Real property or real estate is land and everything that is permanently attached or affixed to the land—buildings, fences, and those things attached to the buildings, such as light fixtures and plumbing and heating fixtures.

Real property includes the legal rights of ownership—such as the rights to possess, sell, use, lease, and enjoy the land. The terms real property and real estate are generally synonymous.

Land is generally defined as the earth’s surface, extending downward to the center of the earth and upward to infinity—including everything that is permanently attached by nature, such as trees and water. Land includes minerals below the earth’s surface and airspace above the land.

Real property is often classified and referenced according to its use as residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or special purpose property. Real property is generally contrasted with personal property, which includes all movable, tangible things that are not real property.

In Maryland, real property, also known as real estate, encompasses land and any structures or fixtures permanently attached to it, such as buildings, fences, and built-in appliances. The ownership rights associated with real property include the ability to possess, sell, lease, use, and enjoy the property. Maryland law recognizes the traditional concept of land, which extends from the center of the earth to the airspace above, including natural attachments like trees and bodies of water, as well as subsurface rights like minerals. Real property can be categorized based on its use, such as residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or special purpose. This classification can affect zoning, taxation, and regulatory aspects of the property. Unlike real property, personal property consists of movable items that are not affixed to the land. In Maryland, the transfer of real property is typically formalized through deeds, and property ownership is recorded in public records to ensure clear title and facilitate transactions. Additionally, Maryland has specific statutes and regulations that govern property taxes, land use, environmental protection, and other aspects related to real property.