This voice narrated slideshow looks at the history and source of Real Property law in the United States.

What is property law? This video introduces people's rights concerning land and personal property.

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- History".

English real-estate law was imported, through colonization, into the earlier forms of law in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Many of these states, or their territories, have since modified this historical law, to varying degrees. A study of the old feudal land system of England provides us with an invaluable glimpse of legal history regulating the most valuable asset of them all: land.In medieval times, land was the sole form of wealth.

The term real estate generally refers to ownership or use of land. Real estate law is a branch of civil law that covers the right to possess, use, and enjoy land and the permanent man-made additions attached to it.

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- Acquisition".

A deed is a legal instrument that transfers some property right in real estate. This article outlines the most common types of property deeds and how they are typically used.

This article explains some of the elements that contracts for the sale of a home must contain, and offers advice on how to get the most favorable contract as a buyer.

A house is the most expensive purchase most people make in their lifetime. Since the purchase is so large, securing funding for your home may take longer than the actual sale. The company that manages the funds for the house until closing is called the "escrow company," "escrow agent," or simply "escrow."

This article gives a brief history of Quitclaim Deeds. It also explains how Quitclaim Deeds differ from General and Special Warranty Deeds.

This piece explains common words and terms used in typical real estate transactions.

This article addresses issues that can help you decide whether or not you need a real estate agent.

Trespassing, the act of entering someone's private property without permission, is illegal. But when a trespasser continues trespassing for an extended period of time, the law may give the trespasser the right to stay on (or pass through) the land. This right is known as "adverse possession".

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- Co-Ownership".

This article explains the following types of home ownership: Fee Simple, Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship, Tenancy in Common, as well as Tenancy in the Entirety.

What is joint tenancy with rights of survivorship? Can joint tenancy property pass to unintended heirs? Does joint tenancy ownership avoid probate? Can joint tenancy create unintended gift and estate taxes?

This article covers the basic differences between joint tenants and tenants in common.

This article discusses the risks involved in joint ownership and how a living trust may be a better option.

Video explains what an easement is and the different types of easements you may encounter.

What is an easement by necessity? This video introduces circumstances where, after a property is divided, a court may grant a claimant an easement provided he can demonstrate that the easement is necessary.

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- Limitations & Encumbrances".

An easement is a legal term describing a situation in which someone allows another party to use a portion of land that they legally possess.

An easement is commonly defined as a nonpossessory interest in another person's land. Easements are usually created by conveyance in a deed, or some other written document such as a will or contract.

A key question in the law of easements is whether the right to use the land (the easement itself) is express or implied. As is explained in more detail in this article, the main difference between the two is that an express easement is created by an agreement or document, while an implied easement arises through certain circumstances.

An easement by prescription is one that is gained under principles of a legal concept known as "adverse possession", under which someone other than the original property owner gains use or ownership rights to certain property. Prescriptive easements often arise on rural land when landowners fail to realize part of their land is being used, perhaps by an adjoining neighbor.

When land is transferred -- by purchase, lease, or otherwise -- one issue that should be kept in mind is that of easements that may (or may not) be tied to the land.

Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take private land for public use under certain circumstances. For example, the government may sometimes take someone's house in order to make room for a new highway or a bridge.

The power of eminent domain allows the government to take private land for public purposes only if the government provides fair compensation to the property owner.

An eminent domain action requires that the government's taking of property be for a "public use". A public use is generally one which confers some benefit or advantage to the public.

Although most often an eminent domain action is applied to real property (real estate, including buildings), any kind of property may be taken. This includes both tangible and intangible property, such as franchises and contracts.

An aggrieved party who objects to a government taking must have an opportunity to receive fair notice (a reasonable time to obtain legal advice and prepare a formal objection). Additionally, there must be opportunity for a fair hearing before the award (of compensation) becomes final.

Homeowners have highly protected rights with respect to their property. They generally have the right to defend the land against intruders, build upon the property, and use it for any lawful purpose. However, there are a limited number of circumstances under which the government can take a homeowner's property away.

