Can I pay my nieghbor for an easement?

[shenane]

Thanks for the great info on where to get my survey and the San Antonio code on maintenance easements - really good info. I don't actually live in San Antonio - I live in unincorporated Bexar County. Do those city codes also apply to me?

Also, this is a great rule but how can it be enforced with people who have outdoor dogs? Until recently, my neighbor did have a fence that I could easily get into, but her dog was in the back all the time. The dog is friendly to me but she doesn't like strangers. How would I get maintenance people back there? Even if the dog is friendly towards everyone, what if the dog gets loose while maintenance people are going back and forth? This would be for lots of folks not just my neighbor??

Even me. My dogs are mostly indoor dogs but they do have a doggie and can go out whenever they want. If I left my gate open all the time just in case my neighbor wanted to get in my back yard (the other neighbor's house is in my yard), then what's to stop other people (strangers, kids, etc..) from getting into my yard. I'm friendly with my other neighbors and they can get into the yard whenever they ask, but the problem is that they have to ask. What if I'm not home and they need to get back there?

Happy New Year

Originally Posted by jwh97

If it is maintenance you are concerned with, a 5' maintenance easement is already in place and requires your neighbor to give you access to the side of your house and prevents him/her from placing structures such as tool sheds within that area. They cannot deny you access to the easement to maintain your house along the lot line and must provide a gate if it is fenced. Here is a quote from the current city code which is probably similar to the one in effect at the time your subdivision was platted:

Section 35-515 (e)

[TexasNick]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

You can get a copy of your last plat survey through the city direct without asking your title company, real estate agent, etc. Here is a good source on how to acquire a copy http://www.sat.lib.tx.us/central/govdocs.htm

Each city and county keeps the offical, recorded copies of each survey. Can you imagine hinging real estate deals on each landowner keeping their own 'official' survey?

JohnsonKK, I don't understand where it is listed on that page. Can you be specific? Thanks.

[shenane]

Oh, it's not just me! I could find anything on that page either

Originally Posted by TexasNick

JohnsonKK, I don't understand where it is listed on that page. Can you be specific? Thanks.

[TexasNick]

You can look up property taxes, appraisals, fair market values, etc, including a map of your property and plat all at http://www.bcad.org/

[kevcrawford]

Plats and surveys are different.

[jwh97]

Also try Bexar County Records
Then login (its free). There you can look up deeds and plats.

If you find your property on Bexar Appraisal District look under deed history and it will list the volume and page number of your deed as recorded in the county records. In that deed there will be references to your subdivision plat volume and page number (which you can also look up on the same website) and any other deeds which reference your property.

Chances are that your subdivision fell within the area that the city land codes apply to, so my guess is that you do have access (technically) to your maintenance easement. (You're neighbor on the other side would most likely have access to your yard for the same reason.)

[shenane]

Good stuff. I was able to easily go in and fine deeds, etc.. for any property in Bexar County but no plat surveys on the bexar county clerk page. I actually got my survey from my title company (thanks for the info) but I would also like a copy of my neighbor's survey for when I show my plan to the HOA. There is a 5 foot maintenance easement on the survey but I have decided that I want to purchase the land from her and not just the easement.
If I pay her to let me put in an access fence and she moves, the next people might move it. They could give me access when I ask but I want access all the time.

Thanks again

Originally Posted by jwh97

Also try Bexar County Records
Then login (its free). There you can look up deeds and plats.

If you find your property on Bexar Appraisal District look under deed history and it will list the volume and page number of your deed as recorded in the county records. In that deed there will be references to your subdivision plat volume and page number (which you can also look up on the same website) and any other deeds which reference your property.

Chances are that your subdivision fell within the area that the city land codes apply to, so my guess is that you do have access (technically) to your maintenance easement. (You're neighbor on the other side would most likely have access to your yard for the same reason.)