Real Estate Terms Lookup
Real Estate Terms
If the property is a new unit in a common-interest community or a condominium hotel, or if the community is subject to any developmental rights, or contains converted buildings or contains units which may be in a time share, or is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the buyer must also be provided with a Public Offering Statement disclosing applicable information, including:
- development rights of contractors
- construction schedule
- description of proposed improvements
- mechanical & electrical installations
- initial or special fees
- number & identity of units in timeshare
Unless the buyer has personally inspected the unit, the buyer may cancel the contract to purchase, by written notice, until midnight of the fifth calendar day following the date of execution of the contract. This provision must be stated in the contract.
A showing before closing or escrow that permits the buyers one final tour of the property they are purchasing to confirm it is still in the same condition at the time of purchase and to verify that agreed-upon repairs are completed.
The Internal Revenue form requesting taxpayer identification number and certification.
The Internal Revenue form issued by employer to employee to reflect compensation and deductions to compensation.
A guarantee on a mortgage amount backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A VA loan is a loan guaranteed by the government (Department of Veteran Affairs) and available to the military, active and retired, and even for some eligible spouses, at low-to-no-down payment scenarios with competitive rates and fees.
A trust sale means that the home is being sold by a trustee of a living trust – and not a private party. More often than not this is because the original homeowner has passed away, or has placed their assets in a living trust.
The trustee may not be as emotionally attached to the property as a traditional owner, which could translate to them accepting a less attractive offer as the trustee may prefer to offload the property.
Transfer tax is a transaction fee charged upon the transfer of a property’s title. It is imposed by the state, county, and municipal authority where the transaction is taking place and is based on the property’s value and classification.
Typically, the seller is responsible for paying real estate transfer tax, unless otherwise agreed upon during the transaction.
Termites are small, pale, soft-bodied insects that feed on wood, and can be highly destructive. The WDI (wood-destroying insect) report, also known as the Termite Report, includes a diagram of the property and the location of active and/or previous WDI activity.
The report can also and sometimes include what may be necessary to resolve such possible infestations such as spraying or tenting. The WDI report will rarely if ever include the cost for such items, as that may be considered a conflict of interest.
A VA loan requires a termite report to be paid by the seller.
Tenancy in common describes a type of joint ownership of a property, whether a single family property or a commercial building. The tenants in common all own the property, but in different ratios.
Depending on the property type will determine the ease or difficulty in securing financing. Also to note, tenants in common do not have the right to survivorship (the surviving owners do not get to split up the deceased tenant’s property interest), and instead, the deceased tenant’s ownership interest/percentage actually falls to their own estate, as defined by their will or the governing law.
Subject to inspection, or “submit offers subject to inspection”, means that the seller is not allowing the property to be viewed without an accepted offer. Some common reasons for this are privacy concerns of the occupants or uncooperative tenants.
The thought of buying a property sight unseen can be daunting for the traditional buyer, which can be used to your advantage as this will inevitably drive overall interest down.
It’s also not as bad as it seems as, under the standard purchase contract, you will have an inspection period, during which you can cancel the sale with no penalty.
A special and additional charge to a unit in a condominium or cooperative. Also a special real estate tax for improvements that benefit a property.
In a short sale, the property is being sold for less than the debt secured by the property. Short sales will require the approval of the seller’s lender(s) as the proceeds of the sale will be just “short” of the amount owed; most lenders’ processes of approving short sales are long and drawn out, requiring more time to close than a traditional sale.
Sellers may offer concessions to incentivize buyers to purchase the home, or sweeten the deal.
Concessions are most readily seen as a contribution towards the buyer’s closing costs, up to certain limitations and approvals by a buyer’s lender, which ultimately leaves more money in a buyer’s pocket when all is said and done.
Concessions are usually based upon what the market is. In a seller’s market, expect fewer or no concessions.
An institutional investment market that purchases mortgages from mortgage lenders.
Rent-back, or leaseback, refers to an arrangement whereby the buyer, who is now the new homeowner, agrees to allow the seller, the now-tenant, to stay in the house beyond the close of escrow. The terms are negotiated prior to the situation occurring and will often involve a lease deposit, a daily rental rate, and a length of time allowable.
The rate can sometimes be determined by looking at the new homeowner’s monthly out-of-pocket for the mortgage as well as the possible inconvenience this may cause them in delaying their own move, all factoring into a daily rate.
