When you are looking to buy a home in Washington State, it can be very easy to get focused on the particulars of the home that you enjoy and make sure you pay the price that you feel is reasonable and good for you. While these things are important, it is also vital that you carefully review some of the other details that may have implications for the ultimate enjoyment or experience of your new home. The existence of an easement is one of these details.
As explained by Trulia.com, there are many different types of easements but they all have one thing in common and that is the fact that they grant some form of access onto a specific part of a property for a very specific use. Two things are noteworthy here. The first is that when an easement exists, it does not mean that another entity has the right to be on any part of a property but only on the portions identified in the easement. The other item to note is that use of that piece of land is granted only for certain reasons not for general use.
Some easements are essentially permanent and transfer when a house is sold. Other easements have clear expiration dates. Most easements would be identified in a title document which makes reviewing this essential in order to avoid an unforseen dispute with a neighbor.
If you would like to learn more about property lines and rights of way when buying or selling real estate, please feel free to visit the easement and rights page of our Washington State real estate law website.
