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

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The economy has clobbered many young, single men. And when bachelors scale down, crash pads replace seductive lairs.
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Home mortgage rates and real estate news - CNNMoney.com

$8,000 homebuyers tax credit extended
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:21:32 -0500
President Obama signed an extension and expansion of the first-time homebuyers tax credit on Friday.
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Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:31:51 -0500
Many Americans love living in university towns, especially ones with big-time college football teams. One of the surprising attractions of these places is that they can be very affordable.
Avoid foreclosure: Rent your own home
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:59:13 -0500
Giving troubled borrowers yet another way to avoid foreclosure, Fannie Mae said on Thursday it would allow eligible homeowners to rent their own homes.

Forbes.com: Real Estate News

Listed: Long Island Tudor
Francesca Levy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0000
This brick classic offers a host of amenities in a prime Big Apple suburb.
America's Most Toxic Cities
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Poor air quality, lack of clean water and a high rate of superfund sites make these metros most contaminated.
Luxury Homes With Slashed Prices
Zack O'Malley Greenburg Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 -0000
Cuts of 20% and higher make these mansions within reach of more buyers.

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