Real Estate Law

The legal definition of real estate or real property is land and buildings. Real estate law affects the ownership of land and its sale and usage. Because property rights are some of our most important rights, there are federal, state, and local laws regarding real property. There are also more legal issues about the use and transfer of property than many other matters.

Real estate is an area of law that covers a wide range of legal disciplines. Real estate may be residential or commercial. It may be owned or rented. Zoning laws determine land use locally, but federal and state laws regulate environmental and natural resource use.

Not all real estate transactions require a real estate lawyer, but any property owner or renter should talk to an attorney before any decision about property.

Types of Property Law
Real estate law has its roots in English common law. In ancient times, kings granted their knights “fees,” and the knights could pass them on to their sons. Later, tenants won the right to pass estates to their families, a right still seen in the deed formula “tenants in common” or “tenants with right of survivorship.”

Today, property law includes other aspects of ownership and tenancy, including: