Title and transfer
Adverse possession
Acquiring title by occupying land openly and without permission for the statutory period
A form of involuntary alienation. The occupancy must generally be open and notorious, continuous, hostile — meaning without the owner’s permission — exclusive and for the full statutory period, which varies widely by state. Some states also require paying the property taxes.
How the exam asks about it
"Hostile" does not mean angry; it means without permission, which is why granting permission is the standard way an owner defeats a claim.
Related terms
Sitting the license exam? Find out what you actually know.
Free practice questions built to the published national content outline, with an explanation after every answer. No account, no paywall.
Independent exam preparation. Real Estate Exam Bank is not a state-approved pre-licensing course and completing anything here does not satisfy any state education requirement. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by any state real estate commission, Pearson VUE, or PSI. Practice questions here are original study material, not the official exam.