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 Utah, real property, also known as real estate, encompasses land and any permanent structures or attachments to that land, such as buildings, fences, and permanent fixtures. This definition extends to components naturally attached to the land, like trees and bodies of water, as well as subsurface rights like minerals, and air rights above the property. The legal rights associated with real property include the ability to possess, sell, lease, use, and enjoy the property. Utah law recognizes different classifications of real property based on its use, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and special purpose properties. These classifications can affect zoning, taxation, and regulatory requirements. Real property is distinct from personal property, which is movable and not permanently affixed to land. The regulation of real property in Utah is governed by state statutes, which cover aspects such as property transactions, ownership rights, and land use, as well as federal laws where applicable.