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Key Takeaways
- Fee simple ownership provides the owner will full enjoyment and control over the property.
- Fee simple owners can encumber the property as collateral for loans and can bequeath it to a beneficiary in a will, but they’re still restricted from breaking the law or ...
- Fee simple ownership is the most common form of ownership in the U.S.
What does fee simple mean in real estate?
What does "fee simple" mean in real estate? Fee simple is a legal term describing the most common and absolute type of property ownership. The owner's property rights are indefinite and can be freely transferred or inherited as the owner desires.
Is a fee simple estate a good thing?
As a matter of fact, having a fee simple estate is a good thing when it comes to property ownership. It means you own the property outright, and no one else has claim to it. It’s described by many different sources as the highest form of land ownership in common-law countries.
What happens when the owner of a fee simple dies?
Fee Simple. A fee simple represents absolute ownership of land, and therefore the owner may do whatever he or she chooses with the land. If an owner of a fee simple dies intestate, the land will descend to the heirs.
What is a fee?
fee simple. n. absolute title to land, free of any other claims against the title, which one can sell or pass to another by will or inheritance.

Is fee simple a good thing?
As a matter of fact, having a fee simple estate is a good thing when it comes to property ownership. It means you own the property outright, and no one else has claim to it. It's described by many different sources as the highest form of land ownership in common-law countries.
What is an example of a fee simple estate?
Fee Simple And Encumbrances For example, if a fee simple estate owner has a neighbor who has built a structure or put in a landscaping feature that goes over their property line, they are having their ownership rights encroached upon and are being prevented from having complete control over their own property.
How long does fee simple absolute last?
What are the two types of fee simple estate? Fee simple estates may either be absolute or conditional. A fee simple absolute estate exists when a grantee maintains full control over the interests of their land without restriction or limitation for an unlimited duration.
What is the difference between fee and fee simple?
Fee – A right in law to the use of land; i.e. a fief. Simple – in the unconstrained sense: without limit to the inheritance of heirs; unrestricted as to transfer of ownership.
Which type of estate Cannot pass by inheritance?
Which type of estate cannot pass by inheritance? A conventional life estate reverts back to the grantor automatically and immediately at the death of the life tenant. There is no interest remaining for the life tenant to pass on to their heirs.
What is the opposite of fee simple?
leasehold“In contrast [to freehold], leasehold is the opposite of fee simple in that the owners have complete access to the property but do not own the land,” says Eviston.
What does registered owner in fee simple mean?
Fee simple is a legal term used in real estate that means full and irrevocable ownership of land, and any buildings on that land. Fee simple is the highest form of ownership — it means the land is owned outright, without any limitations or restrictions other than local zoning ordinances.
What does estate in fee simple mean?
Fee simple is an interest in land. It is land owned wholly, without condition or limitation. Such unlimited estates are called absolute. Fee simples are generally created when deeds give the land with no conditions, particularly when using words such as 'to Jane Doe' or 'to Jane Doe and her heirs'.
What does seized in fee simple mean?
seisin. (sees-in) n. an old feudal term for having both possession and title of real property. The word is found in some old deeds, meaning ownership in fee simple (full title to real property).
Which is not a characteristic of a fee simple estate?
2) is of definite duration. Which is not a characteristic of a fee simple estate? It must be free of all encumbrances.
What is a fee simple on a condition subsequent estate?
Fee Simple Subject to Condition Subsequent: The estate is similar to a fee simple, but has a condition attached. Established by conditional language, these estates are followed by a right of entry. If the triggering event occurs, the holder must take steps to establish possession of the land.
Which type of fee simple estate doesn't go into effect until a specific event occurs?
The Fee Simple Determinable. A fee simple determinable is an interest in land that will end automatically if a certain specified event happens.
What's the meaning of a fee simple estate quizlet?
Fee Simple Determinable. Freehold estate that ends automatically on the occurrence of some event and title reverts automatically back to the grantor (a future interest known as a possibility of reverter).
What is the difference between a freehold estate and a fee simple estate?
A freehold estate is an estate in which you have exclusive rights to enjoy the possession of a property for an undefined length of time. In contrast, a less than freehold estate is held for a fixed, defined period. Fee simple absolute is the greatest interest in a parcel of land that one can possibly own.
What is an example of fee simple Defeasible?
A special limitation is one type of fee simple defeasible. With this condition, the original land owner does not have sue to take back the property if the deed condition is violated. An example of this is land sold with the special limitation that it is only to be used for agriculture.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a fee simple estate?
