ABUTTERS. Neighbors with a common boundary.
ACCEPTANCE. The seller’s or agent’s principal’s act of agreeing to the terms of the agreement of sale, approving the negotiations on the part of the agent and acknowledging receipt of the deposit in subscribing to the agreement of sale.
ACCRETION. An addition to land from natural causes, such as from die gradual action of the ocean.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. A formal declaration before a duly authorized officer by a person who has executed an instrument that such execution is his free act and deed, and that his signature is valid.
ACQUISITION. The act or process by which a person procures property.
ADMINISTRATOR.The person appointed by the probate court to settle the estate of a deceased person who left no will behmd.
AD VALOREM. According to valuation.
ADVERSE POSSESSION. The actual, continuous, notorious and visible possession and occupancy for the statutory period (usually ten (10) to twenty (20) years), under an evident claim or right in denial or opposition to the title to land or without the consent of the legal owner.
AFFIDAVIT. A statement or declaration reduced to writing and sworn to or affirmed before some officer who has authority to administer an oath or affirmation
AFFIRM. To confirm; to aver; to ratify; to verify.
AGENT. One who represents another from whom he has derived the authority to represent, an employee of a principal.
AGREEMENT OF SALE. The written agreement or contract whereby the purchaser agrees to buy and the seller agrees to sell according to the terms and conditions stated herein.
ALIENATION. The transfer of property and possession of lands or other things from one person to another.
ALLUVION (ALLUVIUM). Soil deposited by accretion, such as the increase of earth on a shore or bank or a river.
AMENITIES. Qualities that increase the value of real estate, such as a beautiful view or a refined social environment.
APPRECIATION. An increase in value due to economic causes or inflation.
APPURTENANCE. Something annexed to another thing which may be transferred incident to it; Property rights which are attached though not strictly part of the land, but will go with the title to a new owner, such as easement, right of way, bam or orchard.
ASSESSED VALUE. Value placed on real estate by a public officer or board as a basis for taxation.
ASSESSOR. The official who has the responsibility of determining assessed value.
ASIGNMENT. The written transfer or making over to another person of real or personal property, or of any estate or right therein, in possession of in action.
ASSIGNS, ASSIGNEES. Those to whom property shall have been transferred.
OF MORTGAGE. The taking of title to property by a grantee wherein he assumes liability for the payment of an existing noted secured by a mortgage or deed of trust against the property, becoming a co-guarantor for the payment of the mortgage or deed of trust note.
ATTACHMENT. Seizure of property by court order and placing it in the custody of the law, usually done to have it available when a judgment is obtained in a pending suit to settle debts.
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT. One who is authorized to perform certain acts for another under a power of attorney.
AVULSION. The sudden tearing away or removal of land from one owner to another by action of water flowing over or through it, such as occurs when a stream changes its course.
