Arizona Broker Exam Law Flashcards
CHAPTER 1 PROPERTY RIGHTS - PRIVATE AND GOVT.: Bundle of Rights
PUEET or TEEUP Possession, Use, Encumbrance, Exclusion. Transfer
Corporeal
Real Property - Physical or Tangible
Incorporeal Attachments
Hereditaments (rights of inheritance, rights of way, etc.
Mineral Rights
Owner owns - common for buyer to cede to state
Fixture
MARIA: Method of attachment, Agreement, Relationship, Intent, Adapability
Physical characteristics of Real Property
Immobility, indestructability, non-homogeneity (no two parcels alike), law of situs (governed by laws where it is located)
Real Property Econimic characteristics
Scarcity, modification, fixity (frozen, not liquid) situs (location influences value)
Transfer of property
Requires Deed
Personal Property
Chattel or personalty is moveable - tangible and intangible
Trade Fixtures
Personal property - can be removed by tenant before lease expires
Right of Emblements
Gives tenants (farmers) right to harvest money crops that mature after their departure (industrial fruits)
Title Transfer of Personal Property
Requires Bill of Sale - if anchored to earth it is affidavit of affixture
Ground or Surface Water in AZ
Controlled by Dept. of Water Resources. Groundwater Permit requires to tap into subsurface water
Exempt domestic well
Max. pump capacity of 35 gal/min and water less than 2 acres.Requires Notice of Intent to Drill
Surface Water
Requires user’s permit
Riparian Rights
Not in AZ i.e. where owners adjacent or abutting bodies of water may use it unimpeded.But does cover ownership - Property adjacent or abutting navigable body of water stops at high water mark. Property next to a non-navigable body extends to low-water line (in desert it is mid-stream)
Prior Appropriation
Downstream property owners may claim water rights by this. Permits issued on a first in time is first in sight basis - ie.earliest applicants served first.
Measure for flowing water
cubic feet/sec - for non-flowing water it is acre foot (43,560 cu. ft.)
Government Rights, Regs. and Controls
PETE - Police Power, Eminent Domain, Taxation, Escheat
Zoning
Regulates structures and uses of property - duty of counties and municipalities. Enforced through building permits.
Basic land use zoning categories
Residential, Agrilcultural, Planned Area Development. Commercial, Industrial
Code enforcement
Issuance of building permits and Certs. of Occupancy and Inspections.
City Planning
Master Plans to regulate overall community growth
Taxation of RE
State and local jurisdiction not Fed. Govt.
Property Taxes
Levied Annually, paid twice a year
Ad Valorem taxes
Based on value of property - Primary lien as if first Monday in Jan. followed by special assessments and other liens in order of recordation.
Property Tax Periods
Jan. 1-June 30 - Due Oct. 1 and late Nov. 1 or July 1- Dec. 31 due March 1 and late May 1 with 16% interest if late per annum.
Taxes not paid
Tax Lien for sale in Feb. following owner notification of delinquency
Tax Lien
Sold at public auction - winner gets “Certificate of Purchase” and pays tax due with interest. Goes to bidder who accepts lowest interest from 16-0%. If no bids Certificate of Purchase issued to state and can be purchased year round by investors.. Property owner has 3 years to redeem or Certificate of Purchase holder may foreclose
Special Assessment Taxes
No Ad Valorem - pro rata basis - paid in installments and due Nov. 1 (first half) and May 1 (second half)
Tax Appeal
Can appeal classificaiton of property or assessed valuation but not tax itself
Escheat
Reversion to state of property after death - usually personal property - state can sell in 5 years if no heirs appear - money into state general fund.
CHAPTER 2 - REAL ESTATE INTERESTS AND OWNERSHIP:
Estate
Degree, quantity, nature and extent of ownership interest in RE. One’s legal position of ownership, not the amount of property owned. Must be possessory with ownership measured in terms of duration.
Freehold Estates
Characterized by property ownership and indeterminate duration. Includes fee estates (inheritable) and life estates (not inheritable)
Less than Freehold estate
Leasehold Estate - tenants possess but do not own property
Fee Estate (Freehold) - Fee Simple Absolute
Fee Simple Absolute - wholly owned, transferable and inheritable -most common and complete form
Fee Estate - Fee Simple Absolute
If stipulations of deed not adhered to by grantee, property can revert to original grantor. Can be Fee Determinable (“as long as..otherwise ownership terminated automatically and reverts to grantor) OR Fee Conditional (“provided that or On the condition that…” which controls function of property and if condition violated, property reverts to grantor or heirs by court action.
