Unit 3: Interests in Real Estate- 2%

Question 1

Condemnation

Answer 1

A judicial or administrative proceeding to exercise the power of eminent domain, through which a government agency takes private property for public use and compensates the owner.

Question 2

Covenants, Conditions, And Restrictions (CC&Rs)

Answer 2

Private agreements that affect land use. They may be enforced by an owner of real estate that benefits from them and can be included in the seller’s deed to the buyer.

Question 3

Deed Restrictions

Answer 3

Clauses in a deed limiting the future uses of the property. Deed restrictions may impose a vast variety of limitations and conditions—for example, they may limit the density of buildings, dictate the types of structures that can be erected, or prevent buildings from being used for specific purposes or even from being used at all.

Question 4

Easement

Answer 4

A right to use the land of another for a specific purpose, such as for a right-of-way or utilities; an incorporeal interest in land because it does not include a right of possession.

Question 5

Easement Appurtenant

Answer 5

An easement that is annexed to the ownership of one parcel and allows the owner the use of the neighbor’s land.

Question 6

Easement By Necessity

Answer 6

An easement allowed by law as necessary for the full enjoyment of a parcel of real estate (e.g., a right of ingress and egress over a grantor’s land).

Question 7

Easement By Prescription

Answer 7

An easement acquired by open, notorious, continuous, hostile and adverse use of the property for the period of time prescribed by state law.

Question 8

Easement In Gross

Answer 8

An easement that is not created for the benefit of any land owned by the owner of the easement but that attaches personally to the easement owner. For example, a right granted by a property owner to a friend to use a portion of the property for the rest of the friend’s life would be an easement in gross.

Question 9

Eminent Domain

Answer 9

The right of a government or municipal quasi-public body to acquire property for public use through a court action called condemnation, in which the court decides that the use is a public use and determines the compensation to be paid to the owner. 

Question 10

Encroachment

Answer 10

A building or some portion of it—a wall or fence, for instance—that extends beyond the land of the owner and illegally intrudes on the land of an adjoining owner or a public street or alley

Question 11

Encumbrance

Answer 11

Anything—such as a mortgage, tax, or judgment lien; an easement; a restriction on the use of the land; or an outstanding dower right—that may diminish the value or use and enjoyment of a property.

Question 12

Escheat

Answer 12

The reversion of property to the state or county, as provided by state law, in cases in which a decedent dies intestate without heirs capable of inheriting, or when the property is abandoned.

Question 13

Estate In Land

Answer 13

The degree, quantity, nature, and extent of interest a person has in real property.

Question 14

Fee Simple

Answer 14

The highest interest in real estate recognized by the law; the holder is entitled to all rights to the property.

Question 15

Fee Simple Absolute

Answer 15

The maximum possible estate or right of ownership of real property, continuing forever.

Question 16

Fee Simple Defeasible

Answer 16

See defeasible fee estate.

Ownership that comes on a condition

Question 17

Fee Simple Determinable

Answer 17

A fee simple estate qualified by a special limitation. Language used to describe the limitation includes the words so long as, while, or during

Question 18

Fee Simple Subject To A Condition Subsequent

Answer 18

An estate carrying the limitation that, if it is no longer used for the purpose conveyed, it reverts to the original grantor by the right of reentry.

Question 19

Freehold Estate

Answer 19

An estate in land in which ownership is for an indeterminate length of time, in contrast to a leasehold estate.

Question 20

Future Interest

Answer 20

A person’s present right to an interest in real property that will not result in possession or enjoyment until sometime in the future, such as a reversion or right of reentry.

Question 21

Homestead

Answer 21

Land that is owned and occupied as the family home. In many states, a portion of the area or value of this land is protected or exempt from judgments for debts other than those secured by the property

Question 22

Inverse Condemnation

Answer 22

An action brought by a property owner seeking just compensation for diminished use and value of land because of an adjacent property’s public use.

Question 23

Legal Life Estate

Answer 23

A form of life estate established by state law, rather than created voluntarily by an owner. It becomes effective when certain events occur. See dower, curtesy, and homestead for legal life estates used in some states.

