In which type of property ownership do owners have the most complete control?

Fee simple absolute ownership represents the highest form of property ownership available, granting the owner the most complete control over the property. This type of ownership allows the owner to use, sell, lease, or improve the property without any restrictions, as long as they comply with local laws and regulations.

With fee simple absolute, the owner has an indefinite duration of ownership and can pass the property to heirs or sell it freely. In contrast, other types of ownership, such as joint tenancy, leasehold estate, and life estate, impose various limitations. For instance, joint tenancy includes rights of survivorship, which can restrict how an owner can transfer their interest in the property. A leasehold estate is limited in time and does not confer full rights like fee simple ownership, as the property ultimately belongs to the landlord. A life estate restricts ownership to the duration of a person's life, limiting the owner's control over the property after their death.

Therefore, fee simple absolute ownership is characterized by the fullest rights and control an individual can possess over a property, making it the most desirable and unrestricted form of real estate ownership.