– (also known as a plot map) - a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. City, town or village plats show subdivisions into blocks with streets and alleys. Further refinement often splits blocks into individual lots, usually for the purpose of selling the described lots; this has become known as subdivision.
Preliminary Title Report
– A Preliminary Title Report tells you about all of the encumbrances on the title. These are the limitations on what you can do with the property. For example, most properties have a utility easement, so you can't build in a way that prohibits the utility company from accessing their stuff. Other properties have CC&Rs, or Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, that might limit, say, the height of fences, or size of homes.