Real estate, or immovable property, is a legal term (in some jurisdictions) that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings. Real estate (immovable property) is often considered synonymous with real property (also sometimes called realty), in contrast with personal property (also sometimes called chattel or personalty). However, for technical purposes, some people prefer to distinguish real estate, referring to the land and fixtures themselves, from real property, referring to ownership rights over real estate.

The terms real estate and real property are used primarily in common law, while civil law jurisdictions refer instead to immovable property. Property law, the area of the common law that governs real property, differs from contract law in that it focuses primarily on rights that one person holds over all other people, as opposed to specific individuals.

Background

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In recent years, many economists have recognized that the lack of effective real estate laws can be a significant barrier to investment in many developing countries. In most societies, rich or poor, a significant fraction of the total wealth is in the form of land and buildings. In most advanced economies, the main source of capital used by individuals and small companies to purchase and improve land and buildings is mortgages -- bank loans for which the real property itself constitutes collateral. Banks are willing to make such loans at favorable rates in large part because if the borrower does not make payments the lender can foreclose, that is, file a court action that lets them take the property and sell it to get their money back. However, in many developing countries, there is no effective means by which a lender could foreclose, so the mortgage loan industry as such either does not exist at all or is only available to members of privileged social classes.

More on [ Real estate ]

NYT > Real Estate

Property Values: What You Get for ... $1.3 Million
By MIKE POWELL Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:41:27 -0000
A three-bedroom Victorian in Valley Center, Calif., a condo in Seattle and a stone carriage house in Nyack, N.Y.
Buying? You?
By VIVIAN S. TOY Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:09:20 -0000
Why on earth would rent-stabilized tenants suddenly decide to buy?
Living Along | Grand Concourse, the Bronx: Deco at a Discount
By ELIZABETH A. HARRIS Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:29:25 -0000
In the last 10 or 20 years, things have started to turn around for the Grand Concourse, which suffered in the 1970s and ’80s.

Home mortgage rates and real estate news - CNNMoney.com

Fixing the mortgage mess
Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:40:49 -0500
Lounging in his giant conference room in an otherwise bland office suite near Long Island's Nassau Coliseum, Lewis Ranieri cultivates the image of a worldly philosopher. The 62-year-old financier prides himself on being a big thinker who conjures elegant solutions to epic problems.
Housing outlook for 2010
Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:31:54 -0500
In a dour year for the economy, the housing market has offered some glimmers of hope. Home sales have improved, recently hitting their highest level in more than two years. There's been talk of bidding wars resuming in places like Silicon Valley and New York City. And cocktail party chatter everywhere has started to turn to talk of a bottom. So at least where housing's concerned, things are looking not so bad -- right?
What you want for the holidays
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:40:10 -0500
In a stay-put real estate market, some of the best gifts are home-improvement tools.

Forbes.com: Real Estate News

Where Americans Are Getting Richer
Francesca Levy Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0000
Incomes for educated workers are growing fastest in these metros.
Cities Recovering From The Foreclosure Crisis
Francesca Levy Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:00 -0000
In these metro areas, both modest incomes and stable real estate markets are improving the outlook for borrowers.
Listed: A Yogi's Paradise In Suburban New York
Francesca Levy Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:00:00 -0000
This easygoing Westchester spread offers surprising amenities.

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