Insights into an ALTA Survey

An ALTA survey is a valuable tool for developers and real estate purchasers to understand a property’s characteristics, rights, and encumbrances. Here are some key points about ALTA surveys:

Comprehensive information: ALTA surveys provide detailed information about property boundaries, easements, improvements, access, zoning, and flood zone classifications.
Title-related matters: They include survey-related exceptions from the title commitment, such as rights-of-way, easements, and encroachments.
Comparison with title documents: It’s important to compare easements shown on the survey with those listed in the title commitment to ensure consistency.
Optional items: The Table A in ALTA surveys lists optional specifications that can be requested by the client, allowing customization based on specific needs.
Recent updates: The 2021 ALTA/NSPS Standards revised some requirements, including limiting the scope of the summary to survey-related matters and modifying the underground utilities item.
Lender considerations: Lenders typically focus on five major concerns when reviewing ALTA surveys:

- - Comparing legal descriptions
  - Studying easements and rights-of-way
  - Identifying encroachments
  - Checking for setback violations
  - Verifying property access

Ordering process: When ordering an ALTA survey, it’s crucial to be specific about requirements and submit a completed Table A to ensure all necessary elements are included.
Professional standards: ALTA surveys are jointly issued by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and the American Land Title Association (ALTA), ensuring adherence to industry standards.

By obtaining an ALTA survey as part of due diligence, real estate purchasers and developers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the property and potential issues that may affect its use or value.