What is the main characteristic of a fee simple determinable estate?

A fee simple determinable estate is characterized by its subject to a specific condition. This means that the ownership of the property continues as long as a particular condition is met. If that condition is violated or ceases to exist, ownership automatically reverts back to the original grantor or their heirs.

This type of interest is distinct because it incorporates the possibility of reverting to the previous owner without the need for any legal action, strictly tied to the continuation or failure of the specified condition. An example would be a property granted "to a school as long as it is used for educational purposes," where any other use would terminate the estate.

Other options do not capture the essence of a fee simple determinable. For instance, the notion of lasting indefinitely is more aligned with a fee simple absolute, which does not have conditions that could terminate the estate. The statement regarding transferability is related to life estates or other forms of limited estates rather than fee simple determinable. Lastly, rights over adjoining land pertain to easements or specific forms of additional rights rather than the intrinsic properties of the fee simple determinable estate itself.