You are close to buying a Washington, DC rowhouse, and a new phrase lands on your desk: mortgage survey. Maybe the lender used it. Maybe it came from the title or closing team. This article explains what the request usually means and what to ask before you order one.

Why the Mortgage Survey Question Comes Up Before a DC Rowhouse Closing

A mortgage survey request usually appears during the lender, title, or closing steps. No rule forces it on every sale. A buyer might hear about it when a lender reviews the file. The title company might raise it. The closing team might ask for it too. The reason it comes up can change from one deal to the next.

DC rowhouses add a wrinkle to the question. These homes often sit close together, with little room between one building and the next. That tight setting is one reason a closing party might want a clearer picture.

The real answer about what is needed comes from the party asking for it. A lender, a title officer, and a closing agent may each want something a little different. Ask them straight rather than guessing on your own.

What a Mortgage Survey Can Show on a Rowhouse Property

A mortgage survey can show the house and other visible improvements. It can show their sizes and how they sit on the lot. The exact contents depend on the survey that was asked for. Two documents will not always match.

A mortgage survey may include:

• The house and other visible improvements
• The sizes of those structures
• Distances between the improvements and the property lines
• Features such as fences, sheds, or decks, when they apply
• How the improvements relate to the lot

The DC Department of Buildings points to these kinds of details when it describes mortgage surveys. Still, no single list fits every document. One survey may show more than another. It depends on what the party asked for.

The Rowhouse Detail That Can Make the Survey Question Less Straightforward

Rowhouses sit on narrow city lots. That makes the survey question harder to answer at a glance. The homes often stand right next to each other, and some share walls or nearly touch. A rear addition, a small deck, or another visible feature can add to the picture.

There is little open space around the home. What you see with your own eyes is not the same as what a survey is meant to show. You might look at two houses and think you know where one ends and the other begins. A survey records certain measured details, and a quick look is not the same thing. So the worth of the document depends on what it was asked to show.

What to Ask When Someone Requests a Mortgage Survey

Start by asking who wants the survey and what they expect it to contain. A few clear questions can save you time and money before you order anything. Write the answers down as you go.

• Who is requesting the mortgage survey?
• What type of survey or survey information do they want?
• Are there specific lender or closing instructions?
• Which features need to be shown?
• Is an existing survey acceptable, or do they want a new one?
• Does the requesting party need a certain date or format?

Share those answers with your surveyor before any work starts. Clear instructions up front lead to a document that fits the closing. Guesswork tends to cost more down the line.

When an Existing Survey May Not Answer the Closing Question

An old survey might be sitting in your file. It may or may not fit the current deal. Whether it works depends on what the party needs today. One type of survey is not a stand-in for another, so check first.

The District notes that its Office of the Surveyor keeps land plats and records. It does not hold private surveys such as Location Drawings or ALTA/NSPS surveys tied to transfers of title. So an older private survey may not be on file with the District. That is good to know early.

Maybe the information you need is not there. Maybe the document you have does not meet the stated needs. Either way, ask the closing professional or lender whether a new survey is needed. They can tell you whether what you hold is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a mortgage survey required for every Washington, DC rowhouse closing? 

No, there is no blanket rule that every closing needs one. Whether a survey is asked for can depend on the lender, the deal, title or closing needs, or other facts. The right move is to confirm the exact need with the party asking for it. Once you know who wants it and why, you can respond without overspending.

2. What does a mortgage survey show on a DC rowhouse? 

A mortgage survey may show the house and other improvements. It can add sizes and distances from the property lines. It can also note features such as fences, decks, or sheds when they apply. The exact scope depends on the survey that was asked for, so details vary from one document to the next.

3. Can I use an old mortgage survey for my DC rowhouse? 

Possibly, but do not assume it will work. Ask the lender or closing professional whether the existing survey meets the needs of the current deal. An older document may miss something the deal needs, or it may be a different type of survey. If it falls short, they can tell you whether a new survey is the better path.

For a free land surveying quote, call us at (202) 471-1342 or send us a message by going here.

Posted in land surveying | Tagged Land Surveying