Santa Barbara ALTA Surveys

Santa Barbara ALTA Surveys

The American Land Title Association (ALTA) is a trade association that has worked since 1907 to represent the interests of title insurers and abstracts of titles. The most relevant product of their efforts is the result of a joint effort between ALTA and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM); together they have developed a uniform set of standards for ALTA land surveyors. Humorously referred to as the “Cadillac of surveys,” the guidelines comprising an ALTA survey are more stringent than any other. As a result, when an ALTA survey is done professionally, it yields the most accurate and reliable set of information.

Depending on the scope of the surveying project, an ALTA survey can take weeks to complete, at a considerable expense, but the process can be deemed more than necessary when large commercial interests are at stake. In cities like Santa Barbara, where the value of land is very high, ALTA surveys are not only necessary for title insurance purposes, but they act as valuable resources when legal issues arise after the completion of the project. Considering that “more than 1/3 of all title searches reveal a title problem” (source), the value of a professional ALTA survey becomes very apparent.

ALTA surveys typically become necessary during large commercial or industrial projects. For a large scale project, the cost of an ALTA/ACSM survey can be relatively minor compared to the cost of the overall project, and the benefits of such a detailed survey can be enormous. Therefore, while an ALTA survey may only be required by the Title Insurer or the lender, every party involved can stand to benefit from the knowledge gathered during the survey.

ALTA surveys can be necessary for residential surveying purposes in certain circumstances; when the value of the land or title is very high. Forbes ranked America’s Most Expensive Waterfront Cities, beginning with La Jolla, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara, respectively. Therefore, while ALTA surveys may be more prevalent for commercial projects on a national level, La Jolla, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara ALTA surveys should be seriously considered for any surveying projects conducted for relatively valuable sites.

The results of an ALTA survey are necessary for insurers and lenders, but Architects, Builders, Realtors, and Property Owners alike should take time to consider if their next project could necessitate the accuracy of an ALTA survey.