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 Tennessee, real property, also known as real estate, encompasses land and any structures or fixtures permanently attached to it, such as buildings and fences. This includes both the physical elements and the associated legal rights of ownership, which allow the owner to possess, sell, lease, use, and enjoy the property. The definition of land in Tennessee extends from the surface to the center of the earth and upward indefinitely, incorporating naturally attached resources like trees, water, and mineral rights, as well as airspace above the property. Real estate can be categorized based on its use, such as residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or special purpose. This categorization can affect zoning, taxation, and regulatory matters. Real property is distinct from personal property, which refers to movable items that are not permanently affixed to the land. Tennessee state statutes and regulations govern various aspects of real property law, including transactions, property taxes, land use, and property rights.