Section 3: Acquiring Title to Real Property Flashcards
A Brief History of Deeds:
* When it comes time to buy and sell Real Property, historically, there has been a need to show proper evidence of who owns the property and does that person have the legal right to sell it, give it away, encumber it, trade it or otherwise ______ it.
* In the Feudal times, the seller of property would in the presence of witnesses, transfer a piece of the ground itself, an amount of soil, a twig, key, or other symbol, in the literal sense of a hand-to-hand passing and acknowledgement.
Alienate
A Brief History of Deeds:
* _____ = The act of transferring real property from one person to another.
* Fast forward to the mid 1500’s and the Statute of Uses become accepted and allowed sellers to transfer title with a “written” instrument, instead of the old customs.
Alienation
A Brief History of Deeds:
* Finally in 1677 under English Law (England), the “______” became common law and mandated that all real property that is conveyed MUST BE IN WRITING and the term Deed became widely used.
* This is still used today, a conveyance of real property must be in WRITING to satisfy this statute.
Statute of Frauds
______ = A written legal document that is signed and delivered and is used to convey
the ownership of real property and legal rights to another.
o MUST be Signed by the Grantor (Giv-OR) of the real property
o Must be Delivered to the new Grantee (Receiv-EE) of the real property
o The grantee does NOT need to sign this document, ONLY the grantor
Deed
- What is a Deed?
- The deed is the “Written Evidence” of the transfer (Think of it as a receipt for a purchase).
- As a carryover from the past, Deeds must still have several items to be considered valid, remember that the deed must be ‘__________’.
- Since we use escrow and title companies most often in Arizona, delivery of a deed is commonly sent by certified mail or by personal delivery to the grantee by the escrow agent at time of signing.
Signed, Sealed & Delivered
- _____ = The legal process of transferring “real property from one owner to another – not title.
- A Deed is the written document or instrument that is used to “convey” real property, the real estate or land
IMPORTANT: Notice we said NOT TITLE!! This is a HUGE CONCEPT you will learn soon
Conveyance
- What is a Deed?
______ = A form of voluntary alienation where by the owner of property deeds ‘dedicates’ the lands that are needed for roads, sewers, waterlines, and other utilities to the government as part of a land development.
Dedication
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The ______, is the most common type of deed used in Arizona as it offers the most protections, warranties or covenants (Voluntary). (It is a transfer or ownership done voluntarily usually)
Warranty Deed Or General Warrant Deed
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The _____ is commonly used by LLC’s, corporations, trusts, and
builders to grantees because it limits responsibility for claims to only that time which they owned it. It has the same covenants as the general warranty deed but it’s limited to only when the grantor owned or was in possession of the property (Flippers, Trusts, Wholesalers, ect).
Special Warranty Deed
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The ______ is the weakest protection for grantees as it only warrants that the grantor has the RIGHT TO CONVEY the property and property is encumbrance free except those that are already identified in the deed. Most deeds obtained from sheriff sale, tax sale, foreclosures etc. will issue a bargain and sale deed.
Bargain and Sale Deed
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The ______ actually quits or gives up a person’s interest in real property which means that there are zero warranties or covenants. This is used extensively when a property has a ‘cloud’ on title and a grantor will sign a quitclaim to remove that cloud (Divorce where one party ‘quits or gives up’ their interest in the property).
Quitclaim Deed
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The _____ = is the type of deed given to a party who is the successful bidder at foreclosure auctions in states that use Trust Deeds and not Mortgages.
Trustee’s Deed
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The ______ will be used when a married couple wants to keep property separate from the spouse but needs the spouse to acknowledge they don’t have ‘interest’ in the title so that party will sign a disclaimer deed.
Disclaimer Deed
Types of Deeds:
* Deeds can vary and differ according to the “covenants” or types of warranties made by the grantor of the deed:
o The _____ will be used to convey special circumstances; gift deed, court ordered deed, court appointed (seized property) deeds are examples.
Special Purpose Deed
Why A General Warranty Deed Is Best:
o The “General Warranty Deed” offers the most covenants to the grantee and includes:
The ______ = This covenant promises that the grantor owns the property and has the right to convey it.
Covenant of Seisin
Why A General Warranty Deed Is Best:
o The “General Warranty Deed” offers the most covenants to the grantee and includes:
The ______ = This promises the grantor will defend the grantee against all claims made by third parties.
Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
Why A General Warranty Deed Is Best:
o The “General Warranty Deed” offers the most covenants to the grantee and includes:
The ________ = This promises the property is free from encumbrances other than those identified in the deed.
Covenant Against Encumbrances
Why A General Warranty Deed Is Best:
o The “General Warranty Deed” offers the most covenants to the grantee and includes:
The _____ = This promises the grantor will compensate the grantee for a loss if the title fails at any time.
Covenant of Warranty of Title
Why A General Warranty Deed Is Best:
o The “General Warranty Deed” offers the most covenants to the grantee and includes:
The ______ = This promises the grantor will obtain and deliver any instrument needed to make title good.
Covenant of Further Assurance
What makes a Deed Legitimate:
* If you remember that the deed must be ‘signed, sealed and delivered’ it will help you understand the basic understanding of what necessitates a legal deed. The full list of requirements that ensure a clean and valid deed are:
- Must be ______ by the grantor
- Must be ______ to the grantee
- The _____ must be included in the deed
- Must be ______ as prescribed by the county where the transfer takes place
- Must clearly state on the document that it is a ______
- Must identify the fact that this ______ will be used to convey ownership rights
- A deed must have some form of ______ attached to it, which could be a dollar amount, or something else that has value, like “for my love and affection” (Arizona nominal value of this is $10 - Ten Dollars)
- Signed
- Delivered
- Legal Description
- Witnesses
- Deed
- Instrument
- Valid Consideration
What makes a Deed Legitimate?
* If you remember that the deed must be ‘signed, sealed and delivered’ it will help you understand the basic understanding of what necessitates a legal deed. The full list of requirements that ensure a clean and valid deed are:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
- Must be signed by the grantor
- Must be Delivered to the grantee
- The legal description must be included in the deed
- Must be witnesses as prescribed by the county where the transfer takes place
- Must clearly state on the document that it is a Deed
- Must identify the fact that this instrument will be used to convey ownership rights
- A deed must have some form of valid consideration attached to it, which could be a dollar amount, or something else that has value, like “for my love and affection” (Arizona nominal value of consideration is $10 - Ten Dollars)
Why Could a Deed NOT be Valid in Arizona:
* Challenges to deeds are often settled with the help of title insurance companies enforcing guarantees found in deeds.
o A forged or falsified deed is void and NOT valid.
o If a deed were issued to a false person or entity.
o A deed could be voided if the person’s ______ isn’t consistent on the deed.
Name
Why Could a Deed NOT be Valid in Arizona:
* Challenges to deeds are often settled with the help of title insurance companies enforcing guarantees found in deeds.
o A deed must not be left ______ – it must have a GRANTEE or is VOID (think car title transfer in AZ, it must be signed by the “receiv-ee” of the car, same as the house).
o The grantor must be of “sound mind and body” which means that they can’t be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, duress or other mental strains (could be void).
Blank
Why Could a Deed NOT be Valid in Arizona:
* Challenges to deeds are often settled with the help of title insurance companies enforcing guarantees found in deeds.
o Anytime a minor enters into a contract, that contract is void (however, if a deed were to be given to a minor, this is valid -parents will leaves property to children).
o Mental Capacity is challengeable and is often seen in headlines, by Arizona law, Only the _____can deem a person fit or insane.
Courts