2) is of definite duration. Which is not a characteristic of a fee simple estate? It must be free of all encumbrances.
What is fee simple?
It’s described by many different sources as the highest form of land ownership in common-law countries. “Fee simple” may be only three short syllables, but it packs a lot of power. Here are some of the main characteristics of a fee simple ownership: 1. The property—and everything above and below it—is yours.
What does "fee simple" mean?
The term “fee simple” is typically found on a house’s official deed, one of those nondescriptive real estate terms whose meaning is not clear immediately —or even after a few hours’ pondering. You might have a dark suspicion, as a cash-strapped new homeowner, that fee simple means more fees. Well, rest assured it does not.
What happens if you strike oil on a fee simple property?
If you strike oil on your fee simple property, the proceeds are all yours! 2. You can pass the property along to your heirs. If you have fee simple ownership of a property, it becomes part of your estate, and you have the right to decide who inherits it after you die. Whether you pass it along to a friend, family member, charitable foundation, ...
Does Uncle Sam have a fee simple interest?
Although you have fee simple ownership interest, be aware that Uncle Sam still has the right to make demands of you and your property. For example, you have to pay taxes (duh), and you’re still subject to compulsory purchase (if the city decides to build a freeway through your property and offers to pay you fair market value for your place) or police action (as in, “Open up! This is the police!”).
Do you own the land on the surface of a house?
You may do with it as you please—although you’re still subject to laws and restrictions (more on those later). Not only do you own the property on the surface of the land, but you also own the air rights above and the mineral rights in the ground below.
Can you sell a house without restrictions?
You can sell the property without restrictions. Put your property on the market and sell it to any person or organization at whatever price you find acceptable. No one (except the government in certain instances) can tell you who can buy it or what price you can ask for it. Be aware that if you’ve purchased a townhouse, co-op, or condo, ...
Is fee simple ownership the most complete form of ownership?
But while you won’t be completely free from restrictions, know that fee simple ownership is the most complete form of ownership we have here in the United States. In nutshell: You bought it, you paid for it, it’s yours.
What is fee simple?
Fee simple is a legal term describing the most common and absolute type of property ownership. The owner's property rights are indefinite and can be freely transferred or inherited as the owner desires. The property may still be subject to government regulations like property taxes, and the owner can place voluntary encumbrances on ...
What is fee simple ownership?
Fee simple can be contrasted with lease ownership, meaning the owners have complete access to the land, but they don't actually own it. Owners of single-family residences have fee simple ownership, but condo and many townhouse owners don't, since they own only their individual unit, not the land on which the development is built.
What is the difference between fee simple and fee simple absolute?
Fee Simple Absolute. Fee simple and fee simple absolute are often used interchangeably. But there is a slight difference. That’s because there are two main types of fee simple ownership: fee simple defeasible and fee simple absolute. Fee simple absolute is more powerful and is the most common form of ownership in the United States.
What Is Fee Simple Ownership?
The real estate term fee simple describes a landowner’s complete and total ownership of a piece of land and all properties on it. The fee simple owner may do anything they wish on the land as long as it falls within established easements and zoning laws.
What is fee simple subject to condition subsequent?
Fee simple subject to condition subsequent is similar to fee simple defeasible in that owners again must meet certain conditions to retain ownership of their properties or land. But if owners violate these conditions, they might not lose their land. That’s because the former owners don’t automatically retake possession.
What does it mean to own a home?
If you buy a home, that means you own the land, the home and any other outbuildings on that land, including sheds, garages or coach houses. When you have fee simple ownership, you have the right to do whatever you want to your land and the properties on it.
Can you own land forever?
Under fee simple absolute owner ship, owners can own their properties and land forever – as long as they make their mortgage payments and pay their property taxes – and make any changes to them they’d like. Owners in a fee simple absolute arrangement can also include certain conditions on their property or estate when passing it down to an heir.
Do you have to pay to rent land?
If you enter into one of these arrangements, you'll have to pay a fee to rent the land. You'll own any home on the land, but when the lease ends, both the land and home will revert to the previous owner – unless you negotiate a new lease before the old one expires.
Can you lose your property if you file a lien on a fee simple property?
This doesn’t mean that owners can’t lose their properties and land. Government bodies and individuals can still file liens against fee simple properties if their owners fail to pay property taxes or commit other violations.
