The US has 1.9 billion acres of land in the contiguous 48 states. Only 3.6% of it has been developed for residential use in urban areas. And even after accounting for all the acreage that’s dedicated to agriculture, crops and government use, that’s a lot of land that could potentially be available for private use. For decades now, the “American dream” has centered on owning a home with a picket fence and, if you’re lucky, a bit of land. Wondering how to find land for sale is something a lot of Americans do.

When it comes to property lines, it might seem straightforward that what falls on your property is yours, and what’s on your neighbor’s side is theirs. But if you’ve ever reviewed property survey records, you know it’s not always that simple.