CA DRE Exam Flashcards
A trade fixture is
Not an appurtenance.
Appurtenance
An Accessory or adjunct that is attached and incidental to something that has greater importance or value. As applied to real property, an object attached to or a right to be used with land as an incidental benefit but which is necessary to the complete use and enjoyment of the property.
When a landowner has been given an Easement for the passage of light and air over an adjoining lot, the easement is an appurtenance to the land. Other common appurtenances to land include barns, outhouses, fences, drainage and irrigation ditches, and rights of way.
A Lease Is…
(a) A less than freehold estate; AND (b) an Estate for Years; and (c) an Encumbrance; and (d) Personal Property; and (e) an Interest in Real Property; AND (d) Chattel Real
To be VALID, a Grant Deed Must Be:
(1) Written
(2) Signed by Grantor
(3) Have adequate description of property
(4) Name Grantees
To be EFFECTIVE, a Grant Deed must be
(1) Delivered to the Grantee
To be RECORDED, a Grant Deed must be
(1) Acknowledged
(2) Contain a Legal Description
Delivery is presumed when its is recorded.
What do an Estate for Years and an Estate at Sufferance have in common?
Neither require a notice to vacate.
Unlawful detainer action is used by…
An Offended Lessor
Can a Lessee Grant an Easement? And if they can, with what restrictions?
They can, but only for the term of the lease.
What is the minimum number of days for an eviction?
15 Years
What events can sever joint tenancy? Which cannot?
A lien DOES NOT sever a Joint Tenancy.
A foreclosure DOES sever a Joint Tenancy
What are the four unities of a joint tenancy?
Time, Title, Interest and Possession
Qualities of a Joint Tenancy
(1) Absolute right of survivorship.
(2) Cannot be willed.
(3) One JT can sell interest without consent of other JTs.
(4) Never presumed by Courts to be JT.
(5) Corporation cannot be JT.
Qualities of Tenancy in Common
(1) Only one unity - possession
(2) Shares may be equal or unequal
(3) Presumed by courts to be TIC if no method mentioned in Deed.
Community Property
Only husband and wife. Each may will their interest
How long must a broker retain copy of contract after termination of an independent contractor?
Three years
How long must all records be kept?
Three Years
Examples of deceptive advertisements
(1) “No down payment” if buyer is advised to borrow the down payment.
(2) “move right in” when major repairs are needed.
(3) Obtaining a loan “over the phone” when further verification is required.
(4) “Free gifts and prizes” is NOT DECEPTIVE if DISCLOSURE MADE to all parties.
Failure to advertise when a Broker promises to do so is…
Actual Fraud
A Pocket Listing is…
a property where a broker holds a signed listing agreement (or contract) with the seller, whether that be an “Exclusive Right to Sell” or “Exclusive Agency” agreement or contract, but where it is never advertised nor entered into a multiple listing system (MLS), or where advertising is limited for an agreed-upon period of time
Unethical Behavior
Broker’s duties re: w/c insurance
Required for licensed AND non-licensed employees.
Desk Cost
The cost to the broker for having a salesperson in the office.
How is Desk Cost determined?
By taking total cost of rent, utilities, salaries, etc. and dividing by number of salespersons (deks)
Company Dollar
Income after commissions are deducted.
May a broker share commissions with a buyer or other unlicensed persons?
Yes, a broker may share commission with a buyer if the seller is informed. A broker may pay money to unlicensed persons if full disclosure is made.
What requirements for an employee to make withdrawals from a broker’s trust fund account?
Employee must be bonded
What disclosures are required re: death?
Must disclose if someone died on the property within the past THREE years.
What is the AIDS exception?
If someone died of AIDS, it must only be disclosed when asked.
When can a DRE licensee represent the sale or purchase of a used mobile home?
When the mobile home has been registered with DMV or HCD.
When must a copy of a contract be given to someone?
When they sign it.
What are the minimum age rules for real estate contracts?
(1) No minimum age for divorced person.
(2) No minimum age for a married person.
(3) Minimum age for a never married person is 18.
-Contracts signed by minors are void.
Rules re: presenting offers
Offers are MATERIAL FACTS and should be presented at teh same time. If that is not possible, seller must be informed of any offers “coming in” before accepting existing offer.
Rules re: Offers with Deposits
(1) Offers with post-dated checks, promissory notes or no deposit should be taken by the agent and presented to the seller. Seller should be informed fo the status of deposit (i.e., it was a post-dated check, etc…)
Hold Harmless Clause
protects the agent from liability for material facts known by the seller but undisclosed to the agent or buyer.
What is the effect of a counter-offer?
Automatically terminates the offer.
Is performance an essential element for a valid CONTRACT?
No.
What is the effect of a liquidated damages clause?
