Legal Definitions - things real

The legal term "things real" refers to real property. This encompasses land and anything that is permanently attached to it, whether naturally or by human effort. It includes not only the surface of the earth but also the space above it, the ground below it, and any structures, fixtures, or improvements that have been affixed with the intention of being permanent. "Things real" are distinct from "personal property," which refers to movable items.

Here are some examples to illustrate "things real":

• Residential Home and Lot: A homeowner purchases a house situated on a quarter-acre plot of land. The house itself, the land it occupies, the built-in swimming pool, the mature oak trees planted in the yard, and the concrete driveway are all considered "things real."

  Explanation: The house, pool, trees, and driveway are all permanently affixed to or are an integral part of the land. They are not easily movable without causing damage to the property, thus classifying them as real property.

• Commercial Office Building: A real estate investment firm owns a 20-story office tower in a downtown business district. This property includes the building structure, the underlying land, the integrated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and the attached parking garage.

  Explanation: The entire office building, its foundational land, and all permanently installed systems like HVAC, along with the attached garage, are all "things real." They are fixed structures and components that form an inseparable part of the land and its improvements.

• Agricultural Farmland: A farmer inherits a large tract of agricultural land, which includes fields for crops, a barn, a silo, and an irrigation system with buried pipes.

  Explanation: The land itself, the soil, the barn, the silo, and the permanently installed irrigation infrastructure (like buried pipes and fixed pumps) are all "things real." These elements are either naturally occurring parts of the land or structures permanently affixed to it for its use and benefit.