What is an easement?

An easement is defined as a right to use another person's property for a specific purpose. This legal concept allows the easement holder to access or benefit from the property in ways that do not interfere with the owner's enjoyment of their own property. For example, a common easement is a utility easement, where a utility company has the right to install and maintain power lines or pipelines across a private property owner's land.

In essence, easements provide a balance between property rights, allowing specific use while respecting the overarching ownership rights of the property owner. The nature of easements emphasizes that the use must be compatible with the original use of the property, ensuring that it serves a purpose without conflicting with the owner's use of the land.

The other choices relate to different legal concepts in real estate. Legal restrictions on property use pertain to zoning laws or deed restrictions, not to the right to use another’s land. A type of mortgage agreement involves borrowing money to purchase property and does not concern any rights of use on someone else's property. An appraisal method refers to the process of determining a property's market value, which is separate from the rights associated with property use.