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What about access to land?

You cannot enjoy a property if you cannot access it, and you may not be able to sell the property in the future (if that is what you intend to do) without access.

  • Public road frontage – Frontage on a public roadway provides access to a property, but does not ensure that it is maintained on a regular basis. Check with the local governing body (city, township, or county) to determine who maintains the road and how often.
  • Easement road/drive – Be sure that there is a recorded easement for any road or drive that is needed to access a property. You will want to know whether the easement is private or shared with others and/or how it is maintained, how snow plowing or spring thawing will affect its use, and whether the easement is wide enough for the vehicles that will be using it.
  • No public road or easement – Not all properties have access. If a property does not have access, you can try to get private easement(s) from adjoining neighbor(s), a public easement from a governmental agency (such as the county or state), or an “easement by prescription” which is a court-ordered easement providing access to the property when a landowner was not able to secure an easement from neighbor(s). Refer to title documents for details about access and consult your legal advisor about any questions you have.