Dr. Miguel A. Campos Legal English Unit 4 – The Language of Real Estate Law UNIT 4: THE LANGUAGE OF REAL ESTATE LAW I. What is real estate? A. Defining real estate. Read the following definition of “real estate”. Then, do the exercises proposed: Real estate Land and anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings, fences, and those things attached to the buildings, such as light fixtures, plumbing and heating fixtures, or other such items which would be personal property if not attached. (http://www.garridoygarrido.com/glos_eng.html ) A1. How many types of property are there under Spanish law? A2. Look up the definition of “bienes inmuebles” in the Spanish Civil Code, and try to find terminological correspondences. B. Read the following fragment, taken from a website offering information for British expatriates and investors in general. • Real estate agents activity has weak and confusing regulations and laws. Licensed operators do adhere to a set of professional standards. • No licence or authorisation is required. Anyone can sell properties in Spain. Much to the bitterness of registered real estate agents, most of the highest rated agencies in the Costa del Sol are not registered and are not subject to any rule or regulation. • Real estate agents are more worried in looking for buyers and matching them with the available properties than performing the relevant searches on the legal status of the properties. • Even if they had the time, language barrier to some real estate agents is a problem. The understanding of legal terminology is in this case rather poor. • A real estate agent does not get paid for representing the interests of either buyer or seller. They have made possible a deal and do not earn fees if the deal stalls. • A small percentage of operators can be regarded as unscrupulous and self-seeking. What happens to the buyer, or the seller, is not a concern as long as they get their fee. For all these reasons, we recommend buyers to employ the services of a lawyer (abogado). An abogado will provide the legal guarantees for the purchase of the property ensuring that Spanish legal requirements are met and that the property is bought free of encumbrances, charges, liens or debts and up to date in all its payments of local contributions and community charges. (http://www.marbella-lawyers.com/index/articles/showArticle/process-buying-property-spain ) B1. Answer the following questions: 1. Do all real estate agents follow clear professional standards? 2. What kind of licence is required to act as a real estate agent? 3. Why is it sometimes the case that purchasers end up buying properties which do not comply with all necessary legal requirements? 4. What legal problems are specifically mentioned in the text? 5. Why, from the author’s point of view, are estate agents interested in selling at all costs? 6. What would you say is the general view held by the author on the Spanish real estate market? B2. Choose the correct answer to the following questions, dealing with the basic differences between English and Spanish vocabulary and practice. One one answer is correct in each case. 1. Which of the following words does not mean the same in British English as in Spanish? 1
UNIT 4: THE LANGUAGE OF REAL ESTATE LAW
Jul 05, 2023
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