With Kalleh's query on words creating reality in mind, I began wondering what "real estate" really means. Can someone explain? Is its opposite what the Wall Street crooks have been buying and selling? Is "vaporware" its opposite?

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I began wondering what "real estate" really means.

I used to wonder about that myself, since nobody deals in Real Estate in the UK. We deal in land and property.

I may be mixing forums, but I thought that this was discussed a few months back.

No, real estate is not the opposite of vaporware, which is, as I understand it, software that is promised (or at least announced) but never delivered.

Real estate, in common US usage, is land and buildings. In law, the distinction is between real property and personal property. Real property is generally the same as the common understanding of real estate, but also includes things like easements and, I think, riparian rights. The history of real property vs personal property is varied and fascinating, involving fun things like "ancient lights", covenants which run with the land, and even usufructs.

The Wall Street wizards were not dealing in real property, or real estate. A mortgage (which is at the base of almost all the very wide variety of financial instruments involved) is not real property per se. It is a legal construct that evidences an interest in real property.

The previous thread on real estate (link).

Darn. I'm really getting senile.

While just on the verge of senility,
At least I retain my virility.
I can still chase a girl
To give hot sex a twirl --
I’ve just lost my nonstopability

No worries, Asa. Those of us who are regulars here find we do that a lot.

I will have to get Shu to respond. I notice he didn't in the other thread, either. He is a real estate lawyer, after all.