Property and Real Rights Law
Real rights and their content
Know ownership, the limited real rights (right of use, habitation, servitude, building right, mortgage), and possession as a factual position. Understand the principle of numerus clausus of real rights and the rules on acquisition, transfer, and extinction.
Transfer of immovable property
Master the requirement of notarial form for the transfer of ownership of immovable property, the principle that the contract itself transfers ownership (no separate registration requirement for the transfer as between the parties, though registration affects opposability), and the rules on the land register and property register entries.
Co-ownership, condominium, and neighbours
Understand ideal shares, the right of pre-emption of co-owners, division, and the rules on condominium (common parts, manager, general meeting). Know the neighbour-law limits and the rules on boundaries.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Traps: confusing opposability against third parties with validity between the parties; forgetting the co-owner's pre-emption right; and assuming that a preliminary contract transfers ownership. Rule of thumb: for every property question, trace three steps - valid title, required form, and registration/opposability.