I'm having a debate with someone on another forum about land ownership. He says that unlike other things which you can own outright, because land is a finite resource, you cannot ever own it. Without going into the whys and wherefores of this argument, what is your gut feel? Can you own land or can't you? Is it different from owning your car?
Can you ever own a piece of land?
- Thread starter spokey
- Start date
Of course you can own it. The fact that it's a finite resourse is not relevent. There's only one Mona Lisa and that's owned. You can purchase it achieve full title to it, register it and trade it. Various bodies can force you to sell but you'd still have owned it.
If you're getting into one of thes intellectual debates that all we are doing is looking after it until the next generation then that's another story.
If you're getting into one of thes intellectual debates that all we are doing is looking after it until the next generation then that's another story.
20ducks said:
Disagree - just because one body has the right to purchase it, take it, acquire it or whatever term you use (In the UK at a full commercial rate) does not deny the fact that the original person owned it. That was original question asked, 'can it be owned?''
Before you can answer the question, you have to define what you mean by "own."
If own means live on it and have title to it, then yes - with the understanding that it can be taken as others have pointed out. But if it means own it down the the earth's core, mine the minerals from it, restrict the airspace over it, build whatever you like on it sort of "own" then no you don't IMO.
If own means live on it and have title to it, then yes - with the understanding that it can be taken as others have pointed out. But if it means own it down the the earth's core, mine the minerals from it, restrict the airspace over it, build whatever you like on it sort of "own" then no you don't IMO.
Rama said:
I agree. Some people seem to think that just because you "own" the land your house sits on, that you have the right to build a skyscraper or an underground city lol. Where I live, you can't even cut down a tree in your own property without having consent from the city.
I vote No. I have not read the debates linked above yet, but my philosophy on it is that you can own the RIGHTS to the land, but you can't own the land. Jimmy Buffett sings a good song about a "Salty Piece of Land' and another one that I don't remember the title of but the lyrics go "no matter how hard you try you can't really own that rock". Man! It's killing me that I can't remember the title... gonna have to google it now...ahh, yes, "Holiday" is the song title from his "Banana Wind" album.
"ATLANTA (AP) — Governor Perdue has signed into law a pair of bills aimed at making it harder for the government to seize private property.
One bill sets up a constitutional amendment, which will appear before voters on ballots in November. That measure would take the power of “eminent domain” away from unelected housing and development authorities, requiring officials who must face a vote of the public to make the decision to take property.
The other bill bans the use of eminent domain for economic development or to boost tax revenues."
Damn I love my state 8) .
I own 20 acres of land. When I die, someone else will then own it. But as long as I live here, pay the bills and pay my property taxes, it's mine. I also own my car, my truck, my shop, my garage and all the belongings and toys within them. If I sell them, I no longer own them. But prior to their sale, they were mine. If you pay for it, it's yours until you die or sell it. Then someone else owns it. Simple.
One bill sets up a constitutional amendment, which will appear before voters on ballots in November. That measure would take the power of “eminent domain” away from unelected housing and development authorities, requiring officials who must face a vote of the public to make the decision to take property.
The other bill bans the use of eminent domain for economic development or to boost tax revenues."
Damn I love my state 8) .
I own 20 acres of land. When I die, someone else will then own it. But as long as I live here, pay the bills and pay my property taxes, it's mine. I also own my car, my truck, my shop, my garage and all the belongings and toys within them. If I sell them, I no longer own them. But prior to their sale, they were mine. If you pay for it, it's yours until you die or sell it. Then someone else owns it. Simple.