On September 7, a light quake shook Pleasanton and rippled across the South Bay. At just over magnitude 3, it wasn’t strong enough to cause major damage, but it was enough to get homeowners talking. In hillside neighborhoods of San Jose—like Almaden, Willow Glen, and Los Gatos—even small shifts can reveal big problems. A boundary line survey is often the only way to confirm whether fences, walls, or markers have stayed true to your legal property lines after the ground moves. Quakes Don’t Move Title Lines—But They Do Move Markers Earthquakes, no matter how small, remind us that California sits on restless ground. The deed to your property, the plat maps, and the official descriptions recorded at the county office don’t change after a quake. Those “title lines” stay fixed in law. What does change are the things we see every day. Fences lean. Retaining walls tilt. Concrete curbs crack. Corner stakes can get pushed out of alignment. Many homeowners assume these visible features match the...
When you’re buying land or a house in rural areas, there’s a lot to consider. One important step many people overlook is the perc test . This test checks how well the soil absorbs water, which is super important if your property needs a septic system. Sadly, many realtors don’t tell you how crucial this test really is. Knowing about the perc test early can save you time, money, and headaches later on. What Exactly Is a Perc Test? A perc test, short for percolation test, measures how quickly water drains through the soil. Why does that matter? Well, if your property isn’t connected to a city sewer system, you’ll probably need a septic system to handle wastewater. The soil has to be just right to soak up and filter water safely. If the soil drains too slowly, the septic system won’t work well. That can lead to backups, bad smells, or even health problems. On the other hand, if the soil drains too fast, wastewater might not get treated properly before it reaches groundwater. Either way, b...