Is It Possible to Own Property on the Moon?

Answer 1

At the moment, the short answer is no. Of course, there may be plenty of people willing to sell you such property, but if you look into past times, you could also find people willing to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge or swamp land in Florida!

The key issue with lunar property is, at the moment, there is no established law and no clear ownership. Under prior traditions, it is probably owned by the US Government, since they landed there, planted the flag, etc. Though there are also other legal precedents from existing earthbound land rights that could be extended to apply (ie, does the moon belong to whatever country it happens to be over based on established rights of airspace?).

There are groups currently working on those issues, establishing the core of legal briefs that will likely be needed in the near future when the first such dispute comes up. But until we start to have actual case law, I wouldn't count on being able to enforce any claim to ownership. Meaning that you can't really buy property, you can only buy the idea of property at the moment.

PS - there is gravity on the moon. Less than on Earth, but there is gravity.

Answer 2

If you read science fiction that has been a frequent topic, usually the moon is like the Antartic continent, whoever has the money to get there and establish a base has first call, of course the moon is the earth's satellite so it should belong to all countries. I heard some crackpot selling lots on the moon, the only hitch being that the contract stipulated the land reverted to the seller in case you did not plant a tree in your lot within thirty or fourty years. Don´t worry, eventually this will have to dealt with at some point, it just is not possible at the moment, but possible, oh yes, it is always possible.

Answer 3

Well, Skycat, this is one truly amazing question that you present.

Let me tell you that some guy was selling lunar properties in NY (I am not sure the exact location), in the year 1959. I also know that some "copycats" were doing the same in other parts of the world a few years back, and made quite a lot of money before the authorities arrested them in their countries.

Nobody can own properties on the Moon, because there is an international agreement dating prior to the first moon landing in which no country could claim ownership of the Moon. And nobody can sell you what they don't own: except for con artists.

Answer 4

Yes you can.
All of you say ,"Who has the authority to sell property on the moon?" Well who has the authority to sell Earth land? In the B.C. times people made home wherever they felt like. If someone else wanted that home the owner could sell it. Right now no one owns the moon. It is a free for all. I can go make a home on the moon right now if I want. IF NO ONE OWNS IT OR HAS AUTHORITY TO SELL PROPERTY THERE WHO IS GOING TO CHARGE ME OR TELL ME I CANNOT OWN PROPERTY THERE?

Answer 5

I believe it is, but I suspect any "property" claims made now before permanent settlements begin will somehow manage to be invalidated.
I'm fascinated by the challenges that dwelling in outer space will pose - not just the technical stuff, but the bureaucratic stuff, as well.
Property rights are just the beginning. How about depreciation schedules on equipment, since extreme thermal cycling, radiation and micrometeroids will wear down dwellings and capital goods faster than on Earth? How about property and casualty insurance? Are meteor strikes "acts of god" out there, or part of some sort of routine risk formula? How can you run an enterprise in "real time" when you have ships or mining colonies in the outer parts of the Solar System and communications take hours each way?

Answer 6

Sure you can. But, who owns it? Who would you buy it from? Could you get a title company to handle the sale? I'll bet title insurance would be tough. Then there's property taxes. I wonder what that would be, and who would you pay them to?

PS: The moon's gravity is 1/6 that of earth. A 180 pound man would only weigh 30 pounds on the moon. Gee. That's one way to loose weight.

Answer 7

I don't know the details on it but I was told briefly by someone who heard all about this awhile ago (remember this is not by me but ear of a friend so I can't back it up) that it was trying to be made possible to sell to people now or soon because it was said that with in a couple hundred years people should be able to possible build or possibly even live up there. You would get paperwork kinda like when you buy your own star and you'd pass it down will to will through the years and if made possible someone some how related to you through another, and another so on, so on, so on, will get. Like I said I only heard this from another but it was to be taken seriously and I believe in the possibilities of what he said.

Answer 8

Who does the moon belong to that has the authority to sell you real estate?
Last time I heard China was claiming a very large amount of territory on the moon something like one third of the total surface so you better hope that the real estate that you purchased doesn't occupy the same space.

Answer 9

YEs! Actually it is possible! Tom Cruize owns property on the Moon. Rich people think they can buy anything.

Answer 10

who do we think we are to sell the moon? Who has the right to claim it as theres to sell. No I don't think you can really own property on the moon cos no one should own it to sell it. If you See what I mean?