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

---

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 ]

Germany News

1st Global Economic Symposium opens in Germany
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:34:59 -0000
First Global Economic Symposium opened in Ploen Castle, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on Wednesday, aiming to formulate concrete solutions to tackle global economic problems.
Germany's SPD to name Steinmeier to fight Merkel
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:58:26 -0000
Germany's Social Democrats will name Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday to run against Chancellor Angela Merkel in next year's federal elections, a party source told Reuters.
German Foreign Minister Steinmeier to run for chancellor next year: reports
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:10:21 -0000
German news media say Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be the Social Democratic party's candidate for chancellor in 2009.
Spacecraft in tryst with asteroid 'looking like a diamond'
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:33:01 -0000
PARIS * European scientists were jubilant yesterday after the pride of their space fleet, racing towards a rendezvous with a comet in 2014, enjoyed a 'close encounter' with an asteroid described as looking like ...
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan to begin Germany tour in Berlin
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:45:22 -0000
Indian megastar Shah Rukh Khan is to tour his live show, Temptation Reloaded 2008, through Germany starting with a performance in Berlin on October 17, promoters said Tuesday.
China, Iran discuss nuclear issue
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:16:06 -0000
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, greets Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People Saturday, Sept.

Subscribe to Germany RSS feed