Fee Tall - limits heirs to lineal descendants and not legal in AZ
Life Estate (Freehold) - real and PP Less than Fee Ordinary
Ordinary - limited to life of owner or to life of designated person - upon death of designated person, estate reverts to grantee or another.
Life Estate
Future Estate holder - B grants Harry Life Estate. H dies, B gets.
Estate in Reversion - B dies, property reverts to B’s heirs when H dies. H can sell, encumber, but not pass to heirs or make waste (damage) as there is always a second future estate to B.
Reversionary Interest - K grants to son A reserving life estate for self - when M dies, property reverts to A but not considered an inheritance.
Remainder Estate - concurrent future estate created by grantor for a third party. J conveys life estate to H and upon H dies, automatically goes to C who is vested remainder.
Pur Autre Vie - (for the life of another). J gives life estate to B for life of M. B has life estate as long as M lives and when M dies, estate ends and revert back to J or go to named vested remainderman. If B dies first, estate continues and goes to B’s heirs as Contingent Remainder Interest until M dies.
Life Estate - Statutory
Dower or Curtesy not in AZ
AZ is community property - spouses share equal interest in property acquired during marriage - separate property acquired before marriage, in inheritance, will or gift is exempt.
Homestead Exemption Protection
Protects up to 150,000 in property equity from liens, judgments, bankruptcy but not voluntary liens, mortgages RE taxes or mechanic liens. Covers principle residence not commercial, rental or vacation home. Terminated if move to another state, sell, convert to rental or not primary residence, or abandon.. Can possibly continue for 18 mos. after a sale. One homestead at a time
Leasehold Estates - less than freehold
Estate for years - specific time period
Estate from period to period - indefinite no. of periods (usually 30-day segments)
Estate at Will - as long as lessor and tenant wll it. Either can cancel at will
Estate at Sufferance - Runs until landlord takes action like when tenant in arrears - weakest type of estate.
Valid lease
Must have landlord signature, intent to “let and demise” (transfer leasehold), time period of occupancy, consideration, landlord’s right of reversion where property reverts to lessor at expiration. Possession must be be delivered by landlord and accepted by tenant.
Gross Lease
Landlord pays taxes, assessments, operating costs out of rent. Usually short-term
Net Lease
Tenant pays overhead expenses. Usually long-term
Percentage Lease
Retail - Tenant pays minimum rent against a % of gross sales (monthly sales) whichever greater. Bigger the tenant, smaller the percentage
Index and Graduated Lease
Use Consumer Price Index or wholesale price index. Start at fixed low rate but increase at intervals. Good for beginning entrepreneurs and landlords seeking tax breaks.
Ground Lease
One owns land and other owns improvements up to 99 years. Common in commercial
Sale and Leaseback
Sells RE but not business and leases back RE on long term net lease. Frees up fixed capital of seller and rent is business expense. Investor has tax shelter.
Subletting
Renter (lessee) subleases to another (sublessee).who pays lessee and lessee still bound by original lease and responsible to pay lessor.Landlord consent needed
Assignment
Renter (assignor) transfers entire interest and contractual obligation to another renter (assignee) who is responsible with landlord to terms of lease.
Terminating Lease
Expiration
Agreement
Abandonment - if tenant in arrears for 10 days
Total destruction
Condemnation - eminent domain
Merger of leasehold and fee estate through sale, marriage or inheritance
Death of landlord if lease based on life estate
Rent terminology
Contract rent - per contract
Economic Rent - what it should rent for
Positive leasehold - contract rent less than economic rent
Negative leasehold - contract rent exceeds economic rent
License
Personal permission to perform act on land or property of another. No easement
License has no interest in land itself and is revocable. Terminates upon sale of property or death o either party
Easement
Non-revocable right which one has in land of another, permitting him use or enjoy land for a specific purpose.
Easement Appurtenant
Multiple parcels. Servient tenement is land against which the easement exists. Dominant tenement enjoys continued use of easement since it passes with land - Easement Appurtenant is inseparable from dominant and cannot be conveyed separately
Easement in Gross
One parcel - gives one right to use land of another. Cannot be sold, terminates with death of holder if natural person. If held by legal person (corporation) for rights of way may be mortgaged or sold. Not revocable, creates interest in RE unlike a license
Creation of Easements
By Express Agreement - usually deeds and contracts. Landowner may have to grant easement if eminent domain (called easement by condemnation)
By Implication - Owner of 2 or more adjacent lots and sells part - grants by implication to grantee all easements necessary for reasonable use of property granted
By Necessity - easement is indispensable to enjoyment of dominant estate
Easement by Prescription - created by open, continuous, exclusive use (10 years). Right lost after 5 years of non-use.
