Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals
1. Air Rights The rights in real property to the reasonable use of the air
space above the surface of the land.
2. Bundle of Rights All of the legal rights incident to ownership of property
including rights of use, possession, encumbering and
disposition
3. Land The materials of the earth, whatever may be the ingredi-
ents of which it is composed, whether soil, rock, or other
substance, and includes free or unoccupied space for an
indefinite distance upwards as well as downwards.
4. Mineral Rights A landowner's right to receive a portion of the profits of
any minerals that are extracted from the land
5. Real Estate Land plus anything permanently attached to land
6. Real Property Land, things affixed to land, appurtenances, plus the bun-
dle of rights
7. Chattel Goods or every species of property movable or immov-
able which are not real property. Personal property.
8. Emblements The crops and other annual plantings considered to be
personal property of the cultivator
9. Fixtures Appurtenances attached to the land or improvements,
which usually cannot be removed without agreement as
they become real property; examples - plumbing fixtures,
store fixtures built into the property, etc.
10. Personal Proper- Any property which is not real property
ty
11. Trade Fixture Articles of personal property annexed by a business ten-
ant to real property which are necessary to the carrying
on of a trade and are removable by the tenant.
12. Master Plan A long-term planning document. It establishes the frame-
work and key elements of a site reflecting a clear vision
, Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals
created and adopted in an open process. It synthesizes
civic goals and the public's aspirations for a project, gives
them form and organization, and defines a realistic plan
for implementation, including subsequent approvals by
public agencies.
13. Building Enve- A building envelope is the maximum three-dimensional
lope space on a zoning lot within which a structure can be
built, as permitted by applicable height, setback and yard
controls. One of the main goals of a zoning analysis is to
determine the building envelope. A building envelope is
also referred to as the "bulk" of a building.
14. Floor Area Ratio The floor area ratio, also referred to as FAR, is the prin-
(FAR) cipal bulk regulation controlling the size of buildings. FAR
is the ratio of total building floor area to the area of the
zoning lot. Each zoning district has a FAR control which,
when multiplied by the lot area of the zoning lot, produces
the maximum amount of floor area allowable in a building
on the zoning lot. For example, on a 10,000 square foot
zoning lot in a district with a maximum FAR of 1.0, the
floor area of a building cannot exceed 10,000 square feet.
15. Lot Area The area (in square feet) of a zoning lot.
16. Lot Coverage The portion of a zoning lot which, when viewed from
above, is covered by a building
17. Variance The authorization to improve or develop a particular prop-
erty in a manner not authorized by zoning.
18. Yard Setbacks A required open area along the property lines of a zoning
lot, which must be unobstructed from the lowest level
of the sky. Yard setbacks ensure light and air between
buildings.
19. Zoning The separation or division of a city or town into districts,
the regulation of buildings and structures in such districts
in accordance with their construction and the nature and
, Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals
extent of their use, and the dedication of such districts to
particular uses designated to serve the general welfare.
20. Zoning District A mapped residential, commercial, or manufacturing dis-
trict with similar use, bulk and density regulations.
21. Zoning Maps Maps that indicate the location and boundaries of zoning
districts within a municipality.
22. Zoning Ordi- A statement setting forth the type of use permitted under
nance each zoning classification and specific requirements for
compliance.
23. Subdivision Reg- The control of the division of a tract of land into individual
ulations lots by requiring development according to specific design
standards and procedures adopted by local ordinances.
24. Building Code A systematic regulation of construction of buildings within
a municipality established by ordinance or law.
25. Certificate of Oc- A document issued by the governing authority stating that
cupancy a building complies with applicable laws and permitting
occupancy for its designated use.
26. Asbestos A naturally occurring mineral fiber sometimes found in
older homes. It is hazardous to health when a possibil-
ity exists of exposure to inhalable fibers. Homeowners
should be alert for friable asbestos and always seek pro-
fessional advice in dealing with it.
27. Asbestosis A chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos
fibers.
28. Friable Easily crumbled or reduced to powder. Asbestos is an
example of a friable substance.
29. Lead A material used in pipes and paint of many older homes.
30. Radon
1. Air Rights The rights in real property to the reasonable use of the air
space above the surface of the land.
