Oregon 30-Hour Real Estate Law Practice Test

Which of the following is considered a required element in a deed?

1. The property must be valued at market price.

2. The deed includes an act of conveyance.

3. The buyer must be an adult.

4. The deed must be notarized.

The correct answer is: The deed includes an act of conveyance.

A deed is a legal document that formally transfers ownership of real property from one party to another. One of the required elements in a deed is an act of conveyance, which explicitly states the transfer of ownership. This act, typically expressed through phrases such as "does hereby grant," signifies the intention of the grantor (seller) to convey the property to the grantee (buyer). Without this express declaration, the deed would not fulfill its primary purpose of transferring property rights. The other options, while they may pertain to aspects of property transactions or legal requirements, are not mandatory elements of a deed itself. For instance, the valuation of the property is not a requirement for the deed; a property can be conveyed at any agreed-upon price or even as a gift. Similarly, while it’s common for buyers to be adults (of legal age), a deed does not specifically require this condition to be valid, as ownership can be transferred to entities or trusts. Lastly, notarization is an important safeguard for ensuring the authenticity of the document and may be required for recording purposes in some jurisdictions, but it is not a fundamental element of the deed itself. The key function of the deed remains the act of conveyance, essential for the legal transfer of