Chapter 3: Rights & Interests in Real Estate Flashcards
Name 4 Government rights/restraints on real estate.
- Police Power
- Eminent Domain
- Taxation
- Escheat
Police Power
the right of the government to enact laws and enforce them for the order, health, safety, and general welfare of the public
Examples of Police Power
- Zoning
- Building, fire, and health codes
- Rent controls
- Environmental protection
- Fair housing
- Real estate licensing
Eminent Domain
The right of the government to take privately owned property for the public good
Condemnation
The process used to carry out eminent domain
Enabling Acts
The process states use to pass to local governments the right to levy property taxes
Which lien is first in priority over all liens?
Property taxes
Escheat
When a person dies intestate and leaves no heirs or when property is abandoned, it reverts back to the state
Administrator
The person the court appoints to settle and manage the estate of someone who dies escheat
Estate
Synonymous with “bundle of rights”
Freehold Estate
Estate with actual ownership for an unpredictable duration
Fee Simple (Fee Simple Absolute)
- The largest/greatest estate one can hold
- Has the largest bundle of rights
- Least limited of all estates
- Has most complete/absolute ownership
- Can be inherited
What are the Fee Simple Bundle of Rights
- Occupy and Use 8. Exclude Others
- Build 9. Sell
- Grant Easements 10. Refuse to Sell
- Mortgage 11. Give away/abandon
- Mine, Drill, Farm 12. Rent or Lease
- Restrict Use 13. License
- Covenant 14. Devise by Will
Qualified Fee Estate (Limited Fee or Defeasible Fee)
An estate in land subject to certain limitations/conditions imposed by an owner
Owner must comply with conditions or have ownership reverted back to previous owner
When terms are breached, ownership automatically reverts back to previous owner
Also called (Fee determinable or Base Fee)
Possibility of Reverter
The owner conveying a qualified fee retains “interest” in the property. If conditions are breached, ownership automatically reverts back to previous owner.
- It can be sold or willed
- Uses terms “for so long as”
Fee Simple subject to a condition subsequent
A qualified fee that does not automatically revert back to the previous owner.
Previous owner must utilize courts to retain interest
Right of Reentry
The previous owner in a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent has the right to regain ownership if conditions are breached
Life Estate
Conveys an estate for the duration of someone’s life
- Cannot be inherited
- Cannot create any interest in the property that extends beyond the measuring life
The person holding a life estate is called?
Life Tenant
If upon death of a life tenant, ownership reverts back to the previous owner, he/she has what type of interest?
Reversionary Interest
If upon death of a life tenant, ownership reverts to another person, he/she has what type of interest?
- Remainder Interest
2. Person is referred to as a “Remainderman”
What is Life Estate Pur Autre Vie
When the duration of a life estate is based on the life of person other than the life tenant.
What is waste when referred to a life tenant
Any act that substantially impairs the value of the real estate
What is estover
The right of a life tenant to use timber on the land for necessities such as fuel or repairs