Zoning ordinances typically divide an area into districts or zones -- residential, commercial, and industrial -- and require that property use conform to the zone type. Most of these laws derive from a desire to create a pleasant place to live -- very few people would like to live near a huge factory, for instance.

Land use and zoning involves the regulation of the use and development of real estate. Zoning regulations and restrictions are used by municipalities to control and direct the development of property within their borders.

Video introduces the vested remainder interest, where an identified person has an unconditional remainder interest in property.

What is a contingent remainder? This video discusses one type of future interest in land, the contingent remainder. The interest is contingent because a condition must be satisfied. Either something must happen first or the person who will get the land cannot be identified yet.

What is a reversionary interest? This video discusses one type of future interest in land, the reversionary interest.

What is a fee simple determinable? This video introduces the fee simple determinable, an interest in land that can end automatically if a certain event takes place.

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- Present & Future Interests".

This voice narrated slideshow looks at the rights and duties of Landlords and Tenants.

When it comes to evicting tenants, every landlord must follow applicable state and local laws by providing proper notice to the tenant and following the procedures necessary for a legal eviction.

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- Landlord-Tenant".

The rental agreement (or lease) governs the entire rental relationship from a financial and legal standpoint. This includes the amount of rent, when it is due, and how to pay it; how many people can live in the apartment, including rules for subletting; what each party’s duties are, and what to do if either party fails to perform.

Disputes between landlords and tenants can take many forms -- from upkeep and repair issues to non-payment of rent and potential eviction.

This article provides basic information about the eviction process. Click on the web-links provided in this article to learn more about the eviction process and the rights of the parties involved.

Landlord-tenant law is governed by state laws, and each state has slightly different requirements for both landlords and tenants. This affects all of the small details of the landlord-tenant relationships, such as whether tenants have a grace period for paying rent and how long that grace period is.

This voice narrated slideshow looks at the rights of Real-Estate lenders and borrowers.

PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Real Property -- Mortgages".

A mortgage is a transfer of an interest in real estate as security for the repayment of a loan. A typical mortgage transaction involves a home purchaser borrowing money from a lender and entering into a written agreement with the lender, so that the real estate is collateral for the loan.

This article briefly discusses what fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages are, their differences, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Private mortgage insurance is insurance for the lender in case you default on your mortgage payments.

A home equity loan allows the borrower to use the equity in their home to pay down their mortgage or to pay for other major financial expenses, such as college expenses, home remodels, and business ventures.

This article looks at the following types of lenders: Mortgage brokers (sometimes called "mortgage bankers"), Direct Lenders, and Secondary Market Lenders.

If you are considering applying for a personal loan and using your home to guarantee repayment, you should know that a federal credit law gives you three days to reconsider a signed credit agreement and cancel the deal without penalty. Your "right to rescind" or "right to cancel" is guaranteed by the Truth In Lending Act.

A "reverse mortgage" is a type of financing option that allows homeowners to borrow against the value of their house and may be a good option for certain homeowners. But unlike a home equity loan, in which the borrower must make payments on a regular basis, a reverse mortgage only needs to be paid back after the homeowner dies or sells the house.

Mortgage loan scams can take many forms and can involve multiple parties -- including buyers, sellers, investors, creditors, and real estate agents. Signs of potential mortgage fraud may include property flipping, equity skimming, and credit or income misrepresentation.

Trespassing is the legal term for the situation in which one person enters onto the land of another without permission or the legal right to be there. Depending on the circumstances and the law in place where the act occurs, trespassing may be considered a crime, a civil wrong (called a "tort"), or both.

There are both criminal and civil trespass laws. Criminal trespass law is enforced by police, sheriffs, or park rangers. Civil trespass requires that the landowner initiate a private enforcement action in court to collect any damages for which the trespasser may be responsible (regardless of whether a crime has been committed).

A hunting license is not a license to trespass, but state laws treat hunters differently when it comes to trespassing. Some states have laws that specifically address trespassing while hunting, and others rely simply on the general trespassing statutes of the state.