Real Property Flashcards
Can a LL restrict cotenants’ ability to transfer their rights under the lease with an express lease provision?
Yes - and only the LL, as a beneficiary, may enforce the provision, not a co-tenant
Subrogation allows a third party to take a senior mortgage’s priority when the third party:
(1) fully pays off the senior mortgage, and
(2) has no actual knowledge of junior interests
When a mortgagor transfers mortgaged property to someone who assumes the mortgage:
The transferee becomes primarily liable for the mortgage and the mortgagor becomes secondarily liable as a surety
If the mortgagor pays the mortgage debt after the transferee defaults, mortgagor can seek reimbursement
In a race-notice jurisdiction, a bona fide purchasor who:
(1) lacks notice, and
(2) records first will prevail
*A BFP cannot rely on a forged or altered document to establish priority since that document is void
The equitable right of redemption allows a debtor to avoid foreclosure by:
Paying the FULL amount of the outstanding debt
*This means that a tenant can only redeem co-owned property by paying the amount owed by ALL tenants
A subsequent assignment of the same right:
revokes any prior revocable assignment (gift)
Seller of residential property can disclaim the duty to disclose known material defects if:
(1) the disclaimer is clearly and specifically stated in the sales contract, and
(2) the seller has not fraudulently misrepresented or concealed the condition of the property
“No conveyance or mortgage of real property shall be good against subsequent purchasers for value unless the same be first recorded according to law”
Race recording statute
Fixtures built on real property and items incorporated into structure become part of realty, but can be removed if:
(1) seller reserves the right to remove fixtures in the sale contract, or
(2) leased property can be restored to former condition without damage in reasonable time
Distribution of Foreclosure Proceeds
Process (attorney), senior mortgage, junior mortgage
Tenants have a duty to:
Pay rent, avoid waste, and make repairs in non-residential leases
Absolute duty to repair clause in residential least will likely be void
A co-tenant can only compel other co-tenants to share expenses for repairs if:
(i) the repairs are necessary, and
(ii) the co-tenant seeks accounting or partition
*No right to reimbursement for improvements or overuse
Fee simple determinable
Limited by specific durational language (so long as, while, during, until)
- Automatically terminates upon happening of stated event
- Future interest: grantor retains possibility of reverter
FS subject to condition subsequent
Present fee that is limited by specific conditional language (upon condition that, provided that, but if, if it happens that)
- Future interest: right of entry
A life estate holder’s (life tenant) rights/duties include:
Right to possess, right to collect rent, lease/sell/mortgage, duty not to commit waste, obligation to pay all ordinary taxes on the land
Reversion
Held by grantor who transfers LE without conveying the remaining FI to a third party
Possibility of Reverter
FI retained by grantor when FSD is conveyed
Right of reentry
FI retained by grantor after a FSSCS is granted
Remainder
FI that becomes possessory upon the natural expiration of a prior estate that is created in the same conveyance in which the remainder is created
If transferee assumes the mortgage, then:
then transferee becomes primarily liable and borrower becomes secondarily liable
*IF borrower makes payments, she can seek reimbursement from transferee
In a general warranty deed, what are the present and future covenants?
Present:
(1) Seisin - grantor owns land described in deed
(2) Right to convey - grantor has right to transfer title
(3) Against encumbrances - no undeclared encumbrances against land
Future:
(1) Quiet enjoyment - grantee not disturbed in possession by third party
(2) General warranty - grantor will defend against third party claim
(3) Further assurances - grantor will do whatever future acts reasonably necessary to pass title if later determined title is imperfect
What are the requirements of a real covenant?
(1) Writing,
(2) Intent,
(3) touch and concern (benefit or burden must affect promisee/promisor as owners of land),
(4) Notice (for the burden only, must be constructive or actual),
(5) Privity
- Modern trend requires no privity
- A subsequent PURCHASER of property who does not have notice of a burdening covenant is not bound by it if protected by the recording act
Equitable servitude
Covenants about land use that are enforced by injunction (no privity required)
(i) writing,
(ii) intent for restriction to be enforceable by and against successors,
(iii) must touch/concern, and
(iv) if the servitude is to be enforced against a purchaser, the purchaser must have notice
Pursuant to the statute of frauds, a land sales contract must:
(1) be in writing,
(2) signed by the party to be charged,
(3) and contain all essential terms (parties, property description, terms of price/payment)