A written document stating that a seller or buyer has satisfied his or her obligation on a debt. This document is usually recorded.
Refinancing is when you restructure your home loan, replacing your old loan with an entirely new loan that has different rates and payment structures. The main reason people refinance their home loans is to get a lower interest rate on their mortgage, and therefore lower not only the monthly payment but also the overall debt owed.
You can also refinance your loan to get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
An actively licensed real estate agent and REALTOR® are often used interchangeably, although not every real estate agent is a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
A REALTOR® promises to uphold the Code of Ethics of the association and to hold each other accountable for when serving the public, customers, clients and each other, with a high standard of practice and care.
Real-estate owned is a designation given to properties which are owned by a lender due to an unsuccessful foreclosure sale at auction.
REO properties can sometimes present an opportunity for a buyer to be purchased for below market value as most banks would prefer to reinvest the proceeds, rather than waste time marketing the property for an extended period.
Additionally, the bank will often market the property “as-is” meaning they are unwilling to make any repairs to the property, which can make financing tricky.
An individual who is licensed by the state and who acts on behalf of his or her client, the buyer or seller. The real estate agent who does not have a broker’s license must work for a licensed broker.
A quitclaim deed is a document transferring ownership of property from one party to another. It transfers the title of the property — but only transfers what the seller actually owns.
If two people own a home jointly, one person could only transfer their half of the property via quitclaim. This type of transaction is commonly used when property is being transferred between family members not using traditional real estate channels.
When you make an offer, sellers will require you to submit proof of funds. If you’re buying a house with a mortgage, it shows them that you have the cash available for your down payment and closing costs. If you’re paying all cash, your proof of funds shows you actually have the money.
The following documents qualify as proof of funds:
- Original or online bank statements with bank letterhead
- Copy of a money market account balance with the bank’s logo or letterhead
- Certified financial statements, such as an income or cash flow statement that’s been signed off on by an accountant
- An open equity line of credit
A probate sale happens when a homeowner dies without writing a will or leaving a property to someone. In such situations, the probate court would authorize an estate attorney, or other representative, to hire a real estate agent to sell the home.
The total process will usually be a bit more complicated and therefore will take more time than a conventional sale.
A special insurance paid by a borrower in monthly installments, typically of loans of more than 80 percent of the value of the property.
If you have ever wondered why it is common to put 20 percent down for a down payment, avoiding PMI is the reason.
The four parts that make up a borrower’s monthly mortgage payment.
The mortgage company tells a buyer in advance of the formal mortgage application, how much money the borrower can afford to borrow. Some pre-qualifications have conditions that the borrower must meet.
A fine imposed on the borrower by the lender when the loan is paid off before it comes due.
Funds paid by the borrower at closing based on the number of days left in the month of closing.
A preliminary titel report reveals any issues with a title that need to be dealt with by the seller in order to deliver a clear title. It gives details such as ownership history, liens, and easements. The title company gathers this report by searching existing property records at the county recorder’s office.
This report is required for a title insurance company to issue a title insurance policy. Most lenders require borrowers to purchase title insurance coverage to protect their interest in a property.
A higher level of buyer/borrower prequalification required by a mortgage lender. Some preapprovals have conditions the borrower must meet.
Mixed-use development that sets aside areas for residential use, commercial use, and public areas such as schools, parks, and so on.
A real estate contract that has been accepted on a property but the transaction has not closed.
A written document from a seller’s mortgage company stating the amount of money needed to pay the loan in full.
When a listing that is on market is available to the public for viewings and showings.
A service that compiles available properties for sale by member brokers.
A mortgage pre-approval letter is important because it gives home buyers an idea of what they can afford. A mortgage pre-approval letter is issued by the lender and identifies the terms, loan type and loan amount the buyer qualifies for after checking the buyer’s debt-to-income ratios along with cash on hand and credit history.
Many sellers or their agents require a mortgage letter with any home offer that isn’t all-cash, since it acts as proof the buyer has been qualified to get financing.
A business that or an individual who unites lenders and borrowers and processes mortgage applications.
One who underwrites a loan for another. Some lenders have investors underwrite a buyer’s loan.
An administrative individual who is assigned to check, verify, and assemble all of the documents and the buyer’s funds and the borrower’s loan for closing.
The group of mortgage documents that the borrower’s lender sends to the closing or escrow.
A loan contingency is a clause or addendum (also known as a mortgage contingency) in an offer contract that allows a buyer to back out of a deal and keep their deposit if they are unable to secure a mortgage with specified terms during a fixed period of time.
