Property Type

Fee simple ownership is probably the most familiar form of property ownership to buyers of residential property, especially on the US Mainland. Fee simple is sometimes called fee simple absolute because it is the most complete form of ownership. A fee simple buyer acquires ownership of the entire property, including both the land and buildings. The fee simple owner does not pay ground rent, but does pay maintenance fees and real property taxes. The fee simple owner has the right to possess, use the land and dispose of the land as he wishes - sell it, give it away, trade it for other things, lease it to others, or pass it to others upon death.

A leasehold interest is created when a fee simple landowner enters into an agreement or contract called a ground lease with a lessee. A lessee buys leasehold rights much as one buys fee simple rights; however, the leasehold interest differs from the fee simple interest in several important respects. First, the buyer of residential leasehold property does not own the land and must pay ground rent. Second, his use of the land is limited to the remaining years covered by the lease. Thereafter, the land returns to the lessor, and is called reversion. Depending on the provisions of any surrender clause in the lease, the buildings and other improvements on the land may also revert to the lessor. Finally, the use, maintenance, and alteration of the leased premises are subject to any restrictions contained in the lease.

Conversion of leasehold property to fee simple ownership involves purchasing the landowner's remaining interest, called the leased fee interest. The lessors of many, if not most, leasehold properties are currently offering to sell their leased fee interests to their lessees or prospective buyers of a leasehold property.

The ownership of a leasehold property is divided into two portions: the leased fee interest which is owned by the lessor and the leasehold interest which is purchased and owned by the lessee. The leased fee interest refers to those rights retained by the landowner of the leased land which include the right to receive rent (an income stream) and the right to get the land back at the end of the lease (reversion).

Cooperative housing is the joint ownership of a property. It allows each tenant shareholder to occupy a dwelling unit for dwelling purposes solely by reason of the tenant shareholder's part ownership in said property.