Life estate ends at death → remainderman/reversion
Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
In a condominium, what does a unit owner typically own?
Answer: B. A condominium owner holds fee simple title to the interior airspace of their unit and an undivided fractional interest in the common elements (hallways, roof, grounds) as a tenant in common with other owners.
Question 2 of 5
Which of the following is NOT one of the freehold estates?
Answer: C. An estate for years is a leasehold (less-than-freehold) estate. Fee simple absolute, fee simple defeasible, and life estates are all freehold estates involving ownership of indeterminate duration.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following correctly orders the estates from greatest ownership interest to least?
Answer: B. Fee simple absolute is the greatest interest, followed by defeasible fees, then life estates (still freehold), and finally leasehold estates, which convey possession but not ownership.
Question 4 of 5
Of the four leasehold estates, which one gives the tenant the weakest possessory rights?
Answer: D. A tenancy at sufferance is the weakest leasehold; the holdover tenant has no right to remain and may be evicted, only slightly above a trespasser.
Question 5 of 5
A deed conveys land 'to the school district so long as it is used for a school.' The district closes the school and leases the building to a gym. What interest allows the original grantor's heirs to reclaim the property?
Answer: B. 'So long as' creates a fee simple DETERMINABLE: when the condition breaks, title reverts AUTOMATICALLY through the grantor's possibility of reverter. 'But if / provided that' language would create a condition subsequent, requiring the holder to exercise a right of reentry.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Must-know rules
- Fee simple absolute = fullest ownership
- Life estate ends at death → remainderman/reversion
- Joint tenancy = right of survivorship
- Tenancy in common = willable, can be unequal
- Severalty = sole owner
- Tenancy by entirety = married couples (where allowed)
- Condo = own unit + common elements; Co-op = shares + lease
Estates & Ways to Hold Title: FAQs
Is Estates & Ways to Hold Title on the real estate exam?
Yes. Property Ownership & Land Use is a scored domain on the real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the national portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
