Grantor-grantee index is a tool used by most counties in the United States to record the transferring of property ownership. Every time someone sells their land, they or the loan company should record the sale with the county records office....
land use & zoning law
highway
A highway is any public street, road, or turnpike that any member of the public has the right to use. A highway is defined in 23 CFR § 924.3 as:
A road, street, or parkway and all associated elements such as a right-of-way, bridge,...home office
Home office in the legal setting most commonly arises regarding the potential tax deductions under § 280A(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 disallowed the employee business expenses deduction until 2026...
homeowners' associations (HOAs)
Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) are the governing body of many common interest communities (CIC), such as subdivisions, who manage the common areas and interests of the community. When a person buys property in a CIC, there is a legal...
hostile possession
A hostile possession is the action of an occupier who does not have the true owner’s consent or permission, but possesses or occupies the real property of the true owner. Since such an action has the intent to claim the property rights...
hotel and restaurant law
Hotel and restaurant law is an area of law that governs the operation of hotels, motels, inns, restaurants, and other establishments that offer shelter and accommodations for compensation. State law, as opposed to federal law, primarily...
improvement
In property and real estate law, an improvement is any positive permanent change to land that augments the property’s value. An improvement will cause positive change to the land, increase the value, and will allow the landowner to make...
incentive zoning
Incentive zoning is a land-use regulation strategy that allows property owners to receive certain benefits or exemptions from zoning restrictions in exchange for meeting certain public goals or objectives. It essentially provides an economic...
incidents of ownership
An incident of ownership denotes the possession or retainment of certain rights or benefits over property. This term is often used in life insurance or property disputes. For example, the right to the rent that comes from a mortgaged property is one...
incorporeal ownership
Incorporeal ownership is the ownership of a right. It is ownership which is intangible in nature. In other words, it is not ownership of a thing, but ownership in a right related to something. For example, if you own a piece of land, that is...