BUS-112 (Part II)
Real estate is a field of law where paralegals are of the utmost importance to their employers. This course will provide our students with a fundamental understanding of the concepts and working terminology of real property law. The course reviews disclosure obligations and regulations affecting brokers, sales people and owners. The course provides an introduction to buying, selling, leasing and investing in real estate; A brief look at the general laws of land ownership and transactions, including rights and interests in land, forms of ownership and methods of title transfer; title examinations and insurance; parties to a real estate transaction; the sales agreement and contract; real estate finance including appraisals and mortgages; the owner-broker relationship; deeds and indentures; real property descriptions; the closing and settlement process; and post-settlement activities. This course will further acquaint our students with the process of a real estate transaction and the documentation involved.

Legal Skills Acquired :

At the completion of this course, the student will understand:

• concepts of co-tenancy, joint tenancy, tenancy in common or by the entirety and community property.
• the rules & responsibilities of landlords & tenants.
• grounds for evictions.
• wrongful eviction or other wrongs committed against the tenant.
• the drafting of a real estate sales contract and real property deed.
• the real estate closing.
• the rules of easements, i.e., rights of owners and non-owners as to property usage.
• eminent domain, water rights, etc.
• the purpose & sources of local zoning laws.
• the field of competence of local zoning boards.
• methods through which these zoning laws can be challenged.
• how variances are granted by local zoning boards.
• when the zoning boards’ decisions can be appealed to state and federal courts.