A written document telling the borrowers that the mortgage company has agreed to lend them a specific amount of money at a specific interest rate for a specific period of time. The loan commitment may also contain conditions upon which the loan commitment is based.
The costs a lender charges to close a borrower’s loan. These costs vary from lender to lender and from market to market.
A document that buyers who are requesting a loan fill out and submit to their lender.
A document that establishes the real estate agent’s agreement with the sellers to represent their property in the market.
The real estate sales agent that is representing the sellers and their property, through a listing agreement.
A property lien is unpaid debt on a piece of property. It’s a legal notice and denotes legal action taken by a lender to recover the debt they are owed. It can come from unpaid taxes, a court judgement, or unpaid bills and can slow down the homebuying process when unattended.
In real estate, the lender refers to the individual, financial institution, or private group lending money to a buyer to purchase property with the expectation the loan will be repaid with interest, in agreed upon increments, by a certain date.
A form of ownership or taking title to property which means each party owns the whole property and that ownership is not separate. In the event of the death of one party, the survivor owns the property in its entirety.
When the borrower and lender agree to lock a rate on loan. Can have terms and conditions attached to the lock.
The borrower decides to delay locking their interest rate on their loan. They can float their rate in expectation of the rate moving down. At the end of the float period they must lock a rate.
A contract in which the buyer takes possession of the property while the seller retains the title to the property until the loan is paid.
An inspection happens when buyers pay a licensed professional inspector to visit the home and prepare a report on its condition and any needed repairs. The inspection often happens as part of the due diligence period, so buyers can fully assess if they want to buy a particular home as is, or ask the seller to either complete or pay for certain repairs.
Fixtures or personal property that are included in a contract or offer to purchase.
An iBuyer is an online company that makes an offer on your home “instantly”. iBuyers then resell your home for a profit. While iBuyers advertise convenience and the ability to save you money and the ability to avoid paying commissions, it usually costs the seller more money to sell through an iBuyer. Some companies will advertise lower to no commissions but the seller will pay more in fees that are not readily advertised than what a commission would be for a regular agent.
Offers a fixed rate the first 5 years and then adjusts annually for the next 25 years.
Coverage that includes personal liability and theft insurance in addition to hazard insurance.
A homeowner’s association is a private association that manages a planned community or condominium. When you purchase a property that is managed by an HOA, you agree to abide by the HOA’s rules and pay its monthly or annually HOA dues. If you fail to pay and/or comply, they often have the ability to file a lien against the property and/or foreclose on the property. HOAs are designed to help retain property value in neighborhoods by keeping everything up to a certain standard they set forth.
In Las Vegas, the majority of homes built from the 2000s onwards have HOAs.
A home sale contingency is for a buyer to indicate to a seller that part of their condition to purchase the seller’s property relies on the buyer’s ability to finalize a close on their current property. This is often negotiated with a clause in a contract or with an addendum to a contract. An example of how such a contingency can be used would be if a buyer needs to sell their property in order to have the down payment required on the purchase of the new property, or would rather use their sale proceeds instead of their savings to make the down payment.
Depending on the market, it could hamper negotiations with a seller when a contingency is part of the picture.
Insurance that covers losses to real estate from damages that might affect its value.
Hard money loans are a way to borrow without using traditional lenders. Hard money lenders finance the loan based on the property in question, not on your credit score, and typically require a large down payment and short repayment schedule
Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, within three days of an application submission, lenders are required to provide in writing to potential borrowers a good faith estimate of closing costs.
A letter to a lender stating that a gift of cash has been made to the buyer(s) and that the person gifting the cash to the buyer is not expecting the gift to be repaid. The exact wording of the gift letter should be requested of the lender.
If a homeowner doesn’t make a mortgage payment (usually, for more than 90 days), foreclosure is a legal process during which the owner forfeits all property rights.
If they are unable to pay off outstanding debt on the property or sell it via short sale, the property enters a foreclosure auction. If no sale is made there, the lender takes control of the property.
Insurance that compensates for physical property damage resulting from flooding. It is required for properties located in federally designated flood areas.
Personal property that has become part of the property through permanent attachment.
With fixed rate mortgages, your interest rate stays the same for the duration of the loan. They are often available as 10, 15, 20 & 30-year loans. The 15- and 30-year loan are by far the most popular type of home loans, accounting for about 75% of all U.S. residential mortgages.
