Texas Real Estate Exam Property Law & Water Rights Guide
Property law questions are some of the most missed questions on the Texas real estate exam. This guide focuses on the exact concepts most frequently tested, with clear definitions and memory anchors.
High-Frequency Exam Concepts
Water Rights
- Littoral rights: lakes and non-moving water
- Riparian rights: rivers and streams
- Doctrine of Prior Appropriation: permits required for surface water
- Rule of Capture: groundwater pumping
Ownership Boundaries
- Non-navigable streams: owner owns to the center
- Navigable waters: ownership stops at mean vegetation line
Homestead Rules
- Rural homestead (family): 200 acres
- Bankruptcy protection: 1,215 days
- Homestead exemption ≠ homestead tax exemption
Liens
- Property tax liens are always paid first
- Mortgage priority follows recording order after taxes
Estates
- Estate at sufferance = holdover tenant
- Legal life estates are created by state law
- An interest = one or more rights, not full ownership
Exam Memory Anchors
- Littoral = still water
- Riparian = moving water
- Accretion adds land
- Rule of capture = groundwater
- Tax liens always win
Closing
If you can confidently answer questions on these topics, you are ahead of most Texas real estate exam takers. These are not abstract concepts; they appear repeatedly in exam questions and real-world transactions.