Surveying Texas Since 1985

Our home-grown survey company originated in Castroville, Texas, serving the needs of Medina and surrounding counties.  Frank Lubbock Kennedy, RPLS, was the founding President of Medina Valley Surveys, and in 1996 involved Paul T. Carey in his operation. Frank retired in 2003, at which time Paul moved his home and business to Castroville and succeeded as owner of Medina Valley Surveys. Today Medina Valley Surveys has grown to provide statewide surveying services, but continues to produce hands-on surveys to our clients local and far.

Paul T. Carey, BS, RPLS, LSLS

Paul T. Carey was born in San Antonio, Texas to a St. Mary's University Political Science Professor and a Registered Nurse. Much of his youth was spent spelunking through limestone cave systems, repelling down cliffs, or hiking through West Texas.  He attended St. Mary's University and Graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology. Paul married Joanne Pacelli in 1980 and they have three children and two grandchildren. 

Paul spent two years as an oil field geologist and began surveying in 1980.  He became a Registered Public Surveyor in 1986 and opened Carey Land Surveying that same year. In 2001, he expanded his credentials to become one of the few Licensed State Land Surveyors in Texas. As an LSLS, Paul is authorized to make Coastal and Gradient Boundary Surveys, retrace Original Patent Lines, evaluate for Deficiency, Vacancy or Excess and file records with the Texas General Land Office.

Paul has been extensively involved with the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors,  holding multiple offices at the Chapter and State level:

TSPS President 2015-2016
TSPS At-Large Director, 2009
TSPS Chapter 22 President, 2003, 2004, 2007-2013, 2017-present
TSPS Awards Committee Chairman, 2008-2012
TSPS Education Committee Member, 2004-present
Chairman, Seminars and Symposium Sub-Committee and Course and Speaker Development Sub-Committee
TSPS Course Developer and Presenter, 2007-present
TSPS Member, 1985-present

He also recognizes the importance of volunteering and community involvement, and dedicates his time and efforts to public service and local membership:

City of Castroville, District Two Councilman
Castroville Chamber of Commerce, Member
Castroville Historic Landmark Commission, Chairman, 2007-2015
Castroville Planning and Zoning Board, Member 2014-2015
Castroville Master Plan Task Force, Member
St. Louis Catholic Church, Member
Texas Surveyor Foundation, Inc. Trustee, 2010-present, Chairman, 2013-2015

Stephanie B. Prosser, MS, RPLS

As Paul Carey's daughter, Stephanie spend many of her weekends in a tent, exploring the beautiful hills of Central Texas and many afternoons holding the leading end of a metal tape while crawling through shrubs to the corner of a home.  This upbringing lead to Stephanie’s interest in land and nature, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Master of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. 

Stephanie and her husband, Patrick, are raising their two girls to appreciate the outdoors with weekend camping trips and hikes through the spectacular landscapes of the region. Stephanie served as the Conservation Director for a Houston land trust - Bayou Land Conservancy, from 2008 to 2015, at which point she joined Medina Valley Surveys as a Survey Technician. In 2020, Stephanie earned her Registered Professional Land Surveyor Seal and continues her involvement with Texas land conservation by serving on the Lands Committee for a San Antonio based land trust – Green Space Alliance.

Contact Us

Here is how you can reach us.

If requesting a quote, please provide the address or legal description of the property.

Member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.
TBPELS Firm Number 100002-00

Professional and Ethical standards governed by the:
Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
1917 S. Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78741

pels.texas.gov

Phone: 512.440.7723 info@pels.texas.gov

Phone: 830.538.6427

EMAIL: surveytexas@gmail.com

Our Office:

 709 Washington St.
Castroville, TX, 78009

Frequently Asked Questions and Helpful Links:

Why do I need a survey?

You need a survey if you are purchasing property. Surveyors bring an objective eye to the relationship between the records of the land and the property as it exists on the ground.  Combined, a title examination and a survey are valuable tools. The survey identifies conditions as they exist on the ground by comparing recorded land descriptions, easement and adjoining properties to real world conditions. 

You need a survey if there is a question or conflict with a neighboring owner. Many people can determine if an object, fence, pool, road or building are crossing the line of property markers, but only a Professional Surveyor can provide evidence that those marks are accurate.

You need a survey if you intend to apportion your land. Separating property for family or for sale is subject to State and local law. A property owner can give or sell whatever he owns to anyone at any time, but without executing prescribed procedures and addressing legal limitations, your recipient may find the usefulness of the property differs from its intended purpose.  With a partition prepared with the caution and knowledge of a Professional Surveyor, you will avoid unintended consequences such as transfer of too much or too little land, inclusion or exclusion of amenities such as roads, wells, or structures, or determination that the transfer is void due to
non-conformance with local laws and regulations. 

