Which term refers to a legal right to own a specific property?

The term that refers to a legal right to own a specific property is "title." Title represents the lawful ownership of real estate and encompasses the rights associated with that ownership. When an individual holds title to a property, they have the authority to use it, sell it, or otherwise manage it as they see fit, in accordance with local laws and regulations.

This term is foundational in real estate, as it confirms that the property owner has the legal claim to the property and can transfer that ownership through sale or inheritance. Understanding title is essential for real estate transactions, as the validity of the title must be verified to ensure that the transfer of ownership is legitimate and there are no outstanding claims or issues.

Other terms such as easement, encumbrance, and leasehold refer to different aspects of property rights. An easement provides a limited right to use someone else's property for a specific purpose, an encumbrance refers to a claim or liability against a property, which can affect its value or transferability, and a leasehold indicates the right to use or occupy property for a specified period under a lease agreement. However, none of these terms denote ownership of the property itself, which is why title is the correct choice in this context.