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 Connecticut, real property, also known as real estate, encompasses land and any permanent structures or attachments to that land, such as buildings and fixtures. This definition aligns with the general understanding that real property includes both the physical elements and the associated legal rights, such as possession, sale, usage, leasing, and enjoyment. Connecticut law recognizes different classifications of real property based on its use, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and special purpose properties. The state's statutes and regulations govern various aspects of real property, including zoning laws, property taxes, and environmental regulations, which may affect how property is used and what structures can be built. Additionally, Connecticut law distinguishes between real property and personal property, with the latter consisting of movable items that do not qualify as real estate. The conveyance of real property in Connecticut is subject to formal requirements, such as deeds and proper recording with local authorities to ensure clear title and ownership rights.