The gradual addition of land to a property through the natural deposit of soil by water.
Why Accretion matters on the exam
This term belongs to Property Ownership. The questions below are real items from Freehold's bank that use it - each one cites its source.
Exam questions using Accretion
Every Freehold question shows why the right answer is right — and cites its source.
Over many years, a river gradually deposits soil along a landowner's bank, slowly increasing the size of the property. This gradual buildup of land is called:
Avulsion
Erosion
Reliction
Accretion
Show answer & explanation
Accretion — Accretion is the gradual and imperceptible addition of soil to land by the natural action of water, and the added land, called alluvion, belongs to the riparian or littoral owner.
Source: PSI National Real Estate Exam Content Outline §1 Property Ownership
A sudden flood causes a river to change course overnight, abruptly cutting off a large portion of a landowner's property and depositing it on the opposite bank. This sudden loss of land is called:
Avulsion
Accretion
Erosion
Reliction
Show answer & explanation
Avulsion — Avulsion is the sudden, perceptible loss or gain of land caused by a rapid change in a watercourse, and unlike accretion, the original owner typically retains title to the identifiable displaced land.
Source: PSI National Real Estate Exam Content Outline §1 Property Ownership
The gradual wearing away of soil from a landowner's property caused by the natural action of water is called:
Accretion
Erosion
Reliction
Avulsion
Show answer & explanation
Erosion — Erosion is the slow, gradual loss of land due to the natural action of water or wind, the opposite process of accretion, which instead adds land to a parcel.
Source: PSI National Real Estate Exam Content Outline §1 Property Ownership
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