subject: Real Estate Ownership Transfer Done the Fee Simple Way [print this page] Real Estate Ownership Transfer Done the Fee Simple Way
Selling your home involves more than simply signing a home sale contract and handing off the keys. There are, in fact, many different ways you can transfer actual ownership of your land to a new buyer. Transferring your land in fee simple is one of the most thorough of the many options.
Fee simple, also sometimes referred to as fee simple absolute, is an estate in land, at its core. There are freehold estates and leasehold estates of a number of different varieties. To own a freehold estate means that the land you own is generally yours free and clear and can be transferred at will whenever you like. Leasehold estates, on the other hand, are estates in which the interest you own is subject to a larger interest. Generally, that interest belongs to the landowner in the form of a freehold estate itself.
Fee simple is an estate in land that takes the form of a freehold estate. In common law countries like the United States, it is the most common way to own property. It is also usually the most complete means of ownership that can be obtained in property. The only one that exceeds it in terms of breadth and freedom of transferability is allodial title. Allodial title, however, is usually reserved solely for government entities.
Consequently, fee simple is a very acceptable and thorough way to transfer ownership of your property to someone else. While fee simple does represent an absolute ownership in the property in question, it is still subject to four basic government powers. These are taxation, eminent domain, police power and escheat. It's also possible that an encumbrance like a lien that is on the property or a deed restriction could limit ownership in that regard.
Overall, fee simple is the way to go when it comes to transferring your property ownership to a new buyer. It is the most comprehensive and complete means of ownership that most non-governmental property owners can hope to acquire. While its scope and freedom of transferability could be limited by government powers, encumbrances or conditions in the deed, absent those limitations, fee simple is the most thorough way to ensure the ownership of your property is properly transferred from one person to another.
