Legal Aspects of Real Estate - Unit 4
Exam 2025 Questions and Answers
eminent domain - ANSWER✔️✔️-The right of government to acquire property, for a public
purpose, after paying just compensation.
taxation - ANSWER✔️✔️-The right of government to require contribution from citizens to pay
for government services.
ad valorem tax - ANSWER✔️✔️-fix meaning "based on value". Most local governments levy a
"this" tax on property.
escheat - ANSWER✔️✔️-The right of government to ownership of property, which is left by a
deceased property owner who leaves no will, and dies without descendants.
police power - ANSWER✔️✔️-The inherent power of the state to regulate in order to promote
public health, safety, morality or welfare. For example, zoning and building codes.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, zoning - ANSWER✔️✔️-Ordinance dividing a city or county into different districts, identifying
what uses can and cannot be made on each parcel
conditional use permit - ANSWER✔️✔️-uses that are not allowed as a matter of right, but that
might be allowed if the owner gets a special permit
spot zoning - ANSWER✔️✔️-Occurs when a public entity makes the decision to change the
zoning for a single parcel without considering the larger planning context
nonconforming use - ANSWER✔️✔️-A pre-existing use of land which does not conform to the
zoning ordinance but which may legally remain.
amortize - ANSWER✔️✔️-giving the landowner a period of time to continue the use in order to
recapture the owner's investment.
abatement - ANSWER✔️✔️-the legal process by which a public entity removes nuisances and
code violations.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
Exam 2025 Questions and Answers
eminent domain - ANSWER✔️✔️-The right of government to acquire property, for a public
purpose, after paying just compensation.
taxation - ANSWER✔️✔️-The right of government to require contribution from citizens to pay
for government services.
ad valorem tax - ANSWER✔️✔️-fix meaning "based on value". Most local governments levy a
"this" tax on property.
escheat - ANSWER✔️✔️-The right of government to ownership of property, which is left by a
deceased property owner who leaves no will, and dies without descendants.
police power - ANSWER✔️✔️-The inherent power of the state to regulate in order to promote
public health, safety, morality or welfare. For example, zoning and building codes.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, zoning - ANSWER✔️✔️-Ordinance dividing a city or county into different districts, identifying
what uses can and cannot be made on each parcel
conditional use permit - ANSWER✔️✔️-uses that are not allowed as a matter of right, but that
might be allowed if the owner gets a special permit
spot zoning - ANSWER✔️✔️-Occurs when a public entity makes the decision to change the
zoning for a single parcel without considering the larger planning context
nonconforming use - ANSWER✔️✔️-A pre-existing use of land which does not conform to the
zoning ordinance but which may legally remain.
amortize - ANSWER✔️✔️-giving the landowner a period of time to continue the use in order to
recapture the owner's investment.
abatement - ANSWER✔️✔️-the legal process by which a public entity removes nuisances and
code violations.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
