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 Washington State, real property, also known as real estate, encompasses land and any permanent structures or attachments, such as buildings, fences, and permanent fixtures. This definition extends to components naturally attached to the land, like trees and water, as well as subsurface minerals and the airspace above. Ownership rights of real property include the ability to possess, sell, lease, use, and enjoy the property. Real estate can be categorized based on its use into residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or special purpose classifications. These categories help determine the applicable zoning laws and regulations that govern the use and development of the property. Real property is distinct from personal property, which refers to movable items that are not affixed to or part of the land. Washington State law, including state statutes and regulations, governs the various aspects of real property, from transactions and ownership rights to land use and zoning.