2. Bundle of Rights All of the legal rights incident to ownership of property
including rights of use, possession, encumbering and
disposition
3. Land The materials of the earth, whatever may be the ingredi-
ents of which it is composed, whether soil, rock, or other
substance, and includes free or unoccupied space for an
indefinite distance upwards as well as downwards.
4. Mineral Rights A landowner's right to receive a portion of the profits of
any minerals that are extracted from the land
5. Real Estate Land plus anything permanently attached to land
6. Real Property Land, things affixed to land, appurtenances, plus the bun-
dle of rights
7. Chattel Goods or every species of property movable or immov-
able which are not real property. Personal property.
8. Emblements The crops and other annual plantings considered to be
personal property of the cultivator
9. Fixtures Appurtenances attached to the land or improvements,
which usually cannot be removed without agreement as
they become real property; examples - plumbing fixtures,
store fixtures built into the property, etc.
10. Personal Proper- Any property which is not real property
ty
11. Trade Fixture Articles of personal property annexed by a business ten-
ant to real property which are necessary to the carrying
on of a trade and are removable by the tenant.
12. Master Plan A long-term planning document. It establishes the frame-
work and key elements of a site reflecting a clear vision
, Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals
created and adopted in an open process. It synthesizes
civic goals and the public's aspirations for a project, gives
them form and organization, and defines a realistic plan
for implementation, including subsequent approvals by
public agencies.
13. Building Enve- A building envelope is the maximum three-dimensional
lope space on a zoning lot within which a structure can be
built, as permitted by applicable height, setback and yard
controls. One of the main goals of a zoning analysis is to
determine the building envelope. A building envelope is
also referred to as the "bulk" of a building.
14. Floor Area Ratio The floor area ratio, also referred to as FAR, is the prin-
(FAR) cipal bulk regulation controlling the size of buildings. FAR
is the ratio of total building floor area to the area of the
zoning lot. Each zoning district has a FAR control which,
when multiplied by the lot area of the zoning lot, produces
the maximum amount of floor area allowable in a building
on the zoning lot. For example, on a 10,000 square foot
zoning lot in a district with a maximum FAR of 1.0, the
floor area of a building cannot exceed 10,000 square feet.
15. Lot Area The area (in square feet) of a zoning lot.
16. Lot Coverage The portion of a zoning lot which, when viewed from
above, is covered by a building
17. Variance The authorization to improve or develop a particular prop-
erty in a manner not authorized by zoning.
18. Yard Setbacks A required open area along the property lines of a zoning
lot, which must be unobstructed from the lowest level
of the sky. Yard setbacks ensure light and air between
buildings.
19. Zoning The separation or division of a city or town into districts,
the regulation of buildings and structures in such districts
in accordance with their construction and the nature and
, Pennsylvania Real Estate Fundamentals
extent of their use, and the dedication of such districts to
particular uses designated to serve the general welfare.
20. Zoning District A mapped residential, commercial, or manufacturing dis-
trict with similar use, bulk and density regulations.
21. Zoning Maps Maps that indicate the location and boundaries of zoning
districts within a municipality.
22. Zoning Ordi- A statement setting forth the type of use permitted under
nance each zoning classification and specific requirements for
compliance.
23. Subdivision Reg- The control of the division of a tract of land into individual
ulations lots by requiring development according to specific design
standards and procedures adopted by local ordinances.
24. Building Code A systematic regulation of construction of buildings within
a municipality established by ordinance or law.
25. Certificate of Oc- A document issued by the governing authority stating that
cupancy a building complies with applicable laws and permitting
occupancy for its designated use.
26. Asbestos A naturally occurring mineral fiber sometimes found in
older homes. It is hazardous to health when a possibil-
ity exists of exposure to inhalable fibers. Homeowners
should be alert for friable asbestos and always seek pro-
fessional advice in dealing with it.
27. Asbestosis A chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos
fibers.
28. Friable Easily crumbled or reduced to powder. Asbestos is an
example of a friable substance.
29. Lead A material used in pipes and paint of many older homes.
30. Radon
