A cadastral system relates to the official recording, surveying, mapping, and legal definition of land ownership and property boundaries. The term originates from the concept of a cadastre, which is a comprehensive public register documenting parcels of land,...

An azimuth is a directional measurement used in surveying, navigation, and geospatial mapping to describe the angular relationship between a fixed reference point and a line of travel or boundary. Measured in degrees clockwise from true north, azimuths range from 0°...

Equitable conversion is a legal doctrine in real estate law stating that once a valid and enforceable purchase contract is executed, the buyer is regarded as the equitable owner of the property, while the seller retains legal title primarily as security for payment of...

Express authority is the specific authority that a principal intentionally grants to an agent, either orally or in writing, allowing the agent to act on the principal’s behalf in designated matters. In real estate, express authority is most commonly created through...

An easement in gross is a type of easement that grants a person or entity the legal right to use another person’s land for a specific purpose, but does not benefit any adjoining parcel of property. Unlike an appurtenant easement, which is tied to neighboring land and...

An encumbrance is any claim, restriction, lien, or legal interest held by someone other than the property owner that affects the title to real property or limits the owner’s use of the property. Encumbrances may reduce the property’s value, restrict transferability,...

Conformity is a principle of real estate appraisal which holds that property values are generally maximized when properties within a neighborhood or market area are similar in style, size, age, quality, and use. The principle is based on the idea that consistency...