Property Law and Real Rights
Core concepts
Understand the classification of real rights: ownership, limited real rights (right of use, servitude, usufruct, building right, mortgage), and possession as a factual state. Master the modes of acquiring ownership, especially transfer by contract requiring form and registration, acquisitive prescription, and accession. Know the rules on co-ownership, the right of first refusal in co-ownership, and the boundary between movable and immovable property. Understand the mortgage as a security right that does not transfer possession and its enforcement via public sale.
Traps
Questions frequently confuse registration as a condition of validity versus a condition of enforceability against third parties. Another trap concerns acquisitive prescription: distinguish the short period with just title and good faith from the long period without them, and remember that immovables cannot be acquired by prescription against the state in all circumstances. Watch for confusion between servitude and right of use.
Rule of thumb
Ask whether the right is opposable to third parties; if so, identify the registration or possession step that creates that opposability. For mortgage enforcement, the security follows the property, not the person.