Chapter 3 Flashcards
allodial system
form of ownership
- all land in U.S is held under the alluvial system
- created by England in 13th century, king decided that individuals do not have to pay duties to the king or fight in the king’s wards in order to own land
police power
right of the government ot regulate and control the way land is used
- most common example of police power is zoning
- examples: wetlands legislation, environmental protection legislation, and health and fire codes
setback
amount of space required between the lot line and the building line.
buffer zone
area of land separating one land use from another such as residential from commercial
eminent domain
right of the government to take private land for public use
condemenation
action of taking the land
-examples schools, parks, hospitals, government buildings, roads, and utilities
4 Government rights to property
P-police power
E-eminent domain
T-taxation
E-escheat
inverse condemnation
landowner sues the government, to force the government to buy his land
Taxation
right the government retains to tax real property
-assessed value is property value for tax purposes
special assessment tax
local government is providing a benefit to a limited number of property owners, such as curbs or sidewalks in a neighborhood
municipal improvement district
property owner will receive a tax bill, similar to a special assessment until the improvement is paid for or the improvement district designation is removed
escheat
if a person dies interstate (without will) and without heirs, the government will take title to his real property under the right of escheat
estate
interest, or nature of the interest a person has in real property. 4 categories- 1. freehold estates 2. leasehold estates 3. statutory estates 4. equitable estates
freehold estate
individual owns real property
- ownership of property includes certain rights or privileges
- bundle of rights associated with ownership
- fee simple is considered best type of ownership as it places the least number of limitations on the owner
- ownership is always an estate of inheritance
indefeasible
cannot be defeated unless someone as a more significant legal claim
life estate
ownership for the duration of someone’s life
- owner is called life tenant
- has all rights and privileges, duties, and responsibilities of a fee simple owner, except that the ownership terminates upon the death of the life tenant.
leasehold estate
- possession without ownership
- real property that is less than a freehold estate
- lessor-person giving the use
- lessee-tenant
4 categories of leasehold estates
- estate for years is any lease with a specific starting and ending date
- periodic estate- lease that automatically renews itself for like periods. ex; month to month or week to week lease
- estate at will-very loose agreement.
- tenancy at sufferance-created when a lease expires and the tenant remains on the premises.
holdover tenancy
still asking you to move even though you paid
-which is sometimes considered a periodic estate.
requirements of a valid lease
- competent parties (lessor and lessee) -landlord and tenant
- let and take agreement
- adequate consideration (rent)
- legal purpose
- description of the property (street address is sufficient)
sublet
assigned
- transfer of some or all of the rights and or lease space under a lease to another with liability remaining with the original tenant.
gross lease
one which the landlord pays all the expenses of the property
- tenant simply pays a flat rent
- tenants under a net lease pay rent plus a portion of the expenses of the property such as taxes, maintenance, or utilities
- percentage lease- tenants rent is based in whole or part on the business receipts
- tenant may pay a base rent plus a percent of receipts or merely a percent of receipts or a base rent plus a percent of receipts above specific minimum.
statutory estates
created by statue or law
- two most familiar to us in Texas are community property and homestead
- homestead laws exist in many states
- homestead protection is limited to one property per person or family.
Texas Homestead Exemption
tax benefit that should not be confused with homestead protection.
dower and curtesy
English law
equitable estate
freehold owner will often grant specific rights in property to others.
-rights or privileges create an interest that is less than ownership or possession but nonetheless exists.
lien
claim against property to secure payment for debt
- a lien is an encumbrance
- mortgage becomes a lien when it is recorded
option
gives a buyer the right to purchase a property within a preset period at a preset price
easement
gives one the right to use or pass over another’s property for a specific purpose
easement in gross
belongs to a person or corporation and does not belong to the land
easement appurtenant
right for the benefit of a piece of land.
dominant
two parcels of land with a road across one parcel the owner who crosses over the other owner’s land is dominant.
-dominant estate would be landlocked without the easement
servient
property with the road is servient to the dominant estate.
-dominant estate benefits from the easement while the servient estate is encumbered.
encumbrance
place limitations on property owners
-a claim, lien, charge, or liability attached to and binding real property
covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&R’S)
deed restrictions that control the use of property and architectural style
- most common private controls of land
- found in a a document called Declaration of Restrictions and are imposed by the grantor, who is usually the developer of the subdivision.
appurtenance
right or privilege or improvement that belongs to and passes with land, but is not necessarily part of the land.
ex: easements and leases that are binding on a new owner when the property is sold. Fixtures and improvements are also appurtenances.
encroachment
intrusion of one’s property onto another’s property.
-neighbor’s fence that crosses a boundary, or tree limbs extending over a boundary are examples of encroachments.
