Appurtenance In Real Estate

Definition of "Appurtenance in Real Estate"

Maybe you’re studying for your real estate exam, or you heard the word from your real estate agent and didn’t know what it means. Whichever your reason, we’ll go ahead and explain the appurtenance real estate definition. To put it simply, the term appurtenance is used for something that belongs to and is a part of something else. In real estate, appurtenance is used for a smaller and subordinate element that belongs to a building or piece of land.

Some examples of appurtenances in real estate are built-ins (appliances, swimming pools, light fixtures), fences, and unattached garages. These elements are a part of and belong to the building, property, or piece of land on which they are placed or built.

What is an Appurtenance in Real Estate?

To get into a deeper explanation of the term, appurtenances in real estate are either installed in or placed on the property. They are considered to be a part of the property, and when the property is sold, the appurtenances are sold with the house, included in the home’s price.

There are two types of appurtenances, tangible and intangible. Tangible appurtenances are trees, a barn, a water heater, a fireplace, or a furnace. Intangible appurtenances are easements. Because of this, appurtenances can be applied to items or property rights as they are permanent and are transferred along with the house to the next owner when the property is sold. 

Based on this, during the real estate transaction, through appurtenances, the ownership of certain elements is granted to the person who owns the property on which they are built or installed. An excellent example of how appurtenances work is when a renter installs a new water heater. Usually, once added to the property, under the legal application of appurtenances, the water heater can not be removed as it is considered part of the property. The same situation applies to in-ground swimming pools. The acreage behind a house or the lot on which the house is built is also considered an appurtenance of the house.


The term appurtenance can also be used for right of way and rights to access natural resources that were found in the land like minerals and oil or home improvements and, as mentioned before, easements.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Financial intermediaries who invest in deeds of trust and mortgages, and hold them in their own portfolio. Large financial firm that uses depositors' money to lend to borrowers. ...

Bond whose interest is free of federal, state, or local tax in the state of the issuer. It is typically a municipal bond of estate or county agency. For example, a New York City resident ...

Legal order for a person to present at a deposition or trial documents in his possession, such as related to a real estate transaction. ...

Note having more than one maker, if one or more of the makers default on the note, all makers are sued jointly, rather than just one or all, to make restitution ...

All of the conditions of the purchase and sale agreement have been fulfilled. The escrow agent prepares a written summary of the funds received in escrow, and the moneys paid out. The agent ...

A column designed to support a concentrated load. A pier column is made out of steel, steel reinforced concrete or wood. A structure extending out into the water supported by numerous ...

Extent to which soil has cavities or pores, thereby allowing water to pass through. soil productivity;Ability of the soil to accomplish the desired objective such as its capacity for ...

Compared to; relative to; against. ...

While trying to determine your net income, you might come across the term revenue, sales, or gross income. So what does revenue mean? Through revenue, we understand the income generated ...

Popular Real Estate Questions