1.2.6.1. Property Interest(s) to be Appraised.It is the responsibility of the acquiring agency to provide the appraiser with an accurate description of the property interest(s) to be appraised in each assignment. 

Often, the property interest being acquired and appraised is the fee simple estate. This is so even when the real estate has been divided into multiple estates with different owners. This is an application of the unit rule, which will be discussed in greater detail in Section 1.2.7.3.2 and 4.2.2. Federal agencies can also acquire something less than the fee simple interest in property, for example by excluding easements for roads and utilities, mineral rights, water rights, or mineral leases. Agencies can also acquire partial interests such as permanent and temporary easements, rights of entry, and leaseholds. The appraiser must fully understand the nature of the estate(s) to be acquired, and request legal instructions if clarification is needed, for each assignment.