Land, Real Property, and Real Estate Flashcards
Define Land
Earths surface extending downward to the center of the Earth and upward towards infinity.
Define Real Estate
Everything in the definition of land plus all things permanently attached to it naturally or artificially. Artificial attachments are called improvements (fencing, buildings, walkways)
Define Real Property
Real estate plus the interests, benefits, and rights included with real estate ownership
What are the interests, benefits, and rights included in real estate ownership?
Possession (right to occupy the property), enjoyment (right to use the property in any legal way), exclusion (right to refuse others entry or use of), control (right to determine how the property will be used by owner or others), disposition (right to dispose of any interest in the property)
Define personal property
Everything that is not real property
What is real property
Land, and everything that is permanently attached to the land whether artificially or naturally.
List the five tests (MARIA) used to determine whether an item is a fixture (Real property) or personal property.
Method of annexation,
Adaptability of item to lands use, Relationship of the parties,
Intention in placing item on land, Agreement of the parties
Describe the method of annexation (attachment)
Is the item attached to the property and how permanent is the attachment?
Describe adaptability of item to lands use
Adaptation is related to how the item is situated or adapted to the real property. EX: garage door openers or remote controls of other built in features attached to the property
Describe relationship of the parties
The relationship of all parties is an element used to determine if an item is real or personal property.
Describe trade fixtures
Removable personal property that a tenant attaches to leased commercial premises in order to conduct business
-essential for tenant business ops
-detachable without damaging the property
-moved out within a certain period of time
Describe intention in placing item on land
The intention of the party who installed the item is regarded as the most important consideration in determining whether the item should stay or go.
Describe agreement (bill of sale)
If parties have agreed that an item will stay or go then that meets the legal test, this agreement should be in writing, AKA a bill of sale.
Describe emblements
Cultivated crops - they are personal property even tho they are part of the soil
Define Severance
When an item that was real property becomes personal property by detaching it from the land