California Real Estate Property Ownership and Land Use Regulations

General plan

A document that sets forth acceptable land uses within a jurisdiction, including development policies.

Special categories of land

Types of land that may include timeshares, resorts, and rural subdivisions.

How many square feet are in three acres of land?

130,680

Acceptable means to obtain title, except:

adverse use.

How many baseline and meridian systems are in California?

36

Least desirable reference point for a metes and bounds description?

A riverbank.

A lot contains 73,000 square yards. How many acres does this equal?

14.7

Which statement regarding zoning is true?

Zoning is never retroactive.

Before a new home can be occupied:

a certificate of occupancy must be issued by the local building department.

On a zoning map, 'M' generally indicates:

manufacturing.

The Subdivision Map Act grants control to the:

local government.

An owner with riparian rights has rights relating to the use and ownership of water from:

rivers, streams and watercourses.

Individual ownership of a lot and common ownership of other areas in the development constitutes a:

planned unit development (PUD).

The Real Estate Commissioner rescinds their approval of a subdivision by:

issuing a desist and refrain order.

A roof on which all four sides slope to the eaves is classified as a:

hip roof.

Real property does not include:

leasehold estates.

Which of the following is regarded as real property?

Riparian rights.

A primary difference between real and personal property is that real property:

is immovable.

A dispute over ownership rights and interests held in real property may be settled by:

a quiet title action.

If a person dies without a will and with no identifiable heirs, the state acquires title to their real property through:

escheat.

All of the following are rights of ownership, except:

Eminent domain rights.

Basic regulation of the housing and construction industries is performed by:

local building codes.

The general purpose of local building codes is to assure:

compliance with minimum construction requirements.

Private restrictions on the use of land are best created by:

verbal agreement.

Potable

drinkable water.

Plottage

Placing two or more contiguous units under common ownership for the purpose of increasing the value.

Personal property

may not become real property.

Department of Real Estate (DRE)

The physical components of a subdivision are controlled by this department.

Mechanic's lien

A subcontractor uses a 20-day preliminary notice to notify a general contractor or the owner of their right to record and foreclose a mechanic's lien against property when they are not paid.

Specific lien

All of the following are examples of specific liens, except a judgment for punitive money damages.

Estates or fees

Ownership rights and interests in real estate are called estates or fees.

Freehold estate

An example of a freehold estate is a life estate.

Less-than-freehold estates

All of the following are less-than-freehold estates, except a life estate.

Estate of indefinite duration

Best described as a life estate.

Tenancy

The word 'tenancy' in real property law most nearly means: life tenant.

Notice of Nonresponsibility

What notice is filed first in regards to a mechanic's lien?

Notice of Completion

What notice is filed first in regards to a mechanic's lien?

Notice of Cessation

What notice is filed first in regards to a mechanic's lien?

Notice to Perform or Quit

What notice is filed first in regards to a mechanic's lien?

Right of First Refusal

A subcontractor uses this to notify a general contractor or the owner of their right to record and foreclose a mechanic's lien against property when they are not paid.

30-day Notice to Vacate

A subcontractor uses this to notify a general contractor or the owner of their right to record and foreclose a mechanic's lien against property when they are not paid.

Appurtenant rights

The right of ingress and egress across adjoining properties.

Solar easements

Easements which restrict an owner's ability to maintain or construct improvements interfering with a neighbor's solar energy system.

Lead-based paint ban

Lead-based paint was banned by the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1978.

Williamson Act

Provides property tax relief for owners of farmland and open, undeveloped land in exchange for a ten-year agreement that the land will not be converted to another use.

Acre

An acre of land contains 43,560 square feet.

Certificate of occupancy

A certificate of occupancy issued by the building department is proof of habitability.

Desist and refrain order

To stop a development, the Real Estate Commissioner files a desist and refrain order against the developer.

Leasehold estate

A leasehold estate is less-than-freehold, and therefore not real property.

Quiet title

Quiet title is a court action to clear clouds on a property's title.

Encroachment lawsuit

If a friendly settlement cannot be negotiated, the owner may sue the neighbor, since the encroachment is a trespass.

Square feet in an acre

There are 43,560 square feet in one acre.

Square yards to acres conversion

To convert square yards to acres, multiply the square yard by 9 and then divide by 43,560.

Types of roofs

A roof with four sides is called hip; a two-sided roof is gable.

Real estate improvement

An improvement on real estate can include a building, fence, driveway, or tree.

Private restriction

The best way to create a private restriction on the use of land is by recording the restrictions with the county recorder.

Potable water

Potable water is suitable for drinking.

Assemblage

The act of combining parcels of real estate is referred to as assemblage.

Topography

Topography references the lay of the land and is not included on a plot map.

Preliminary notice

Before a subcontractor employed by a contractor may record a mechanic's lien against real estate and enforce it by foreclosure, they perfect their lien rights by serving a 20-day preliminary notice.

Less-than-freehold

Less-than-freehold is a leasehold.

Estate of inheritance

An estate of inheritance is a fee title that lasts in perpetuity — an indefinite time.

Egress and ingress

Access rights include both egress and ingress (entering and exiting), such as with a driveway easement.

Lead-based paint disclosure

Under federal law, a lead-based paint disclosure is required on all single family residential property built prior to 1978.

Asbestos

Building materials containing asbestos pose a direct health threat to occupants.