using an old survey, I’m not one of them. Always get a new survey to make sure you don’t run into any issues down the road.

If you have any questions about this topic or if you’re curious about a different real estate topic, feel free to reach out. If I choose your question to answer in a video, I’ll send you a gift card to Fleming's Steak House!

As always, if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!