Idaho Real Estate Practice Exam

What is the base system used in Idaho for all legal descriptions?

1. Metes and Bounds

2. Government Rectangular Survey

3. Lot and Block

4. Geographic Coordinate System

The correct answer is: Government Rectangular Survey

The correct answer is based on the fact that Idaho primarily utilizes the Government Rectangular Survey (GRS) system for legal descriptions of real estate. This system was developed in the late 18th century and is widely employed across the United States, particularly in western states like Idaho. The Government Rectangular Survey divides land into a grid of townships and ranges, allowing for a systematic and uniform method of identifying parcels of land. Each township is further segmented into sections, which can then be utilized to create detailed descriptions of property. This method provides clarity and consistency that is beneficial for property ownership, transactions, and administration. Other methods of legal descriptions, such as Metes and Bounds, are less commonly used in Idaho. While Metes and Bounds can describe properties based on natural landmarks and directions, it can lead to ambiguity and is more typically found in states where the rectangular survey system wasn't historically applied. Similarly, the Lot and Block system is generally utilized for subdivided lands in urban areas and relies on recorded plats, which may not be the primary framework in all of Idaho. The Geographic Coordinate System, although useful for mapping and navigation, is not a conventional method for legal property descriptions in real estate. Thus, the reliance on the Government Rectangular