The real estate business is one which engages the atten tion of a large number of people. Real estate, that is, land and buildings and all the varied interests in them, is of importance to nearly every one. It is logical then that a course on real estate should be included in the curriculum of a University School of Commerce. The present work is designed primarily as a college text book. It is written for the benefit of the student, and aims to make the principles and practices of the business of real estate comprehensible to the lay mind. The book is not a law book but necessarily includes discussions of some of the legal principles governing real estate transactions.