Buying a property—whether it’s a subdivision lot or acreage—requires more than good paperwork. A Mortgage Location (in Ohio) or Surveyor Location Report (in Indiana) compares the legal description in the deed with what physically exists on the ground. It’s often the only step that ensures the home or improvements you’re buying are truly located on the land you’re acquiring.
Skipping this step can expose buyers, lenders, and title agents to expensive surprises at closing.
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions About Mortgage Locations / SLRs >>
Do I Need a Survey to Buy a House in Ohio or Indiana?
At McSteen, we hear it all the time, “It’s just a sublot — we don’t need a survey.”
But time and again, we see how skipping even a Mortgage Location or SLR can turn what looks like a routine transaction into a complicated mess. Even in platted subdivisions where lots seem perfectly organized and mapped, mistakes can (and do) happen.
A Cautionary Tale: The House That Sat on the Wrong Lot
Our team was hired to perform a Mortgage Location for what appeared to be a straightforward closing. The property was in a subdivision, with a clean plat, a defined sublot number, and a house that had been standing for years. Everything looked ordinary.
Until we compared the legal description in the deed to the physical property.
When we located the improvements based on the recorded plat and legal description, it became clear that the house wasn’t actually on the lot being sold.
When the home was originally built, 17 years prior, it had been constructed on the adjacent lot. The legal description in the chain of title, described only the vacant lots next door.
Without the survey, the buyer would have legally owned:
- The vacant lot next door, and
- The house sitting on land they didn’t actually own.
Think about that. A fully built, occupied home—taxed, insured and sold—had never been legally tied to the land it sat on. And this wasn’t a rural metes-and-bounds parcel. It was a platted sublot in a suburban neighborhood.
Why Skipping a Survey Risks Legal Trouble
Even seemingly routine transfers can go awry without a survey. A Mortgage Location or SLR would have flagged this discrepancy before closing, saving substantial financial and legal headaches.
Legal Descriptions Define Ownership — Not Addresses
Addresses are for mail delivery. Legal descriptions define ownership. They are the only way to ensure the land being conveyed matches what’s on the ground.
A title search confirms ownership history, but a Mortgage Location or SLR verifies location, ensuring the legal description in the deed aligns with the actual, physical property. Without that check, even the most routine transfer can go wrong.
Why a Mortgage Location or SLR Matters in Every Transfer
Even “standard” sublots can carry real risk. Here’s why every real estate transfer should include a Mortgage Location or SLR:
- Addresses and parcel numbers can mislead. Only the legal description defines the property.
- Construction and development errors happen. Builders, engineers, and even municipalities can make mistakes.
- Boundary and encroachment issues exist everywhere. Fences, driveways, sheds, and landscaping often cross lines without anyone realizing.
- It protects everyone involved. Lenders, title agents, underwriters, buyers, and sellers can all move forward with confidence knowing the property being transferred matches what’s being purchased.
Best Practices for Buyers, Lenders, and Title Agents
- Always request the appropriate survey (Mortgage Location in Ohio, SLR in Indiana) before closing a real estate transaction.
- Understand that these surveys do not confirm boundary lines; for construction, fencing, or permanent improvements, order a full boundary survey.
- Verify survey reports directly reference the relevant state standards and include disclaimers regarding their limitations.
A Mortgage Location in Ohio or an SLR in Indiana isn’t just a box to check—it’s your assurance that the property described in the deed is the same one sitting on the ground.
At McSteen, we specialize in fast-turnaround Mortgage Locations and SLRs across all 88 counties in Ohio and now all 92 counties in Indiana. Our Survey Tracker platform keeps clients informed throughout the process, and our licensed team provides precise, on-time reports, even during tight closing windows.
We help prevent title exceptions, resolve discrepancies, and support smooth, confident closings. Get a Free Quote today.