FHA loans are part of a group of loans that are insured by the federal government. This means that instead of actually lending money, the FHA insures banks and private lenders that they will cover losses they might incur in the event that the borrower does not repay the loan in full or timely.
This is a “fixer-upper” loan, which combines the mortgage loan with a loan to help pay for repairs or updates, such as structural repairs, or energy-related updates. It is not intended to lend based off of luxury upgrades such as adding a swimming pool or tennis courts.
A guarantee by the FHA that a percentage of a loan will be underwritten by a mortgage company or banker.
A form of property ownership where the owner has the right to use and dispose of property at will.
A property listing that has expired per the terms of the listing agreement.
Fixtures or personal property that are excluded from the contract or offer to purchase.
The escrow holder is the impartial third-party who collects the money, written instruments, documents, personal property, or other things of value to be held until the happening of specified events or the performance of described conditions, usually set forth in mutual, written instructions from the parties.
One of the major advantages of buying over renting. Equity is the investment a homeowner has in their home. To calculate equity, take the market value of the home and subtract any mortgages or liens against the property. The amount leftover is the amount of equity you have in the home.
If you buy a home worth $250,000 for $240,000, you gain what is known as instant equity, because there is a $10,000 difference between the value and the cost. When you sell a home you bought for $250,000 for $260,000, you’ll get to keep the equity in the home after the close, once all the expenses are paid.
It’s important to build equity as homeowners can leverage this financial asset to obtain loans to help finance items such as home repairs, or to pay off higher-interest debt.
The money given to the seller at the time the offer is made as a sign of the buyer’s good faith. It shows not only that the buyer is serious about buying, but that they are also willing to put their money where their mouth is. The earnest money deposit eventually goes toward the total down payment.
In Las Vegas, the EMD is held by the agreed upon escrow company from the Residential Purchase Agreement.
A due diligence period of time might be available in the purchase agreement, which is a time frame provided to a buyer to fully examine a property, often by hiring experts to inspect the property, perform tests, etc., so that a buyer may decide on how to proceed.
A buyer might also be afforded an opportunity to renegotiate the contract based off of their findings or possibly even to terminate within a specified time period, in order to not be considered in default of the contract. Due diligence allows a buyer to fully understand what they are buying.
A state-licensed individual who represents the seller and the buyer in a single transaction.
The amount of cash put toward a purchase by the borrower.
Discount points are also known as mortgage points. They’re fees homebuyers pay directly to the lender at the time of closing in exchange for reduced interest rates which can lower monthly mortgage payments.
Federal, state, county, and local requirements of disclosure that the seller provides and the buyer acknowledges.
Debt-to-income, or DTI, ratio is a number used by mortgage lenders which is determined by the total of your debt expenses, plus your monthly housing payment, divided by your gross monthly income, and multiplied by 100. This helps lenders determine affordability based off of their available loan programs, and allows them to estimate how much you can afford to pay monthly for a mortgage.
A score assigned to a borrower’s credit report based on information contained therein.
Includes all of the history for a borrower’s credit accounts, outstanding debts, and payment timelines on past or current debts.
The response to an offer or a bid by the seller or buyer after the original offer or bid.
Where the shareholders of the corporation are the inhabitants of the building. Each shareholder has the right to lease a specific unit. The difference between a co-op and a condo is in a co-op, one owns shares in a corporation; in a condo one owns the unit fee simple.
A commission offered to the buyer’s agent brokerage for bringing a buyer to the selling brokerage’s listing.
A type of mortgage that has certain limitations placed on it to meet secondary market guidelines. Mortgage companies, banks, and savings and loans underwrite conventional mortgages.
An agreement between the third-party relocation company and the seller (transferee) whereby the third-party company purchases property owned by the seller.
A sales contract in which the buyer takes possession of the property but the seller holds title until the loan is paid. Also known as an installment sale contract.
A provision in a contract requiring certain acts to be completed before the contract is binding.
A type of ownership in real property where all of the owners own the property, common areas and buildings together, with the exception of the interior of the unit to which they have title. Often mistakenly referred to as a type of construction or development, it actually refers to the type of ownership.
A study done by real estate sales agents and brokers using active, pending, and sold comparable properties to estimate a listing price for a property.
Community property refers to property acquired by a married couple and owned equally by both spouses.
The percentage split of commission compensation between the real estate sales brokerage and the real estate sales agent or broker.