Remember that a land survey is an opinion, not all surveyors are the same, you need the opinion of an experienced and careful surveyor to address these questions.  

What IF I HAVE a problem with My survey?

If you find or suspect an error, call the Surveyor. Most often he or she will be eager to make a correction or explain the situation.

If the Surveyor in not responsive and you think that there was a legal violation or a failure to adhere to the rules set by the Board, contact the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS), 1917 S. Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78741..
Phone 512.440.7723, Fx: 512.440.0417  pels.texas.gov

Lastly, obtain a second opinion from a trusted and experienced surveyor.

Who is the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS)?

The TSPS is an association of Surveyors that provide a group voice to interact with the public, government, and other professional associations (Realtors, Title Companies, Engineers and Lenders).  The Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying and the Texas Legislature provide direction, education and quality standards for Surveyors in Texas.  TSPS.org

What information do I need to have to order a survey on my property?

You will need either a copy of your deed, physical address, or tax ID number.  Most of these details can be found on your county’s appraisal district website.

What determines the survey cost?

Unlike real estate transactions, there is no standard pricing on surveys.  The cost of the survey is determined by tract size, complexity of terrain, complexity of circumstance, and intended purpose of the survey.  

Larger surveying and engineering firms cover their overhead cost by charging their clients for multiple services at the same time. Being a local small business, Medina Valley Surveys keeps overhead costs low, and can pass those saving to our clients.  With a smaller staff, the research, fieldwork, analysis, drawing, descriptions, and reports are done under the direct supervision of the Registered Professional Land Surveyor with thirty-plus years of experience.  Our Registered Professional Land Surveyors do not only provide final review of your survey – they oversee every step of the process.

Having your land surveyed makes your plans happen - buying, selling,  building, and financing are all dependent on an accurate survey. The survey is a valuable improvement to your land.

You may think that you are paying a high rate for a few hours of the surveyor’s field work, but the bulk of the survey work is done off of your land.  A Surveyor's work begins with extensive research before they arrive on your property. This includes gathering, comparing, and plotting deed, plat, and other real property records obtained from the County Courthouse.  Prepared with the record descriptions, the surveyor arrives on your property with their specialized equipment and fieldwork can be very efficient. With GPS a surveyor can gather much more information than could be collected with traditional optical instruments.  Afterward, the field data is processed, evaluated and boundary and corner determinations are made. Follow up fieldwork may be necessary if discrepancies are discovered or additional staking is required.  Finally, a draft is made and a survey is produced and released to the client.

To obtain a cost estimate for your tract, call 830.538.6427 or email (carey@mvsurveys.com), we will obtain some property information from you, and happily provide you with a quote and completion time-frame.

Helpful links:

Texas General Land Office - Administrative agency for the Sovereign Land of Texas

Texas General Land Office Abstract Map Viewer - Graphic Index of Texas Abstracts

TaxNetUSA - Database of Tax roles for 254 Texas County Appraisal Districts 

National Geodetic Survey - Online Positional User Service 

surveying history

Land ownership has been a part of life throughout history and surveying is among the oldest of professions. The earliest evidence of surveying dates back to 2700BC with the Egyptian practice of re-establishing ownership along the Nile River. Land ownership requires land measurement. Many American forefathers were surveyors, most notably, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. George Washington was a mere sixteen years old when he determined that the convergence of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers was an ideal location for a city, and he began to survey Pittsburg.   Thomas Jefferson chose to use navigation techniques to map the continent and devised the Federal Land System.

The Spanish and Mexican Governments provided surveyors for the purpose of establishing and documenting land boundaries in Texas (New Spain and Mexico) in the 16th Century, and over 26 million acres of land was awarded to settlers by Spain and Mexico over a period of 325 years.

In 1896 The Texas General Land Office began to appoint "State Surveyors", and began the application and examination procedure for "State Surveyors" in 1900. Until the last decade, all Texas counties were required to elect a County Surveyor, a position that holds the same rights as a “State Surveyor”. Today the Licensed State Land Surveyor retains the same authority and responsibility and takes the same oath as those early Surveyors.

The Texas Board of Land Surveying was created by legislation in 1955 to examine and license "Registered Public Surveyors" in Texas. Before then, anyone with the tools could make a survey.

What is required to become a Texas Land Surveyor?

Today, an applicant must have a college degree in a short list of fields, pass the Surveyor in Training exam, work for a Professional Surveyor "in responsible charge" for an additional two years and pass the Registered Professional Land Surveyors exam.

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