After successfully completing this topic, you will be able to
• differentiate between voluntary and involuntary alienation,
• explain the various methods of acquiring title to real property and describe the conditions necessary to acquire real property by adverse possession,
• distinguish between actual notice and constructive notice,
• distinguish between an abstract of title and a chain of title,
• explain the different types of title insurance,
• describe the parts of a deed and the requirements of a valid deed,
• list and describe the four types of statutory deeds and the legal requirements for deeds,
• list and describe the various types of governmental and private restrictions on ownership of real property, and
• distinguish among the various types of leases and liens.

Key Terms

abstract of title	granting clause
acknowledgment	grantor
actual notice	gross lease
adverse possessions	ground lease
alienation	habendum clause
assignment	intestate
chain of title	lien
condemnation	net lease
construction lien	percentage lease
constructive notice	police power
deed	quiet enjoyment
deed restriction	quitclaim deed
easement	seisin
eminent domain	sublease
encroachment	testate
escheat	title
further assurance	variable lease
general warranty deed	warranty forever
grantee

Overview

In this unit, you’ll learn about the various ways you can obtain the title to real property. The unit will describe the ways to give legal notice of your ownership rights. Because title to real estate usually involves substantial sums of money, you’ll learn how to be certain that your title is protected after the purchase, usually by buying title insurance. You’ll also learn about the different types of deeds and the various government and private restrictions on your ownership. In the last part, you’ll learn about the different types of leases.