Question 24

License

Answer 24

(1) In real estate practice, the privilege or right granted to a person by a state to operate as a real estate broker or salesperson. (2) The revocable permission for a temporary use of land—a personal right that cannot be sold.

Question 25

Lien

Answer 25

A right given by law to certain creditors to have their debts paid out of the property of a defaulting debtor, usually by means of a court sale.

Question 26

Life Estate

Answer 26

An interest in real or personal property that is limited in duration to the lifetime of its owner or some other designated person or persons.

Question 27

Police Power

Answer 27

The government’s right to impose laws, statutes, and ordinances, including zoning ordinances and building codes, to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

Question 28

Pur Autre Vie

Answer 28

“For the life of another.” A life estate pur autre vie is a life estate that is measured by the life of a person or persons other than the grantee.

Question 29

Remainder Interest

Answer 29

The remnant of an estate that has been conveyed to take effect and be enjoyed after the termination of a prior estate, such as when an owner conveys a life estate to one party and the remainder to another.

Question 30

Reversionary Interest

Answer 30

The remnant of an estate that the grantor holds after granting a life estate to another person

Question 31

Taking

Answer 31

Process of land being taken from a property owner for public use through eminent domain with the requirement that the owner be compensated fairly

Question 32

Taxation

Answer 32

The process by which a government body raises monies to fund its operation.

Question 33

A property owner can seek compensation when the property’s value has been diminished because of an adjacent public use by claiming

Answer 33

inverse condemnation.

Even though property is not used when constructing an adjacent public improvement, such as a highway, its value may be significantly diminished because of the existence of the improvement.

Question 34

The owner of fee simple title to a vacant lot adjacent to a hospital decided to make a gift of the lot to the hospital. The deed conveyed ownership of the lot to the hospital “so long as it is used for hospital purposes.” After completion of the gift, the hospital will own

Answer 34

a fee simple determinable.

A determinable fee estate has a special limitation and may end automatically if there is noncompliance with that stipulation. Language such as so long as or while characterize this estate. The hospital’s ownership of the lot would come to an end if the property were to be no longer used for hospital purposes, and the lot would immediately become the property of the former owner or that owner’s heirs.

Question 35

A claim against another’s property is known as

Answer 35

an encumbrance.

An encumbrance is any right to, or claim against, property held by someone other than the property owner.

Question 36

A tenant who rents an apartment from the owner of the property holds

Answer 36

a leasehold interest.

The leasehold interest held by a tenant is not revocable like a license and lasts for a fixed period. It is less than a life estate and so is not a freehold, but unlike an easement, it gives its holder the right to possess the land.

Question 37

A patient died in a nursing home. The deceased left no will and had no heirs. What happens to the deceased’s $250,000 estate?

Answer 37

It escheats to the state or county.

Because the patient died without a will and there are no heirs, the $250,000 becomes the property of the state or county.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT an encumbrance on real estate?

Answer 38

Fixture

An encumbrance is a right in, or claim against, property held by someone other than the property owner.

Question 39

The right of a government body to take ownership of real estate for public use is called

Answer 39

eminent domain.

The right is eminent domain; the process by which the right is exercised is condemnation. Escheat and police power are other examples of government limitations on rights of private ownership.

Question 40

The state’s authority to enact legislation to protect the public is passed through to municipalities and counties by

Answer 40

enabling acts

The state passes police power to local counties and municipalities by enabling acts. Licensing laws are an example of police power.

Question 41

The process by which government takes control of a property after the owner dies without a will or lawful heirs is

Answer 41

escheat

Escheat is a process by which the state may acquire privately owned real or personal property. State laws provide for ownership to transfer, or escheat, to the state when an owner dies and leaves no heirs (as defined by the law) and there is no will or living trust instrument that directs how the real estate is to be distributed.