Termination of Easement
Abandonment Merger Release Cessation of the purpose for easement If owner of easement purchases servient, no more easement as he owns all now
Ownership Holdings (Tenancies)
Tenancy - mode, manner, quality and way that ownership is held
Severalty - one person
Co-tenants - share undivided interest that cannot be separated from whole
Types of Tenancies:
Joint Tenancy
Fee simple, for life, for years or at will. Arises by purchase or grant to 2 or more natural persons.
Unity of Time (vested at same time),
Title (hold by same title vs. Tenants in Common that can take property under several different titles
Interest (equal interest - no JT can have greater interest than other JTs)
Possession (JTs hold same undivided possession of whole and same rights until death of one)
Joint Tenancy - Survivorship
Entire tenancy on death of a JT passes to survivors and, at last to last survivor. AZ law abolishes JT right of survivorship at death of JT the share goes to heirs or those named in will but if deed says property goes to surviving grantee the right of survivorship created and realty passes to surviving co-tenants without probate
Joint Tenancy Selling
All owners must join as sellers. JT can sell portion of interest they own without consent of other JTs.
New owner joins other JTs as a Tenant in Common due to unity of time not met. AZ Community Property system wants grantees in a JT deed to endorse acceptance individually
Termination of Joint Tenancy with ROS
Involuntary or voluntary transfer of title
Sale or conveyance of one JTs interest to third person when only 2 JTs exist
Partition Decree
Sale of land and dividing of proceeds by husband and wife following divorce or separation
Destruction of any of the unities of title
Tenancy in Common
2 or more persons with undivided interest which may be voluntarily transferred by alienation, devise, descent and not subject to any right of survivership. Ownership need not be equal.
Interest of each TIC passes under terms of his will. If no will, pass to laws of intestate succession
Tenancy in Common Transfer
Terminates interest by transfer to third person creating tenancy in common between new tenant and remaining tenant(S)
Community Property
All property acquired during marriage (except gift, devise, descent or earned by one spouse and minor children while living separately) is community property of both. Equal interest.
Community Property with Right of Survivorship transfers title to other spouse upon death of one without probate.
Community Property
Title held as “Sole and Separate”. If married person acquires title as sale and separate, spouse must sign Disclaimer Deed. Can hold title in a Corp or other entitly (LLC, etc.
CHAPTER 3 TRANSFER OF TITLE AND TITLE INSURANCE
Four methods of transfer to title
Voluntary Alienation by choice (effected through public and private grants
Involuntary Alienation - against owner’s will (foreclosure, eminent domain, escheat, adverse possession)
Descent
Heirs but no will - Probate court appoints administrator
Escheat
No will, no heirs
Will
Executor was appointed before death
Grantor
Gives the deed (seller)
Grantee
Buyer who receives deed
Deed in Writing
Statute of Frauds
Other requirements of deed
Competent Grantor
Identifiable grantee and status
Granting Clause affirms grantor giving up ownership and what being given up
Habendum Clause - To have and hold - reaffirms extent of ownership being transferred if less than what owned. Granting clause prevails over Habendum.
Legal Description
Exceptions or Reservations - mineral rights exception or reservations for life estate, deed restrictions, zoning
Legal Consideration - Valuable is money, goods, relinquishment. Good Consideration is love and affection (difficult to enforce)
Signature of Grantor (grantee signature not always needed unless deed restriction or as part of joint tenancy
Acknowledgement - identifies correct party and attests grantor’s action is voluntary - must be notarized.
Delivery to Grantee - and accepted to be valid. In AZ delivery by escrow agent is legal delivery and unaffected by death of a grantor prior to close of escrow.
Covenants and Warranties
Present in all conveying deeds
Covenant of Seizen
Grantor owns and has right to convey
Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
Grantor will defend grantee’s title against claims by third party and compensate grantee if title turns out to be invalid or defective
Covenant Against Further Encumbrances
Grantor promises property free from encumbrances other than those revealed or grantee can sue.
