Final answer:
A 'Cloud on title' is the term for a claim or encumbrance that brings ambiguity to real property's title, usually found during a title search and must be resolved before property can be sold.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to a claim or encumbrance affecting the title to real property and which is often discovered during a title search is known as a Cloud on title. This situation arises when there is ambiguity or unresolved issues with a property's title, which can be due to irregularities in the property's history, such as unclear property lines in regions using metes and bounds. Clearing a Cloud on title is essential before a sale can occur, especially when farmers are converting their land for commercial or residential development, as an accurate property title is necessary for the transaction.
Easements are different in that they involve a right to use someone else's land for a specific purpose, but don't necessarily represent a cloud on the title unless there's ambiguity or dispute over the easement itself which could affect a property's title.