What distinguishes real property from personal property?

• A. Real property includes land and permanent fixtures; personal property is movable items not fixed to land.
• B. Real property is only land; personal property includes houses.
• C. Personal property includes land and permanent fixtures; real property is movable items not fixed to land.
• D. Real property is movable items not fixed to land; personal property includes land and fixtures.

Answer: (A)

Real property consists of the land itself and anything permanently attached to it—buildings, improvements, and other fixtures that are intended to stay with the property. Personal property refers to movable items that are not fixed to the land, such as furniture, appliances, or vehicles. This distinction matters in real estate transactions because fixtures generally transfer with the property, while personal property does not unless the contract specifies otherwise. So, real property includes land and permanent fixtures, and personal property consists of movable items not fixed to the land. For example, a house is real property, while a sofa is personal property.