Real Estate Transactions and Property – PLST 222

Course Description

This course is a study of the fundamental precepts applicable to real property.  The following aspects, among others, will be covered: biblical principles of ownership and stewardship, acquisition and discovery, landlord/tenant law and real estate transactions. Working through the mock due diligence, purchase, financing, closing, development and leasing necessary for legal representation will be taught.

Rationale

Real estate transactions and property law form an important part of the work of many paralegal professionals. Even for those who do not primarily practice in the area of real property, an understanding of real estate law is essential due to the importance of property rights in the American legal system. This course is designed to provide that basic overview of real property law and transactions.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings, blog readings, and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Real Estate and Concurrent Ownership Writing Assignment

The student will write a paper of at least 500 words integrating biblical perspectives as they relate to the legal system. The student will support his or her writing with at least 2 references. This paper must be completed in Bluebook format.

Discussions (2)

Two Discussions will be posted in order to generate interaction among students in regard to relevant current course topics. The student is required to post one thread of at least 250 words. The student must then post two replies of at least 150 words. For each thread, the student should support his or her assertions with at least three citations, in Bluebook format. Each reply should cite at least one source, also in Bluebook format. Acceptable sources include your textbook, the Bible, and one more scholarly, academic source– for the purposes of this class, posts to the blogs www.rodneychrisman.com and www.humanevents.com will be considered scholarly, academic sources in order to integrate a proper Christian worldview.

Real Estate Title Project Assignments (3)

This substantial and practical project that will be completed in three parts throughout the course. This project is designed to get the student into a local real property records office and allow the student to become familiar with most of the steps involved in a title search. This includes locating documents such as deeds, mortgages, and restrictions, and it also includes answering questions about these documents and preparing a chain of title. Each of the three parts of this project will be due by the end of the module in which it is assigned.

Deed Information Assignment

The student will locate a recently filed deed at a local government office where property records are maintained and answer a series of questions in a word document.

Restrictions Assignment

Using the deed located in the Deed Information Assignment, the student will list any restrictive covenants and answer the prompt given in the instructions. 

Chain of Title Assignment

Using the deed located in the Deed Information Assignment, the student will make copies of all relevant documentation and answer the prompt given in the instructions. 

Quizzes (6)

The student will complete six quizzes in this course. All quizzes are open-book, open-notes; however, be advised that there is a time limit of 60 minutes. The student may not receive help from another person while taking the exam. Each quiz is due by the end of the module in which it is assigned.