What is often the purpose of easements in real estate?

Easements primarily serve to enable access to property by allowing one party the right to use a portion of another party's property for a specific purpose. This can include various uses, such as providing access to a landlocked parcel, allowing utility companies to install and maintain infrastructure like power lines or pipelines, or permitting shared driveways.

The importance of easements lies in their role in ensuring that properties can be accessed and utilities can be maintained independently of ownership boundaries. By granting this right, easements can facilitate smooth interactions between neighboring properties and ensure that properties serve their intended purposes efficiently.

In the context of the other options, while easements may have implications for construction or property value, their primary and most recognized function is to provide access. Similarly, easements typically do not serve to restrict use directly; rather, they define allowed use in specific circumstances, making option B the most accurate response.