A corporation is a distinct legal entity, recognized by law as a single "person." When a corporation purchases and holds title to real property, it does so as a sole owner. This form of ownership by a single entity, whether a natural person or a legal person like a corporation, is known as ownership in severalty. The title is "severed" from all other potential owners.

A. Common: Tenancy in common is a form of co-ownership involving two or more owners. A corporation holding property by itself is a single owner.

B. Joint tenancy: This form of co-ownership includes the right of survivorship, which is a concept that applies to natural persons, not perpetual legal entities like corporations.

D. Trust: A trust is a fiduciary arrangement where a trustee holds property for a beneficiary. It is a method of holding property, but not the fundamental type of ownership for a corporation's own assets.

1. Maryland Real Estate Commission. (2023). Maryland Real Estate Practice & Law (11th ed.). DREI. In Chapter 3, "Interests and Estates," the text clarifies that ownership in severalty is ownership by one individual or one entity, such as a corporation.

2. Galaty, F. W., Allaway, W. J., & Kyle, R. C. (2022). Modern Real Estate Practice (21st ed.). DF Institute, Inc. Chapter 7, "How Ownership Is Held," Section on "Ownership in Severalty," explains that "a corporation is a legal entity...and owns real estate in severalty."

3. University of Maryland, Agricultural Law Education Initiative. (2019). Leasing Land for Farming in Maryland. UMD Extension Publication. In the section "Types of Property Ownership," the publication distinguishes sole ownership (severalty) from co-ownership forms like tenancy in common and joint tenancy, establishing the principle that a single entity, such as a business or corporation, holds property solely. (See section on "Sole Ownership").