-encroachments must always be disclosed. A survey is required to determine if an encroachment
exists
single-family hoe
embodies the “American Dream”
- most subdivision of home of similar price/style
- not attached to another dwelling like a townhouse or condominium
condominiums
multifamily complexes with individually owned units
- may be new construction or conversion of existing property ex: apartment complex
- 3 interests created when sold: 1. fee simple ownership of the unit. 2 Fee simple ownership in an undivided interest in the common area such as parking lots, swimming pools, and community centers. 3. An easement to the airspace occupied by the unit
cooperatives
share characteristics as condominiums with a difference in ownership. Cooperatives do not own property, owned by a corporation.
townhouse
single-family homes, sold as a distinct living unit on an individual lot. Units share a common wall (party wall) Owner owns the land beneath the structure.
mixed-use development
building types or combinations of buildings that allow for a mix uses. Residential, office, retail, and entertainment venues are located in proximity to each other.
timeshare
gives owner right to occupy a property for a specified time interval often by a week
capital gain
an assist is sold the sale results in capital gain or loss for the seller. When a primary residence is sold capital gain on the sale may be exempt from federal income taxation. Tax exempt limits are -250,000 for an individual return -500,000 if married and filing jointly
-home must have been the principal residence of the seller for at least two of the five years prior to the sale.
equity
financial value of real estate minus the su of all mortgage debt
- equity is the difference between the financial value and the sum of all mortgages on the property.
- equity build-up occurs through a combination of loan amortization and appreciation.
- equity is affected by the property’s market value
homeowners insurance
contract between the insurance company and the policy holder
-protect them from losses related to the structure, personal possessions, and liability.
windstorm damage
not covered by standard Texas homeowners policies. Most do not offer windstorm coverage. The majority of windstorm insurance policies are underwritten by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) TWIA is a pool of all property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies authorized to write coverage in Texas.
flood insurance
covers direct physical loss caused by flood, which is defined as an excess of water o land that normally is dry
personal property coverage
contents coverage is not included with building property coverage. “renters insurance” When a tenant leases a home or apartment the landlord’s insurance policies protect the landlord from loss; personal property of the tenant is not included.
estate in severalty
involves ownership of real estate by one individual or entity
co-ownership
involves ownership of real estate by two or more entities
tenancy in common
first and most common type of co-ownership
-common in ownership of real estate by two or more entities in undivided interests. Own real estate in undivided shares
joint tenancy
- less common ownership by more than one
- right of survivorship of the tenants
- 4 units required: 1. time-owner must acquire their interest at the same time. 2 title-they must acquire their interest from the same source (will, contract, deed, etc) 3. interest- they must hold equal shares 4. possession- possession of the property must be shared equally.
community property
concept of Spanish law and marriage is regarded as a partnership. Most property acquired during the marriage is owned equally by both spouses and cannot by conveyed or sold without the signature of both parties.
trust
entity created for the benefit of another. All trusts include an individual known as a trustor.
sole proprietorship
venture that is owner by one individual. Owner has total control of the business. Downside of the form of ownership is that the owner also has full liability for the financial and personal obligations of the business.
partnership
more easily created than a corporation and can be created with a simple written or oral agreement. Must have one or more general partners. General partner may take part in the day to day management of the business and has full personal liability for partnership related issues including everything from financial obligations to personal injury lawsuits
corporate ownership
are created by filing with the office of the secretary of state. 3 components: 1 shareholders (stockholders) who are the owners of the corporation 2. A board of directors- elected by the shareholders who represent the interests of the shareholders 3. corporate officers- who are responsible for the overall management of the operation of the business.
agency
relationship exists when one person (the agent) acts for or on behalf of another person (the principal)
client
principal is also known as the client
fiduciary
relationship based on trust, agent must always remain loyal to the principal.
universal agent
full authority to conduct business on behalf of the client
-universal agent can sign documents and bind the client in the same manner in which the client would do in person.
general agent
individual has the right to represent a principal in a particular type of transaction or business. Example: general agent in real estate is the property manager. Primarily responsible for preserving the value of an investment property while generating income as an agent for the owners
special agent
relationship is the most limited of all the agency relationships and is also referred to as “limited agency”
OLD CAR
agents duties O-obedience L-loyalty D-disclosure C-confidentiality A-accounting R-reasonable care
express authority
specific oral instructions given to the agent by the principal
implied agency
behavior of the parties creates implied agency relationship. License holder behaves in a manner that makes a party reasonably believe that he or she is being represented an implied agency relationship may have been created.
ostensible agency
exists when actions lead another person to assume that one is an agent
agency by ratification
agent acts without prior authorization and upon learning of this action the principal accepts it