ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey

An ALTA/NSPS survey is a boundary survey often provided for commercial properties. It supplies the title company with the information required to insure the title to the land to the highest degree. In addition to the minimum standards adopted by the American Land Title Association and National Society of Professional Surveyors for ALTA/NSPS, optional Table A items are included in the ALTA/NSPS standards. Careful review of “Table A“ items will establish a clear scope of the land surveyor's services.

Before an ALTA/NSPS survey can be completed and certified, a client must provide a current title commitment. The surveyor will refer to the title commitment for the legal description of the property and other recorded matters related to the survey. The ALTA/NSPS survey's certification language includes the affected parties' names, such as but not limited to the buyer, seller, title company, and lender. Our professional land surveyor will work in close association with the title insurance company, since the surveyor and the title company rely on each other's work to show matters affecting the ownership of the land and improvements in a comprehensive manner. The surveyor will also make sure to satisfy the particular needs of the buyers, lenders, and agents representing all parties when dealing with real estate property.

Certain properties or interests in real properties may present issues outside those normally encountered on an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey (e.g., marinas, campgrounds, mobile home parks; easements, leases, mineral interests, other non-fee simple interests). The scope of work related to surveys of such properties or interests in real properties should be discussed with the client, lender, and insurer, and agreed upon in writing prior to commencing work on the survey. When required, the client shall secure permission for the surveyor to enter upon the property to be surveyed, adjoining properties, or offsite easements.

To obtain an ALTA/NSPS Survey the client needs to fill out a Request Form and return it to us. The request must specify that an "ALTA/NSPS LAND TITLE SURVEY" is required and which of the optional items listed in Table A, if any, are to be incorporated. The client must secure permission for the surveyor to enter upon the property to be surveyed, adjoining properties, or offsite easements. .  

ALTA/NSPS Standards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Example