MBE Real Property Flashcards
Types of Defeasible Fee Estates
Fee Simple Determinable (durational language: “so long as” “while” “until”)
Fee Simple Subject to Condition Subsequent (conditional language: “provided that” “but if” “on the condition that”)
Fee Simple Subject to Executory Interest (future interest in a third party)
Types of Future Interests
Fee Simple Determinable: possibility of reverter in Grantor (automatic)
Fee Simple Subject to Condition Subsequent: right of reentry in Grantor (must be exercised)
Fee Subject to Executory Interest: Executory Interest
Life Estate: remainder in third party or reversion in Grantor
Types of Waste
Affirmative: overt conduct causes a decrease in property value
- Vested future interests can sue for damages
- Any future interest can sue for injunction
Permissive: permitting the premises to deteriorate through neglect, etc.
Ameliorative: change in the use of a property that increases its value
Vested v. Contingent Remainders
Vested: not subject to any conditions precedent + ascertainable grantee
Contingent: subject to a condition or non-ascertainable grantee
Vested Subject to Open
Happens with class gifts where the class may grow further Once a class closes, future possible members have no claims
Rule of Convenience
Closes a class when any class member is entitled to immediate possession as a way around RAP
Doctrine of Worthier Title
Creates an presumption of reversion to the grantor; preventing remainders in a grantor’s heirs
The Rule in Shelley’s Case
Prevents against remainders in a grantee’s heirs, using merger to create a fee simple in the grantee
RAP Exceptions
Charity-to-Charity
Options of current tenants to purchase a leasehold
Options in commercial transactions
Future interests that revert to the grantor
Specific dollar amounts given to each class member
RAP Applies to:
Applies to contingent remainders, executory interests, and class gifts (subject to open) if not protected by the Rule of Convenience
The Rule Against Perpetuities - Common Law
Future interests are valid only if they must vest or fail by the end of a life in being plus 21 years
The Rule Against Perpetuities - Statutory
Wait and see approach
Changes the time frame to 90 years
Doesn’t automatically fail, only fails if it doesn’t vest or fail by 90 years
Common Violations of RAP
"Survival beyond age 21" condition Fertile Octogenarian Unborn Spouse Defeasible fee followed by executory interest Conditional passage of interest
Cy Pres
Equitable doctrine used to reform a transfer to avoid violating RAP
The Four (sometimes Five) Unities
Possession Interest Title Time (Person - for Tenants by the Entirety)
Tenancy in Common
Default co-tenancy No right of survivorship Each holds undivided interest with unrestricted rights of possession to the whole Interest freely devisable/transferrable Only need unity of possession
Joint Tenancy
Requires express language (usually “with rights of survivorship”)
Yes right of survivorship
Interest is alienable but not devisable/descendible
Must have all 4 unities
Loss of any of the unities severs to Tenants in Common
Jurisdictions differ on what a lease does (either severs or temporarily suspends
Tenancy by the Entirety
Requires all 4 unities plus marriage
Must be married at the time of granting
Neither can alienate or encumber the property without the other’s consent
Many states presume conveyance to a married couple creates TE and divorce turns it into a TC
Rights & Obligations of Co-Tenants
- Possess the entire property
- Liable for third party rents after deducting operating expenses/repairs
- Can collect contribution for operating expenses (taxes) BUT if in sole possession, only if they exceed the rental value of the property
- Compel others to share in expenses for repairs ONLY IF: (i) necessary (ii) seeks accounting or partition
- No right to reimbursement for improvements
- Duty of fair dealing, but not fiduciary
- Buying back at tax/foreclosure sale requires giving other cotenants the chance to buy back their interests
- Can get a court to unilaterally partition
Fair Housing Act Protected Traits
Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Disability, Familial Status
Allows for both disparate treatment and impact
FHA Exemptions
- Single-family housing sold/rented without a broker
- Owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer living units
- Religious organizations/private clubs
Only religious organizations/private clubs can discriminate in advertisements
FHA Prohibits
Refusing to rent, sell, or finance a dwelling
Requiring different rents
Falsely denying that a unit is available
Providing different services to facilities
Stating discriminatory preference in an advertisement
Tenancy for Years
Any fixed period of time
Automatic termination at the end of the term
Can be terminated before end (i.e. breach)
Created by express agreement
Must be in writing if longer than 1 year (SOF)
Periodic Tenancy
Ongoing estate by set periods of time with no predetermined termination date
Automatic renewal at the end of each period absent termination notice
Created by express agreement, implication (no duration mentioned), or by law (holdover)
Notice must be given before last period begins to terminate (need a full period at least)
Tenancy at Will
No specific term
Continues as long as parties want
Created by express agreement or implication
No notice required at CL, notice required by most states now