{"id":358048,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/real-estate-and-real-property-law.html"},"modified":"2023-10-18T01:46:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T06:46:37","slug":"real-estate-and-real-property-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/real-estate-and-real-property-law.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is Real Estate and Real Property Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is Real Estate and Real Property Law?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Real estate law affects the ownership, sale, and usage of land. The legal definition of\u00a0real estate or real property includes land and buildings.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n

Real estate is an area of law that covers a wide range of legal disciplines. Real estate may be\u00a0residential<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0commercial<\/a>. It may be owned or rented.\u00a0Zoning laws<\/a>\u00a0determine land use locally, but federal and state laws regulate environmental and natural resource use.<\/p>\n

Not all real estate transactions require a real estate lawyer, but any property owner or renter should talk to an attorney<\/a> before making any big decisions about property. Read on to learn why property decisions can be more risky than they might seem.<\/p>\n

Types of Real Estate Law<\/h2>\n

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.”<\/p>\n

Today, property law<\/a> includes other aspects of ownership and tenancy, including:<\/p>\n