Certified Residential Appraiser Practice Exam

What type of easement is annexed to the ownership of one parcel and allows the owner to use a neighbor's land?

1. Easement in Gross

2. Appurtenant Easement

3. Temporary Easement

4. Exclusive Easement

The correct answer is: Appurtenant Easement

An appurtenant easement is a right that benefits a specific parcel of land, known as the dominant tenement, by granting its owner the ability to use a neighboring parcel, termed the servient tenement. This type of easement is tied to the ownership of the dominant property and will transfer alongside the property when it is sold or conveyed to a new owner. For example, if a homeowner needs to cross a neighbor's property to access a public road, the easement that allows this access is appurtenant because it directly benefits the homeowner's parcel of land. The easement is permanent and automatically becomes a part of the property rights associated with the dominant estate, continuing irrespective of individual ownership changes. Other easement types, such as an easement in gross, which benefits an individual rather than a parcel of land, or temporary easements, which are only valid for a specific period or purpose, do not fit this scenario. An exclusive easement refers to a scenario where the easement holder has the sole right to use the land, which can complicate use rights compared to the straightforward benefit seen in appurtenant easements. This clarity of purpose and transferability makes the appurtenant easement the correct choice in this context