If initialed by buyer and seller, then buyer has agreed to forfeit deposit if he defaults. THe broker and seller then split the deposit.
What is the Courts’ view of liquidated damages?
They are disfavored.
In the event of a loss, who is liable and why?
Under UNIFORM VENDOR AND RISK ACT OF 1947, the PARTY IN POSSESSION of the property is liable in the event of a loss.
Novation
When one broker is replaced by another broker.
What does a Seller Carryback Mortgage create?
A SPECIFIC VOLUNTARY LIEN.
Eminent Domain is…
“the power to take private property for public use by a state, municipality, or private person or corporation authorized to exercise functions of public character, following the payment of just compensation to the owner of that property.”[1] The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, economic development. Created by 5th amendment, taking must be for public use and just compensation must be paid.
It is not ZONING OR A POLICE POWER.
Mechanics Liens/Timeline
There is a limited amount of time to file mech lien.
A mechanic’s lien dates back in priority to the beginning of work and are on a parity with each other.
What are requirements for effecting a Mechanic’s Lien?
(1) Must be verified (validated) and (2) recorded.
Is a confrontation with the owner required for a prescriptive easement?
No.
Prescriptive Easement
an easement upon another’s real property acquired by continued use without permission of the owner for a period provided by state law to establish the easement. The problems with prescriptive easements are that they do not show up on title reports, and the exact location and/or use of the easement is not always clear and occasionally moves by practice or erosion.
Inverse condemnation
An action for inverse condemnation “is an eminent domain proceeding initiated by the property owner rather than the condemner. The principles which affect the parties’ rights in an inverse condemnation suit are the same as those in an eminent domain action.
Some common areas an individual might sue a public entity for inverse condemnation include flooding, mud slides and debris flow, backed up sewer lines, broken water mains, landslides, brush fires, emission of noxious gas, and other similar disasters.
Forces the government to buy the property. Statute of limitations is 3 years.
Covenants
Real covenant is a term used in real property law to describe a promise concerning the use of land. Real covenants are classified as either affirmative, a promise to do something (e.g. build a fence) or negative, a promise to not do something (e.g. not use the land for commercial activity).
Do all covenants run with the land?
NO
Condition
an event which may alter a person’s interest in the property. Examples: If daughter-in-law Beatrice terminates her marriage to Reggie Fauntleroy, her interest in the real property will terminate and revert to the grantors, Mom and Dad Fauntleroy.
Do all conditions run with the land?
YES
What is an Easement Appurtenant?
An easement appurtenant attaches to the land permanently and benefits its owner. In order for it to exist, there must be two pieces of land owned by different individuals. One piece, the dominant estate or tenement, is the land that is benefited by the easement. The other piece, known as the servient estate or tenement, is the land that has the burden of the easement. An easement appurtenant is a Covenant running with the land since it is incapable of a separate and independent existence from the land to which it is annexed. A common example would be where one landowner—A—is the owner of land that is separated from a road by land owned by B. If B sells A a right of way across his or her land, it is a right that is appurtenant to A’s land and can only be used in connection thereof.
Does an easement appurtenant run with the land?
Yes, it transfers with the transfer of the DOMINANT TENEMENT.
Easement in Gross
An easement in gross is not appurtenant to any estate in land. It arises when a servient piece of land exists without a dominant piece being affected. This type of easement is ordinarily personal to the holder and does not run with the land. For example, if A has a number of trees on his or her property and B contracts with A to enter A’s land to remove timber, B has both an easement in gross and a profit. At Common Law, an easement in gross could not be assigned; however, most courts currently allow certain types of easements in gross to be transferred.
Does an easement in gross run with the land?
No, it runs with the person/entity.
What is the most common holder of easements in gross?
utility company to service property owners.
Is an unlocated easement valid?
Yes
Can an easement be terminated by release from the servient tenement?
No
What is the priority for government liens
(1) Always take priority over other liens; and
(2) Multiple government liens will have parity.
Escrow requirements
(1) Buyer and seller must execute escrow instructions.
(2) Executed escrow instructions means that all terms and conditions have been fulfilled.
(a) Escrow instructions are NOT recorded and NOT notarized
Termite Reports
(1) Should be ordered by seller PRIOR to placing property on the market.
(2) If escrow receives two reports, escrow must get written instructions from buyer and seller
(3) Preventative work is paid for by buyer, but only if he chooses to get the work done
Who does escrow report transactions to?
The IRS
How does a Seller appear in a preliminary title report?
As the TRUSTOR
What is the effect of defects that are known to both buyer and seller but not disclosed to title company?
Excluded from title insurance policy.
Does a standard policy of title cover zoning?
NO
Who may grant an exception in the building code?
Local Building Inspector.
Who can initiate changes in zoning?