The compensation paid to the listing brokerage by the seller for selling the property. A buyer agency agreement may require the buyer to pay a commission to his or her agent.
If a buyer is having trouble getting approved for a loan, they can elicit the help of a co-borrower. This person is usually a family member or friend who’s added to the mortgage and guarantees the loan. They’re listed on the title, have ownership interest, sign loan documents, and are obligated to pay monthly mortgage payments if the buyer is unable to.
CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) is the insurance industry’s national database that assigns individuals a risk score. CLUE also has an electronic file of a properties insurance history. These files are accessible by insurance companies nationally. These files could impact the ability to sell property as they might contain information that a prospective buyer might find objectionable, and in some cases not even insurable.
Closing costs are an assortment of fees, including fees charged by: a lender, the title company, attorneys, insurance companies, taxing authorities, homeowner’s associations, real estate agents, and other closing settlement related companies. These closing costs are typically paid at the time of closing a real estate transaction.
Closing costs are completely separate from the down payment.
The end of a transaction process where the deed is delivered, documents are signed, and funds are dispersed. Once all of these items are completed, then a buyer’s access to the property is then provided, and the buyer is considered the new homeowner.
Note that signing and closing are not the same thing, rather, signing is part of the closing process.
Cost incurred to maintain a property (taxes, interest, insurance, utilities, and so on).
The agent who shows the buyer’s property, negotiates the contract or offer for the buyer, and works with the buyer to close the transaction.
A real estate broker retained by the buyer who has a fiduciary duty to the buyer.
A buydown is a mortgage-financing technique lowering the buyer’s interest rate for anywhere from a few years to the lifetime of the loan. Usually, the property seller or contractor makes payments to the mortgage lender lowering the buyer’s monthly interest rates, which, in turn, lowers their monthly payments.
A state licensed individual who acts as the agent for the seller or buyer. A broker can have many agent licensees that work under them that they are responsible for.
Instead of a traditional fixed-rate mortgage in which the owner pays on the loan in installments, a balloon mortgage is paid in one lump sum (e.g., the balloon payment). It’s usually associated with investment or construction projects that are issued for the short term and don’t require collateral.
A type of mortgage that is generally paid over a short period of time, but is amortized over a longer period of time. The borrower typically pays a combination of principal and interest. At the end of the loan term, the entire unpaid balance must be repaid.
When an offer is accepted contingent on the fall through or voiding of an accepted first offer on a property.
One in which the buyer agrees to fulfill the obligations of the existing loan agreement that the seller made with the lender. When assuming a mortgage, a buyer becomes personally liable for the payment of principal and interest. The original mortgagor should receive a written release from the liability when the buyer assumes the original mortgage.
A contract or offer clause stating that the seller will not repair or correct any problems with the property. Also used in listings and marketing materials. Sellers will often do this for houses that are priced below market value that need work done.
As-is can also be used in contracts. “As is” is in the condition at the time the offer was written, and should something happen to the property from the time the offer was written to the closing time which alters that condition, then that property is no longer “as is”, as it was, and should be brought back to its original “as is” condition at the time of offer, at the cost of seller. Or in the alternative, the seller should release the buyer from their obligation to purchase and refund the monies spent by the buyer, such as earnest money.
The price the third-party relocation company offers (under most contracts) the seller for his or her property. Generally, the average of two or more independent appraisals.
A document of opinion of property value at a specific point in time.
Fees that mortgage companies charge buyers at the time of written application for a loan; for example, fees for running credit reports of borrowers, property appraisal fees, and lender-specific fees.
For rentals, application fees are required to apply. These fees cover running credit reports. They are sometimes refundable and other times not.
The total costs (interest rate, closing costs, fees, and so on) that are part of a borrower’s loan, expressed as a percentage rate of interest. The total costs are amortized over the term of the loan.
The actual sale price after the seller successfully markets and sells his or her home through the broker of his or her choice. The sale is turned over to a third-party relocation company for closing, and the guaranteed offer is amended or changed.
The licensed real estate salesperson or broker who represents buyers or sellers.
A type of mortgage loan whose interest rate is tied to an economic index, which fluctuates with the market. Typical ARM periods are one, three, five, and seven years.
A contract that is pending with attorney and inspection contingencies.
Allowed by law, tenants must be informed of showing 24 hours before you arrive.
The statement of income reported to the IRS for an independent contractor.
The delayed exchange of properties that qualifies for tax purposes as a tax-deferred exchange.