Real property can become personal property by which method?

Severance is the correct answer because it refers to the process of separating real property from the land, turning it into personal property. This typically occurs when an owner removes something that is considered part of the real estate, such as cutting down a tree or detaching a fixture like a light fixture or a built-in cabinet. Once these items are removed from the property, they no longer fall under the category of real estate and become personal property.

The other methods mentioned, such as purchase, hypothecation, and attachment, do not describe a change from real property to personal property. Purchase refers to acquiring property, hypothecation involves using property as security for a loan without transferring ownership, and attachment is a legal process to secure a claim against personal property. None of these processes involve the conversion of real property to personal property, which is why severance is the only method listed that accomplishes this transformation.