what is easement in real estate

An easement is a legal agreement that grants another person, entity, or business the right to access or use someone elses property for a specific purpose. The owner of the property still has full ownership and rights to the land, but those rights are limited by the rights of the easement holder, who has the right to use it for specific reasons. Easements can be created for various purposes, such as allowing utility companies to run lines through a property, granting access to a shared private road, or providing access to a beach or lake. Easements can be transferred in a property sale, so it's important for potential buyers to know if there are any easements on the property. Easements can be recorded as part of the property deed and become part of the public records. Some mortgage lenders may require that there be a permanent recorded easement in place, or a clear road maintenance agreement. Easements are fairly straightforward concepts, despite their complex-sounding names.