Zoning policies intended to protect farmland and farming activities from incompatible nonfarm uses, such as residential and commercial development. Agricultural protection zoning, aslo referred to as agricultural zoning, can specify many factors, such as preferred land use, minimum size of farm or the number of nonfarm or residential dwellings allowed. Agricultural zoning is usually based on historic land use, soil properties, and location and allows activities such as orchards, farms, ranching, or timber production.

Zoning policies intended to protect farmland and farming activities from incompatible nonfarm uses, such as residential and commercial development. Agricultural zoning, aslo referred to as agricultural protection zoning, can specify many factors, such as preferred land use, minimum size of farm or the number of nonfarm or residential dwellings allowed. Agricultural zoning is usually based on historic land use, soil properties, and location and allows activities such as orchards, farms, ranching, or timber production.

Title to real property that is free of encumbrances and obligations, including taxation. It denotes absolute or supreme ownership. Strictly defined, allodial title is not subject to county, state, or federal codes, ordinances, or zoning regulations ("police power"), nor can it be taken through legal or regulatory means ("inalienable"). In practical use, title in the United States is often said to be allodial (as opposed to feudal), even though it does not meet all of the qualifications listed above.

Land tenure characterized by the highest degree of ownership legally possible. Allodial tenure describes title to real property that is free of encumbrances and obligations, including taxation. It denotes absolute or supreme ownership. Strictly defined, allodial title is not subject to county, state, or federal codes, ordinances, or zoning regulations ("police power"), nor can it be taken through legal or regulatory means ("inalienable"). In practical use, title in the United States is often said to be allodial (as opposed to feudal), even though it does not meet all of the qualifications listed above.

Title to real property that is free of encumberances and obligations, including taxation. It denotes absolute or supreme ownership. Strictly defined, allodial title is not subject to county, state, or federal codes, ordinances, or zoning regulations ("police power"), nor can it be taken through legal or regulatory means ("inalienable"). In practical use, title in the United States is often said to be allodial (as opposed to feudal), even though it does not meet all of the qualifications listed above.

1. Real property owned under allodial title - completely, independently, without rent, mortgage, encumberances, taxation or any other obligation to another.
2. Freehold estate; land which is the absolute, inalienable property of the owner.
3. Real estate held in absolute independence, without being subject to any rent, service, or acknowledgment to a superior.

Features, both tangible and intangible, which enhance and add to the desirability of real estate

A unit of measurement for animals in any feeding operation. This measure expresses the size of the animal feeding operation (AFO). One beef cow is equal to 1 animal unit. Different types of animals or feeding operations use different multipliers and ratios.

A room or set of rooms divided from others in the same building and leased as a separate dwelling; usually including at least a bathroom, kitchen or kitchenette, and a sleeping area.
Also known as a flat.

1. A set of facts, documents, or circumstances that give the appearance of title to real property, but are invalid or insufficient to legally show or prove title.
2. Something that on its face appears to be title, but is not actually title, nor does it show or prove title (as in a forged deed or other muniment of title).
Also known as "color of title".

Department of Arizona state government that oversees and regulates real estate transactions and enforces real estate statutes, particularly Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) Title 32, Chapter 20 - the Code of Real Estate.

The Department of Water Resources is Arizona's state water management agency. Created during enactment of the Groundwater Management Code (1980), the department is charged with securing long-term water supplies for communities within the State of Arizona. Principal duties of ADWR include implementation of the Groundwater Management Code, registration of all surface and groundwater rights, ensuring the safety of non-federal dams, assisting with local management of floodplains, and representing Arizona in interstate water discussions.

1. Any transaction in which the two parties are unconnected and have no overt common interests. Such a transaction most often reflects the true or fair market value of a property. 2. Completion of a sales contract between a seller who is willing but not compelled to sell and a buyer who is willing but not compelled to buy, both parties being fully informed of all the purposes to which the property is best adapted and is capable of being used, under normal conditions on the open market.

Unit of area measurement (usually applied to land) equal to approximately 5/6th of an acre, used in France, Louisiana, and Quebec. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.8448 acres or about 36,800 square feet. For more arpent conversions, see arpent equivalents or conversions or converting arpents.

