Final answer:
Involuntary alienation refers to loss of property ownership without consent. Eminent domain and foreclosure are two such methods, where the government can seize property for public use with just compensation, and a lender can force sale of property to recover a loan, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of real property law, involuntary alienation refers to the process where an owner may lose title to their property without their consent. The four methods of involuntary alienation of title mentioned include sale, gift, eminent domain, and foreclosure. However, sale and gift are typically voluntary actions. Thus, the correct involuntary methods are: eminent domain, foreclosure, death without a will (intestate succession), and legal action such as adverse possession, escheat, or bankruptcy proceedings.
Eminent domain is a process empowered by the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which allows the government to seize private property for public use. The government must meet two primary conditions: the owner must be paid just compensation, and the property must be intended for public use, such as building a school or road.
On the other side, foreclosure is a legal process where a lender attempts to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower who has stopped making payments by forcing the sale of the asset used as the collateral for the loan. Both eminent domain and foreclosure are examples where property can be transferred out of an individual's ownership without their voluntary agreement.