What Is an Easement in Real Estate? A Guide for Homebuyers
Easement dispute, easement decision, easement access — these phrases are heard more often in the news than in our homes. But if the word easement comes up in a title search when buying or selling a house, questions can arise. What is an easement in real estate? Will an easement impact your home sale or purchase?
In this post, we’ll guide you through the ins and outs of easements, helping you grasp how they work, the different types you may encounter, and the implications for property owners.
What is an easement?
A property easement grants a person, organization, or government the limited right to use your land for a specific purpose. It does not grant ownership but rather land-use permissions and possibly restrictions.
For example, an easement can give a utility company the right to place cables in your backyard. Another may require you to share a driveway with a neighbor or keep a walkway clear for schoolchildren crossing your land.
Some easements can even prevent you from building a structure that blocks the sun from reaching nearby solar panels or spoils a protected scenic view.
Easements are common in real estate and can affect future use or alterations you might consider as a homeowner.
