08/31/2026
It’s your house. It’s your property. So you can do whatever you want with it...right?
Well, not always.
Owning a home comes with certain property rights, but it can also come with restrictions, legal claims and rights that belong to others. Understanding some of the terminology you may encounter can help you know exactly what you own and what that ownership allows.
Here are a few terms worth knowing now that you have a place to call your own.
When you buy a home you may expect that you have complete freedom to do what you want with the property, that’s likely not the case. You will probably discover an encumbrance, or limitation, legally imposed upon you regarding its use. In other words, an encumbrance is any claim or interest held by...