One (1) arpent is equal to approximately 5/6th of an acre. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.8448 acres. One (1) arpent is equal to 36,800.6256 square feet. One (1) arpent is equal to 4,088.9584 square yards. One (1) arpent is equal to 135.1716 square rods, poles, or perches. One (1) arepent is equal to 8.4482 square chains. One (1) arpent is equal to 3.3793 roods. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.0013 square miles or sections. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.000037 townships. One (1) arpent is equal to 3,18.89 square meters. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.3419 hectares. One (1) arpent is equal to 0.0034 square kilometers.

A specific levy for a definite purpose, such as adding curbs or sewers in a neighborhood. Individual condominium owners are subject to special assessments benefiting the project as a whole and not funded through regular maintenance charges.

The transfer of the right, title and interest in the property of one person, the assignor, to another, the assignee. In real estate, there are assignments of mortgages, contracts, agreements of sale, leases, and options, among others.

The act of acquiring title to property which has an existing mortgage on it and agreeing to be personally liable for the terms and conditions of the mortgage, including payments

Program of Arizona Department of Water Resources Office of Assured and Adequate Water Supply. This program operates within designated Active Management Areas (AMA) to ensure the availability of water for new subdivisions for the next 100 years. A public report from the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) that allows subdivision lots to be sold will only be issued if the 100-year water supply has been demonstrated to be legally, physically, and continually available.

Any number of houses or other dwellings which are physically attached to one another, but are occupied by a number of different people. The individual houses may or may not be owned by separate people as well.

An evaluation of the status or validity of a title to real property by an attorney qualified to examine such titles.
See also "Certificate of title", "Chain of title", and "Abstract of title".

A commercial or residential building with an unfinished interior and lacking heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), and usually without lighting, plumbing, ceilings, or walls. A base shell is ready for warm shell or vanilla shell improvements (VSI), which are usually completed once the lease agreement has been signed.
Synonymous with grey shell or cold shell.

Sometimes known as an offer to purchase or an earnest money receipt. A binder is the acknowledgment of a deposit along with a brief written agreement to enter into a contract for the sale of real estate.

Definition: One who engages in the illegal practice of blockbusting, or attempting to profit by telling homeowners that "undesirable" people - those of a different race, religion, etc. - moving into a neighborhood will lower home values or create other negative conditions. A blockbuster hopes to intimidate homeowners into selling their homes to the blockbuster at reduced prices, so that he or she may then resell those homes at profit.

Example: A real estate investor spreads rumors in a predominantly Asian neighborhood that a Latino family is considering purchasing a home there, which will bring undesirable elements and lower nearby property values. The investor hopes that people in this area will sell their homes to him at a price that is less than market value because they are alarmed the arrival of the newcomers will result in even lower home values or other undesirable neighborhood conditions. Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, it is illegal even to suggest that changes will occur in a neighborhood because persons of a protected class have moved there or will move there.


Terms and Definitions: Real Estate, Legal, Management

Definition: The act of creating or causing panic among homeowners with the intent to make them sell their homes by stating or implying that persons of a protected class moving into the neighborhood will have negative results such as lowered home values or increased crime. Blockbusters attempt to profit from this tactic by purchasing the homes of panicked people at less than market value, then reselling those homes at a greatly increased price. Blockbusting is illegal according to the Federal Fair Housing Act (1968, 1974, 1988), which lists as protected classes race, skin color, national origin, religion, handicap status, familial status, and gender.
Same as Panic selling.

Example: A real estate investor spreads rumors in a predominantly Asian neighborhood that a Latino family is considering purchasing a home there, which will bring undesirable elements and lower nearby property values. The investor hopes that people in this area will sell their homes to him at a price that is less than market value because they are alarmed the arrival of the newcomers will result in even lower home values or other undesirable neighborhood conditions. Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, it is illegal even to suggest that changes will occur in a neighborhood because persons of a protected class have moved there or will move there.


Terms and Definitions: Real Estate, Legal, Management