Chapter 2 - Property, Estates, & Ownership Flashcards
Chap 2 Vocab
Absolute Auction
An auction where the property is sold to the highest qualified bidder; there is no minimum bid or reserve or right of confirmation. Also called Without Reserve.
Acknowledgment
Recognition of validity; a document signer’s declaration to an authorized official (usually a notary public) that he is signing voluntarily. (1) A signed statement, made before a notary public, by a named person confirming the signature on a document and that it was made of free will. (2) A formal declaration to a public official (notary) by a person who has signed an instrument which states that the signing was voluntary.
Actual Notice
Actual knowledge of a fact, rather than knowledge imputed or inferred by law.
Constructive Notice
Knowledge of a fact imputed to a person by law. A person is held to have constructive notice of something when he or she should have known it, even if he or she did not know it. Everyone is considered to have constructive notice of the contents of recorded documents since everyone is expected to protect their interests by searching the public record. – Notice given by recording a document or taking physical possession of the property.
Concurrent ownership
When property is owned by two or more persons or entities at the same time.
Also known as co-ownership.
Bundle of Rights
All real property rights that are conferred with ownership, including the right of possession, right of quiet enjoyment, right of disposition, right of exclusion, right of control. Also called Bundle of Sticks.
An ownership concept describing all the legal rights that attach to the ownership of real property.
Air Rights
The right to undisturbed use and control of the airspace over a parcel of land (within reasonable limits for air travel); may be transferred separately from the land.
airspace
The interior area which an apartment, office or condominium occupies. Airspace is considered real property to a reasonable height. For example, an owner or developer of condominiums may sell the airspace as real property.
Avulsion
A natural process in which land is removed from one person’s property and deposited onto another’s. Avulsion happens very suddenly, as in a flash flood.
defined channel
Any natural watercourse, even if it is dry during a good portion of the year.
Appropriative Rights
Water rights allocated by government permit, according to an appropriation system. It is not necessary to own property beside the body of water in order to apply for an appropriation permit.
Appurtenance/Appurtenant
A right that goes along with ownership of real property; usually transferred with the property but may be sold separately. Anything used with the land for its benefit.
items transfer with the land when property is sold.
Appropriation
The right to use water for a beneficial use by diverting surface water.
As of Right Zoning
Refers to the landowner’s bundle of rights associated with a property; prohibits discrimination among landowners in a particular area.
Bill of Sale
A document used to transfer ownership of personal property from one person to another.
Chattel
Personal property.
This term is sometimes used in law to describe any interest in real or personal property other than a freehold.
Chattel Mortgage
A loan that uses only personal property as security.
chattel real
An item of personal property which is connected to real estate; for example, a lease.
Community Property
In some states, property acquired during marriage that is owned jointly by the married couple.
All property acquired by spouses during a valid marriage (excluding certain separate property).
Community property with right of survivorship
A law allowing spouses to hold title to their property.
doctrine of correlative
rights - Owner may use only a reasonable amount of the total underground water supply for his or her beneficial use.
Double Net Lease
A lease in which the tenant pays two of the expenses associated with property ownership, in addition to paying the rent. Also called Net-Net.
Emblement
A crop that is planted and cultivated through someone’s labor and industry that are cultivated annually for sale.
Considered to be personal property.
Also called Fructus Industriales.
Doctrine of Emblements
A rule that allows a tenant farmer to re-enter the land to harvest crops that were planted by the tenant farmer even after the land has been sold to a new owner.
Estate
A possessory interest in real property; either a freehold estate or a leasehold estate. Also called Tenement or Hereditament. – (1) The ownership interest or claim a person has in real property. (2) A legal interest in land; defines the nature, degree, extent and duration of a person’s ownership in land.
Estate at Sufferance
Retention of possession without the consent of the landlord after the lease has expired. Also called Tenancy at Sufferance. – A tenancy created when one is in wrongful possession of real estate even though the original possession may have been legal.
Estate at Will
An occupation of space, for an indefinite period, which can be terminated by either the lessor or lessee at any time. Also called Tenancy at Will. - The tenancy that may be ended by the unilateral decision of either party. There is no agreed upon termination date, and either party must give 30-days notice before ending the tenancy.
estate for life
A possessory, freehold estate in land held by a person only for the duration of his or her life or the life or lives of another.
Estate for Years
A leasehold estate set to last for a definite period (e.g., one week, three years), after which it automatically terminates. Also called Term Tenancy. – (1) A leasehold estate with a definite end date that must be renegotiated. (2) Commonly used for commercial leases.
Estate from Period to Period
A leasehold, which is automatically renewed for the same term as in the original lease; notice needed to terminate. Also called Periodic Tenancy, or Estate from Period to Period or Month-to-Month Rental. – (1) A leasehold estate that is automatically renewed for the same term; a conveyance for an indefinite period of time. This does not need to be renegotiated upon each renewal. (2) Commonly a month-to-month rental.
Estate in Fee
The maximum possible estate one can possess in real property. Also called Fee Simple or Fee Simple Absolute. – (1) The most complete form of ownership of real property. (2) A freehold estate that can be passed by descent or by will after the owner’s death. (3) Also known as estate of inheritance or fee simple estate.
estate of inheritance
(1) An estate which may descend to heirs. (2) Also known as perpetual estate.
fee simple
The greatest possible interest a person can have in real estate.
Fee Simple Absolute
The greatest estate (ownership) one can have in real property because it is freely transferable and inheritable, and of indefinite duration, with no conditions on the title. Also called Fee, Fee Simple, or Fee Title.– (1) The largest, most complete ownership recognized by law. (2) An estate in fee with no restrictions on its use. (3) Property transferred or sold with no conditions or limitations on its use.
fee simple defeasible
Also known as fee simple qualified.
Fee Simple Determinable
A defeasible fee that terminates automatically if certain conditions occur. The grantor (or his or her heirs) has a possibility of reverter. Also called Determinable Fee.
fee simple estate
The most complete form of ownership.
fee simple qualified
(1) An estate in which the holder has a fee simple title, subject to return to the grantor if a specified condition occurs. (2) Also known as fee simple defeasible.
Fee Simple Subject to a Condition Precedent
A condition in which the grantor retains title to the estate until a specific condition occurs.
Fee Simple Subject to a Condition Subsequent
A defeasible fee that the grantor may terminate if conditions stated in the deed are not met. The grantor (or his or her heirs) has a right of re-entry.
Fixture
A man-made attachment; an item of personal property that has been attached to or closely associated with real property in such a way that it has legally become part of the real property.
Floodplain
Land that is or has been covered by the 100-year flood, which is one that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. – Low land adjacent to a river, lake or ocean.
Floodwater
Water that overflows a defined channel.
Freehold
The full use of real estate for an indeterminate time. It differs from leasehold, which allows possession for a limited time.
Freehold Estate
A possessory interest in real property of uncertain (and often unlimited) duration; an ownership estate in real property; either a fee simple or life estate. The holder of a freehold estate has title. – An estate in real property which continues for an indefinite period of time.
fructus industrials
Crops produced by human labor such as lettuce and grapes.
Fructus Naturales
Naturally occurring plants (“fruits of nature”) generally considered part of real property. Also called Natural Attachments. – Naturally occurring plant growth such as grasses.
General Partnership
A partnership in which each member has an equal right to manage the business, share in the profits, and carry equal responsibility for the partnership’s debts.
Graduated Lease
A lease under which rental increases are made at scheduled intervals for specific amounts.
Group Home
A residential property where a small number of unrelated people in need of care, support, or supervision can live together.