What does title refer to?

The term "title" in real estate refers to the actual ownership and rights in real property. This encompasses not just the legal documentation that signifies ownership, but also the rights associated with that ownership, such as the right to sell, lease, mortgage, or encumber the property. In essence, when someone holds the title to a property, they possess legal rights to use and control that property as dictated by local laws and regulations.

In contrast, the legal document proving ownership is just one aspect associated with title, but it does not encompass the full definition. The area that a property occupies refers to its physical dimensions and location, while the assessed value of a property pertains to its worth as determined for tax purposes. These concepts are related to real estate but do not define what title specifically means in the context of ownership.