Definitely agree about not counting entirely on title insurance. I've seen friends go through absolute nightmares even with insurance in place. One buddy bought an older house that had a fence built years ago by the previous owner, and turns out half of it was technically on the neighbor's property. Title insurance didn't cover it, and he had to pay out of pocket to get it sorted.
Another thing I'd add is to actually talk to neighbors before buying. It's surprising how much local knowledge they have about property lines, past disputes, or even odd zoning quirks. Sure, some neighbors might exaggerate or be nosy, but most are pretty helpful and honest. Plus, it gives you a feel for who you'll be living next to—always a bonus.
Bottom line, title insurance is good to have, but it's never a replacement for doing your homework and asking around. A little extra legwork upfront can save you from a ton of stress later on.
Good points, but honestly, neighbors aren't always reliable either. When I bought my place, the neighbor confidently told me the property line was "right by that big oak tree." Turns out he was off by about 10 feet, and I almost built a shed on his land. I'd say trust but verify—neighbors mean well, but they're not surveyors. Getting an actual survey done is worth every penny, even if it feels like overkill at first...
Good advice overall, though I'd argue a professional survey isn't always necessary. If your property has clear historical markers or documented boundaries from previous surveys, sometimes that's enough. But yeah, neighbors' memories can be surprisingly fuzzy...
True, historical markers might be enough sometimes, but when refinancing, banks can get pretty picky about boundaries. I figured my old fence line was clear enough... until the lender insisted on a full survey. Better safe than sorry with this stuff.
I get your point about banks being cautious, but honestly, a full survey can be pretty pricey. When I refinanced last year, the lender initially pushed for one too, but after some back-and-forth, they accepted an older survey I already had. Sometimes lenders just default to the safest option without considering alternatives. It might be worth pushing back gently or asking if they'll accept existing documentation—could save you a decent chunk of change.