Warranty of Further Assurance
Special and General Warranty Deeds. Grantor agrees to perfect or correct title if nexessary during their lifetime
Warranty Forever
General Warranty Deed. Grantor agrees to defend grantee’s title against all other claims forever. If third party wrests title, grantee can sue for damages up to value to property at time of sale
Patent Deed
First deed in chain of title from state or Fed. to individuals
Conveying Deed
Bargain and Sale, Special Warranty and General Warranty Deed
Bargain and Sale Deeds
Sheriffs Deed (Foreclosure default on Mortgage)
Treasurer’s Deed (Foreclosure for non-payment of property taxes)
Executors or Adminstrators Deed (settling of estate by probate after death)
Trustees Deeds (Property placed in trustee hands for disposal due to bankruptcy or Deed of Trust foreclosure
Special Warranty Deed
Grantor responsible for defects during his ownership. 3 covenants and Warranty of Further Assurance. Used in land contract transactions and conveyance of property by trustee or relocation
General Warranty Deed
Grantor fully guarantees clear title but not physical condition - 3 Covenants, 2 Warranties and greatest protection to purchaser
Quit Claim Deed
Pass only right, title and interest grantor has at time of release, not any subsequent title or interest acquired. To remove defects in title. NO covenants or warranties, little protection to grantees. Can convey but not designed for that - used to release minor interests in RE
Gift Deed
Between relatives - Good consideration only, hard for grantor to enforce promises
Disclaimer Deed
denies legal responsibility. Used in marriage to deny spouse’s interest in property to prevent future claims on property. Signed at time of purchase. No Covenants or Warranties
Correction Deed
Re-recording of deed to correct mistakes of original deed
Fiduciary Deed
When one person represents another to hold or manage money or property. (Attorney, Broker) Confidentiality forever
Recordation
Provides constructive notice and establish buyer’s priority. Not mandatory and does not guarantee validity of title but lends enforceability of claim to title. Becomes part of Chain of title
Affidavit of Value
When deed recorded it must have notarized Affidavit of Value, attests purchase price, signed by buyer, seller or their agent. Sent to county assessor’s office for taxes.
Affirmation of Value
If for personal or religious reasons, they oppose sworn statements, this can be used in writing instead of Affidavit of Value
Involuntary Alienation - Natural Causes
Erosion - Gradual wearing away of soil
Avulsion - Violent, sudden loss of land Acts of God
Accretion - acquire land by soil deposits by movement of rivers, streams and actual soil deposited is Alluvium .
Reliction of receding of water from usual watermark in rivers, streams, littoral bodies of navigable lakes and oceans and recipients own added land.
Involuntary Alienation - Operation of Law
Use Bargain and Sale Deeds: Property Tax Foreclosure (Treasurer's Deed) Bankruptcy (Trustee's Deed) Mortgage Foreclosure ( Sheriff's Deed) Trustee's Sale (Trustee's Deed) Judgment Execution (Sheriff's Deed)
Escheat
With no will or heirs, property reverts to state
Eminent Domain
Govt acquires through condemnation Proceedings if owner refuses to sell
Adverse Possession - rare
Prescriptive suit files against existing property owner. Claimant must prove possession of land was open, hostile (without permission), notorious, active, continuous (Tacking) for 10 years. Suit claims “by right of claim” i.e. person has no legal title but claims the right.
Descent
No will. Administrator by probate to closest relatives: spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts. subject to probate approval.
Will
Executor with probate supervising transfer. Exception is JT with ROS.
Devise
Real Property in will. Donor is devisor, recipient is devisee.
Bequest
Personal Property. Giver is bequestor, recipient is bequestee.
Legacy
Cash in will. Giver is legator, receiver is legatee.
Types of Wills
Formal - requires signature of maker and 2 witnesses who are not heirs
Holographic - must be handwritten by testator and requires only testator signature
Nuncupative Will - not recognized in AZ for conveyance of real property, oral will when death is imminent
Codicil - Supplement seldom revokes original will, requires signature of maker and two witnesses.
Title - Constructive notice
Legal notice to world at large - carries the most weight
Title - Actual Notice
Direct knowledge already known - person is living on a specific parcel of land
Quality of buyer’s claim to title
Recorded Deed and Actual Notice - strongest claim and has constructive notice in recorded deed and actual notice
Evidence of Title Seller Offers to Buyer
Abstract of Title and attorney opinion called Certificate of Title
Torrens Certificate - not used in AZ as they have title insurance
Title Insurance - most widespread evidence.
Title Insurance -
Covers past instead of future