REAL. A term which is applied1 to land in its most enlarged signification. Real security, therefore, means the security of mortgages or other incumbrances affecting lands. 2 Atk. 806; S. C. 2 Ves. sen. 547.
2. In the civil law, real has not the same meaning as it has in the common law. There it signifies what relates to a thing, whether it be movable or immovable, lands or goods; thus, a real injury is one which is done to a thing, as a trespass2 to property, whether it be real or personal in the common law sense. A real statute3 is one which relates to a thing, in contradistinction to such as relate to a person,
REAL ACTIONS. Those which concern the realty only, being such by which the demandant claims title to have any lands or tenements4, rents, or other hereditaments, in fee simple, fee tail, or for term of life. 3 Bl. Com. 117. Vide Actions.
2. In the civil law, by real actions are meant those which arise from a right in a thing, whether it be movable or immovable.
REAL CONTRACT, com. law. By this term are understood contracts in respect to real property. 3 Rawle, 225.
2. In the civil law real contracts are those which require the interposition of thing as the subject of them; for instance, the loan for goods to be specifically returned.
3. By that law, contracts are pided into those which are formed by the mere5 consent of the parties, and therefore are called consensual; such as sale, hiring and mandate6, and those in which it is necessary that there should be something more than mere consent, such as the loan of money, deposit or pledge, which, from their nature, require the delivery of the thing; whence they are called real. Poth. Obl. p. 1, c. 1, s. 1, art. 2.
REAL PROPERTY, That which consists of land, and of all rights and profits arising from and annexed7 to land, of a permanent, immovable nature. In order to make one's interest in land, real estate, it must be an interest not less than for the party's life, because a term of years, even for a thousand years, perpetually renewable, is a mere personal estate. 3 Russ. R. 376. It is usually comprised under the words lands, tenements, and hereditaments. Real property is corporeal8, or incorporeal9.
2. Corporeal consists wholly of substantial, permanent objects, which may all be comprehended under the general denomination10 of land. There are some chattels11 which are so annexed to the inheritance, that they are deemed a part of it, and are called heir looms12. Money agreed or directed to be laid out in land is considered as real estate. Newl. on Contr. chap. 3; Fonb. Eq. B. 1, c. 6, 9; 3 Wheat. Rep. 577.
3. Incorporeal property, consists of certain inheritable rights, which are not, strictly13 speaking, of a corporeal nature, or land, although they are by their own nature or by use, annexed to corporeal inheritances, and are rights issuing out of them, or which concern them. These distinctions agree with the civil law. Just. Inst. 2, 2; Poth. Traite de la Communaute, part 1, c. 2, art. 1. The incorporeal hereditaments which subsist14 by the laws of the several states are fewer than those recognized by the English law. In the United States, there are fortunately no advowsons, tithes15, nor dignities, as inheritances.
4. The most common incorporeal hereditaments, are, 1. Commons. 2. Ways. 3. Offices. 4. Franchises16. 5. Rents. For authorities of what is real or personal property, see 8 Com. Dig. 564; 1 Vern. Rep. by Raithby, 4, n.; 2 Kent, Com. 277; 3 Id. 331; 4 Watts17' R. 341; Bac. Ab. Executors, H 3; 1 Mass. Dig. 394; 5 Mass. R. 419, and the references under the article Personal property, and Property.
5. The principal distinctions between real and personal property, are the following: 1. Real property is of a permanent and immovable nature, and the owner has an estate therein at least for life. 2. It descends19 from the ancestor to the heir instead of becoming the property of an executor or admin-istrator on the death of the owner, as in case of personalty. 3. In case of alienation20, it must in general be made by deed, 5 B. C. 221, and in presenti by the common law; whereas leases for years may commence in futuro, and personal chattels may be transferred by parol or delivery. 4. Real estate when devised, is subject to the widow's dower personal estate can be given away by will discharged of any claim of the widow.
6. These are some interests arising out of, or connected with real property, which in some respects partake of the qualities of personally; as, for example, heir looms, title deeds, which, though in themselves movable, yet relating to land descend18 from ancestor to heir, or from a vendor21 to a purchaser. 4 Bin22 . 106.
7. It is a maxim23 in equity24, that things to be done will be considered as done, and vice25 versa. According to this doctrine26 money or goods will be considered as real property, and land will be treated as personal property. Money directed by a will to be laid out in land is, in equity, considered as land, and will pass by the words lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever27 and wheresoever. 3 Bro. C. C. 99; 1 Tho. Co. Litt. 219, n. T.
