Real Estate Law

Real Estate law defines the elements and principles essential to the buying and selling real property. Real Estate refers not only to a piece of land, but the buildings on it, the natural resources crops, water, minerals that come with it, as well as the various interests associated with it. Far from a simple transaction, Real Estate law governs the procedures surrounding the titles to and conveyance of real property. Real Estate law also governs various substantive issues related to housing discrimination, housing credit discrimination, and community reinvestment. At a more practical level, however, Real Estate law defines the appraisal, finance and regulatory issues that cover the sale and transfer of real property as well as the licensing requirements of brokers and agents that operate within the confines of these transactions.

This program takes an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented approach to real estate transactions, covering land transfers, mortgage law, and selected topics such as the structure and law of real estate transactions, including agreements of sale, title and survey matters, leasing, financing, easements, and development rights. Learners will discover the importance of legal descriptions of the property, deeds, encumbrances and liens as well as the distinctions between real and personal property.

This program will examine the real estate finance transaction from a practitioner’s viewpoint and will cover the laws governing and normal documentation utilized in a real estate finance transaction, negotiation skills, title insurance, remedies, and other facets of a real estate secured loan. As an introduction to Real Estate Law, this course offers learners a fundamental understanding of property rights, principles of land ownership, sale, financing and conveyance, contracts, liens, mortgage financing, deeds, mortgages or deeds of trust, settlement concepts, leasing, and other property concepts.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Determine the law of real property
• Evaluate concurrent ownership
• Appraise surveys and land descriptions
• Describe public regulation and private encumbrances
• Prepare easements and licenses
• Evaluate contracts
• Describe preparation and the review of a real estate contract
• Appraise deeds
• Determine financing sources in real estate transactions
• Describe legal aspects of real estate finance
• Evaluate mortgage forms and provisions
• Appraise title examinations
• Describe title insurance
• Evaluate real estate closings forms
• Understand condominiums and cooperatives
• Appraise leases

Certification Opportunities

After completing this program, learners will have the opportunity to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Real Estate Law (L-RE)

Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience.  As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.