(1) Subdivider/developer
(2) Individual property owner
(3) Government
Downzoning
To change from high density use to a lower density use. Example Commercial to residential or R3 to R1.
What normally sets the highest building requirements?
Local building codes.
Injuction
Court order used to enforce private deed restrictions
What does the Real Estate Commission do when it discovers a subdivider is doing something illegal?
The commissioner issues a desist and refrain order.
What is the effect of a completion bond held by a contractor?
The insurance company is responsible for completion of the project.
Rules for a LAND PROJECT
(1) Advertisements must be approved in advance by RE Commissoiner.
(2) Land project has a 14 day right of rescission for the buyer.
What is a megalopolis?
A very large city
Are sidewalks part of the common area of a condominium project?
Yes
What must sellers give to a condominium buyer?
(1) CC&Rs
(2) By Laws
(3) Financial Statement
What is unique about how title is held for a condominium?
Only time where one purchases a fee simple interest and an In-common interest at the same time.
Holden Act
Housing Financial Discrimination Act.
Prohibits discrimination in lending (redlining)
What is the effect on an innocent buyer of seller and seller’s agent being guilty of discrimination?
No effect if buyer innocent.
What is the penalty for quoting discriminatory prices (i.e., high price to minorities and low price to whites)?
Makes both seller AND agent liable for damages.
What is the process for filing a complaint about discrimination?
(1) Complaints about discrimination can be filed at the state and federal level.
(a) State Level - Department of Fair Employment & Housing; Within 60 days.
(b) Federal Level - Department of Housing and Urban Development; Within 1 Year.
Sales Tax apples to what?
Tangible personal property.
Real estate syndications are regulated by who?
The Corporations Commissioner.
What is a fee appraiser?
An appraiser who is self-employed and charges a fee. The fee is established through negotiation between appraiser and the party hiring the appraiser.
Using unacceptable method to appraise property in order to influence lender on a government guaranteed or insured loan is what?
A FELONY
What is the most important factor influencing value?
LOCATION.
What are essential elements of value?
(1) Utility
(2) Scarcity
(3) Demand
(4) Transferability (DUST/STUD Mnemonic)
—-
Expectation is NOT an element of value.
Economic Life
Depends ont he owner’s repair policy and the age, use and condition of the property. It is assigned by the appraiser and used for depreciation. Usually shorter than physical life
If two houses are constructed identically on adjacent properties and ten years later both houses are placed on the market, one at considerably less value than the other, what is the most likely reason for the discrepancy?
Physical deterioration.
Functional Obsolescence
Occurs inside the property lines
Economic Obsolescence
Occurs outside the property lines. It is the hardest to cure
What is an example of functional obsolescence
changes in construction styles.
Examples of economic obsolescence
A poor sewer system in the area and non-conforming improvements in close proximity to a property
What methods are used to appraise land?
(1) Market Data (Comparison)
(2) Land residual
(3) Development method
(4) Allocation
not Equity
What do Market Data, Comparison, Market Comparison all have in common?
Different names for the same approach in appraising
What are Market Data/Comparison based on?
Principle of substitution
-Compares one property with another Used for vacant land and single family residences
Capitalization/Income/Capitalization of Net Income
Names for the same approach used to appraise income producing properties. Converts income to value. Value determined by dividing the net income by the desired (capitalization) rate of return
Economic rent
is Market Rent - determined by comparison.
Contract Rent
is the amount of rent actually paid
Gross Rent Multiplies
“GRM” is the ratio of the price of a real estate investment to its annual rental income before expenses:
Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) = Sale Price / Potential Gross Income
Not as accurate as appraisal but gives quick value idea. With GRM, a property value may be estimated using the following related formula:
Sale Price = Gross Rent Multiplier x Potential Gross Income.
Replacement Approach/Cost Approach/Replacement Cost Approach
names for the appraisal approach used to appraise special purpose properties (library, schools, church, etc.) and new residential property
Replacement cost
Amount to construct a comparable structure of equal utility
Reproduction Cost
Amount to construct an exact replica Usually higher than replacement cost
Warehouse Rental
Based on square footage
Warehouse Appraisal
Based on cubic footage
Is there concern with the economy when appraising a medical building?
No
Where does the FED buy or sell bonds?
Federal Open Market Committee
Deregulation of lending industry
Means no limit on the interest they can pay on deposits. It is the relaxing of rules by regulators
Revolving line of credit/open end mortgage
Open end mortgage - A type of mortgage that allows the borrower to increase the amount of the mortgage at a later time. Open-end mortgages permit the borrower to go back to the lender and borrow more money if certain conditions have been met. There is usually a set dollar limit on the additional amount that can be borrowed.
Negative amortizatin
Consists of payments that are less than what is due.