Land access is pretty important. The last thing you want to do is purchase a property without easy access. And this access can vary greatly. Is the property you’re interested in only accessible by a private road? Does your access rely on an easement and cross the adjoining landowner’s property? Or worse, is your dream property “landlocked”, meaning there’s no access leading to it at all? These are all things to consider when shopping for property. Good thing LandCentral knows a thing or two about land access. Check out How to Verify Your Land Access:
First, the boring stuff: There are 3 categories of land access:
#1: Public Access – The most common and least complicated.
Basically, if your land touches a government maintained road (as most homes and lots do), you have a straight pathway to your property, no questions asked.
#2: Un-deeded Access – There’s a road, but it’s not documented.
This type of access is pretty common. Some “landlocked” properties will often have a dirt road or other kind of entry that others use to access the property. Over time, it becomes the main point of entry. While it may be an easy in and out route to the lot, it’s not technically a designated road, meaning a written agreement was never negotiated with the neighbors or city.
NOTE: This type of un-deeded access typically goes uncontested as the use of such roads often stretch back generations. However, having a deed of agreement can help when landowners move and you’re dealing with new neighbors.
EXTRA NOTE: Some states have laws prohibiting landowners from denying access to another landowner. This means they can’t deny you entry to your property, so a deeded access must be drawn up.
#3: Deeded Access – A written agreement with adjoining landowners who use the road.
Recorded in a court house, this written document is an agreement with the various landowners in the area who plan on using the road. Remember, this road is not a public road or a government maintained road. This access is important if you intend to build a house on your property. If you’re intentions are for more temporary purposes like hunting, then using the road without deeded access shouldn’t be a problem.
Now, the easy stuff: Verify Your Land Access
There are 4 ways to verify access to your land:
- A title company
- A county Auditor
- A real estate lawyer
- A realtor
It really is that simple. Learning about your land’s access is just one more thing to check off the need-to-know-before-you-buy list. Once you verify your land access, your journey of homeownership begins. Want a jump start? Check out LandCentral’s amazing land deals.