What Is a Metes and Bounds Description in Texas?

"Texas, often referred to as the Lone Star State, is a thriving hub for economic growth and innovation, making it an attractive destination for commercial real estate investment." - Chris Evans

What Is a Metes and Bounds Description in Texas Real Estate?

When reviewing commercial property documents in Texas, you may come across the term “metes and bounds.”

It sounds technical — but it’s simply a way of describing land boundaries.

What Does “Metes and Bounds” Mean?

A metes and bounds description defines a property’s boundaries using:

• Distances (metes)

• Directions (bounds)

• Reference points (like monuments or landmarks)

It essentially “walks” the perimeter of a property step by step.

Why It’s Common in Texas

Metes and bounds descriptions are often used for:

• Larger tracts of land

• Older properties

• Rural or undeveloped parcels

• Properties that haven’t been subdivided into plats

In growing areas around Houston, many commercial sites still rely on these descriptions.

Why Accuracy Matters

Metes and bounds descriptions can sometimes be:

• Outdated

• Based on old reference points

• Difficult to visualize without mapping

This can lead to confusion about where the property actually begins and ends.

Surveys Translate Descriptions Into Reality

A professional survey takes a metes and bounds description and turns it into a visual, measurable boundary.

This helps confirm:

• Exact property limits

• Relationship to neighboring parcels

• Potential discrepancies

Without a survey, buyers are relying on written descriptions alone.

Bottom Line

Metes and bounds descriptions define property on paper — but surveys confirm it on the ground.

At South Texas Surveying, we help Houston commercial buyers translate legal descriptions into clear, accurate boundaries.