Question 42

One who has ownership rights of real estate that could continue forever and which provide that no other person can claim to be the owner of or have any ownership control over the property has

Answer 42

fee simple absolute

Fee simple is an absolute ownership—an inheritable interest “with no strings attached.” A life estate is noninheritable; fee on condition subsequent and determinable fees are both estates involving another person with an interest called “possibility of (either reverter or) re-entry.”

Question 43

A family owns a house across the street from a lake but has the right to use the lakefront homeowner’s driveway to access the lake because of the existence of

Answer 43

an easement.

An easement is the right to use the land of another for a particular purpose.

Question 44

A property on Main Street that was formerly a retail store will become the site of a new city hall, made possible by the government’s power of

Answer 44

eminent domain

Eminent domain is the right of the government to acquire privately owned real estate for public use.

Question 45

The new owner of a property installs a fence on the property. By mistake, the fence extends one foot over the lot line onto a neighbor’s property. The fence is an example of

Answer 45

an encroachment.

To build over a property line is to encroach on the property of another.

Question 46

What are deed restrictions?

Answer 46

Private agreements affecting the use of the land

Deed restrictions are private agreements written into a deed and are privately enforced. Examples of public restrictions include zoning and building codes.

Question 47

State environmental protection laws are examples of

Answer 47

police power.

The power to enact legislation to preserve order, protect the public health and safety, and promote the general welfare of citizens is police power.

Question 48

Every state has the power to enact legislation to preserve order, protect the public health and safety, and promote the general welfare of its citizens. That authority is known as a state’s police

Answer 48

power.

Every state can enact legislation to preserve order, protect the public health and safety, and promote the general welfare of its citizens by the authority of its police power.

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT a governmental power?

Answer 49

Dedication

Governmental powers are police power, escheat, eminent domain, and taxation.

Question 50

Upon the death of the life tenant, the property returned to the grantor. The type of interest held by the grantor in the life estate must have been

Answer 50

a reversionary interest.

If the estate returns to the grantor, it is known as a reversionary interest. If the estate goes to another party, that party has a remainder interest.

Question 51

A claim against real property to secure repayment of a debt is

Answer 51

a lien

A lien secures payment of an indebtedness.

Question 52

A mortgage or deed of trust recorded against real property to secure the payment of a debt is

Answer 52

a lien

A lien secures payment of indebtedness.

Question 53

Government powers include police power, eminent domain, taxation, and

Answer 53

escheat.

A governing body is able to enact laws to protect the public’s welfare through its police power, take property for a public use by its right of eminent domain, enact taxes to provide for maintenance of public services, and take over ownership of property when an owner dies and no heir can be found.

Question 54

A state’s authority to enact legislation to preserve order, protect the public health and safety, and promote the general welfare of its citizens can be passed on to municipalities and counties through legislation called

Answer 54

enabling acts.

The state’s authority to enact legislation for the common good can be passed on to municipalities and counties by means of enabling acts.

Question 55

Which of the following is a legal life estate?

Answer 55

Homestead

Homestead rights are granted by statute in some states to provide some protection to debtors and their families against the execution of judgment liens on their homes by the action of unsecured creditors.

Question 56

A license is an example of

Answer 56

a personal privilege

A license is a personal, revocable right of use. It is temporary in that it can be withdrawn at will by the one who issued it.

Question 57

The holder of a right of reentry of real estate (or the holder’s heir or successor) can assert the righ

Answer 57

by bringing a legal action in court.

With a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent, the estate does not automatically terminate upon violation of the condition of ownership. The owner (or the owner’s heir or successor) has the right of reentry but must bring a legal action in court to assert the right.

Question 58

An individual’s or company’s interest in or right to use someone else’s land that is not adjacent to or near property of the individual or company is an easement

Answer 58

in gross.

Commercial easements in gross may be assigned, conveyed, and inherited. Person easements in gross are usually not assignable and terminate on the death of the easement owner.

Question 59

Condemnation is the process by which the government exercises the right of

Answer 59

eminent domain.

Condemnation is the process by which the government exercises the right of eminent domain to take possession of property that will be put to a public use, on payment of just compensation to the owner of the property.