LAWS210 Real Estate Law

Department of Business Studies: Paralegal/Law

  1. Course Number and Title

    LAWS210 Real Estate Law

  2. Number of Credits

    3 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    2250 minutes

  4. Prerequisites

    REAL101 and REAL102; or LAWS100 or LAWS110 or permission of the Department of Business Studies

    Corequisites

    None

  5. Other Pertinent Information

    None

  6. Catalog Course Description

    Instruction in ownership, contractual limitations, property right protection, reality and personality fixtures; fee simple, life estates and remainder interests, tenancy, partnership and corporate realty; liens, such as mortgages, judgments and attachments, contracts, and their complexities, deeds, bonds and mortgages, leases, transfer and closing of title, and conveyancing.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. Estates and tenancies in real property; kinds of title in real property; methods of acquisition of title to real property; acquisition of title to real property; agreements of sale sand options; deeds; mortgages, bonds, and warrants; principles of recording of documents; liens and encumbrances; searches and title insurance; conveyancing in general and principles relating thereto.
      2. The student will have a basic understanding of the law as it applies to real estate and conveyancing in order to enable the student to better approach, solve and find the best legal solution to problems of this clients involving real estate transactions.
      3. The student will be acquainted with and have the ability to foresee far reaching results of his real estate practice and procedures.
      4. Topics should be discussed in detail emphasizing the most current statues and cases as they apply in Pennsylvania.

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. Introduction to real property
      2. Definition of real estate
      3. Personal property in real estate transaction
      4. Rights of ownership
      5. Public and private restrictions
      6. Easements and other nonpossessory rights
      7. Zoning and other governmental regulations
      8. How ownership is held, severalty, co-ownership
      9. Wills, inheritance, estate planning concerns
      10. Partnerships, corporations
      11. Transfer of interests in real estate, methods of transfer
      12. Deeds
        1. Components
        2. Warranties
      13. Contract Law
        1. Components of a valid contract
        2. Statute of frauds
        3. Enforceability
        4. Default remedies
        5. Other laws that affect real estate contracts
      14. The Real Estate Transaction
        1. Preparation of the agreement of sale
        2. Legal requirements effecting a valid contract
        3. Contingencies and addenda
        4. Closing
      15. Types of deeds and how to recognize them
      16. Financing and Regulation Z
      17. Reading legal descriptions
      18. Surveys
      19. Title matters
        1. Abstracts
        2. Title insurance and certificates of title
        3. Marketable title
        4. Clearing defects
      20. Financing instruments
      21. Preparation of closing exhibits
      22. RESPA
      23. Transfer of other interests
        1. Homeowner's associations
      24. Disbursement of funds
      25. Escrow funds
      26. Settlement costs
      27. Title clearance
      28. Post-closing procedures
      29. Recording documents
      30. Tax considerations
      31. Leases
        1. Contract provisions
        2. Landlord/Tenant Act
      32. Law and the Real Estate Licensee
        1. License laws
        2. Fair housing laws
        3. Anti-trust laws
        4. Liability
      33. Disclosures
      34. Risk reduction
      35. Counsel of an attorney
      36. Law of agency

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      1. See course outline for required textbook.
      2. The instructor will furnish sample forms of agreement of sale, deeds, mortgages, bonds, warrants, leases, affidavits of value, and other material referred to throughout the course.

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    1. Classroom lectures
    2. Discussion of questions
    3. Audiovisual aids
    Periodic tests will be used to supplement mid-semester and final examinations. Course grades will be based on the aforementioned tests and examinations, plus class participation and other class work.

Review/Approval Date - 5/02