What Is Sole Ownership in Real Estate?

Sole ownership in real estate means a single individual holds complete and exclusive title to a property. They alone control all decisions, rights, and responsibilities associated with the home, without any shared ownership interests.

Sole Ownership: Simple Definition

Sole ownership—also called sole and separate property—is a form of real estate ownership where one person is the only legal owner of the property. The owner has complete control over financing, selling, refinancing, transferring, or encumbering the home.

Key Characteristics of Sole Ownership

  • One person holds full title with no co-owners.
  • Complete decision-making authority over the property.
  • Sole responsibility for the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
  • No automatic survivorship rights — ownership does not transfer automatically to another person when the owner dies.
  • Property may pass through probate unless held in a trust or estate plan.

Examples of Sole Ownership

  • An unmarried individual purchases a home under their name alone.
  • A divorced spouse becomes the sole owner after a property settlement.
  • A parent inherits a house individually and chooses not to add co-owners.
  • A real estate investor holds a property as a single owner rather than through joint tenancy or partnership.

How Sole Ownership Compares to Other Forms of Ownership

Sole ownership differs from shared forms of ownership in several ways:

  • No shared title — unlike Tenancy in Common.
  • No survivorship rights — unlike Joint Tenancy.
  • No community property presumption — unlike purchases in Community Property states.
  • Full control — unlike trustee-managed or shared estate interests.

Why Sole Ownership Matters When Selling

Sole ownership simplifies the selling process because only one person must sign listing paperwork, offers, and closing documents. However, it also means:

  • The owner alone bears responsibility for liens or debts associated with the property.
  • Estate complications may arise if the owner passes before selling or transferring the property.
  • FSBO sellers using Brokerless often benefit from the streamlined decision-making of sole ownership.

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