Definition of "Property Title"

The term “property title” is relatively common and often used in the real estate industry, which is why it’s useful to know what it really means. While the term itself is known, it is also confused with “property deed” but they are not interchangeable. So what is a property title? 

The definition of property title is the legal right of ownership by an individual or party of a property that is either owned or partially owned. This legal right is not only evidence of ownership and lawful possession, but it also lays down the rights other people have that share ownership of the property in regards to the way the property is used, sold, or modified.

Property title can be about ownership, occupation, or possession, along with the right of possession. The most common types of titles are personal property titles and real property titles, and we’ll look at each of them.

Personal Property Title

The meaning of personal property title is an individual’s right of ownership over things that are not real property. These are movable personal property, and it isn’t generally taxed. Personal property can be corporeal (jewelry, animals, merchandise) or incorporeal (patents, copyrights, stocks, bonds).

Real Property Titles

Unlike personal property, real property, as it refers to cars and real estate, comes with a title that shows ownership. In case the real property is sold, the title is reassigned to the new owner. The real property that is sold must be owned entirely by the seller and not extending to a credit line.

Types of Real Estate Titles

There are several types of real estate titles, some of which might be familiar to you or at least sound familiar even if you’re unaware of what they meant. We’ll take a look at them and explain everything.

 

  • Tenancy in common - When two or more people share a real estate, each holds a “tenants in common” title for their part of the property
  • Tenants by entirety - When a married couple shares a real estate, the real estate title is shared by the two. Upon death, the remaining spouse gets the whole title.
  • Joint tenancy - When two or more people share a real estate, each having equal rights over the property.
  • Community property - A property purchased during marriage is split between the two spouses, each having the right to sell or transfer their half of the property to another.

 

  • Sole ownership - one individual or business is holding the real property title.

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

When you hear a real estate agent talking about a client that's an empty nester, it means said client suffers from empty nest syndrome. But what is Empty nest syndrome? Empty nest ...

Federal government agency monitoring and regulating corporate financial reporting and disclosure, use of accounting principles, auditing practices, and trading activities. Its regulations ...

Latin: now for then. Descriptive of actions which are performed after a deadline has elapsed, but retroactively have the same effect as if they were carried out in a timely manner. For ...

Loose combination of small rocks and pebbles used for a gutter, driveway, landscaping, or roadbed. ...

Company formed for the purpose of owning securities of one or more real estate corporations and assuming control over their practices and management. The other corporations are generally ...

A method of brick construction where the bricks are laid with their sides facing outward. ...

Amount received by a seller of real property in the form of credit rather than cash. Interest is typically received on the note. If a house is sold for $300,000 of which $100,000 is cash ...

Economic principle determining the market prices of goods, services, and property. The principle states there is a pricing relationship between supply and demand for real property. Economic ...

The Asset Depreciation Range (ADR) was introduced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 1971. It was designed to help businesses determine how long to use certain assets, like equipment ...

Popular Real Estate Questions