Glossary of Real Estate Terms

Abstract of title	A condensed history or summary of all transactions affecting a particular parcel of real estate, including the original grant, all conveyances and encumbrances affecting the property, and the abstractor's certification of the history's accuracy
Acceleration clause	A clause in a mortgage that gives the lender the right to require payment of the entire principal balance if the borrower defaults on an installment payment or other covenant
Acceptance	An offeree's consent to enter into, and be bound by the terms of, a contract
Access	The right to enter and exit a parcel of land from a public way, including the right to enter and exit via land belonging to others
Acknowledgment	The confirmation by which a party executing a legal document confirms his signature and voluntary agreement with the terms of the document, made before an authorized officer of the Court or notary public
Acre	43,560 square feet of land
Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)	A mortgage with interest rates that may fluctuate based on market conditions; the lender is permitted to adjust the mortgage's interest rate periodically, though most ARM's are limited in the amount that the interest rates can vary
Adjusted basis	The total of the original cost of a property and the value of any capital expenditures for improvements done to it, minus any depreciation taken
Adjustment date	The date on which the interest rate changes for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Adjustment period	The period of time between the adjustment dates for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Administrator	A person appointed by a probate court to administer the estate of an individual who has died without a will
Adverse Possession	A claim made against the land titled to another person, by virtue of open and hostile possession and use of the land to the exclusion of the titled owner
Affidavit of title	A sworn statement that is made in writing under oath by a seller of real property, and certified by a notary public, in which the seller identifies himself or herself, indicates marital status, certifies that no defects have occurred in the title since the examination of the title on the date of the contract, and confirms that he or she is in possession of the property (if applicable)
Agency	The relationship between two or more persons wherein the agent is authorized to act on behalf of another person (or principal) in certain transactions
Agent	A person or company that acts on behalf of another to transact business, generally in exchange for payment. In real estate, it is a person or company with a real estate license working under the authority of a real estate broker
Alienation	The act of transferring property to another, either voluntarily (via a sale), or involuntarily (via adverse possession)
Alienation clause	The clause in a mortgage or deed of trust which asserts the lender's option to require that the balance of the secured debt becomes immediately due and payable if the property is sold by the borrower, preventing the borrower from assigning the debt without the lender's approval
ALTA	American Land Title Association, the national association of title insurance companies, abstractors and attorneys specializing in real property law, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Amenity	A natural or manmade feature of real property that enhances its value and attractiveness, though it is not essential to the property's use
Amortization	The process of payment of a debt or mortgage loan over time by installments
Amortization schedule	A timetable for repayment of a debt or mortgage loan, showing the amount of each payment, what portion is applied to interest and principal, and the remaining balance
Amortization term	The amount of time required to repay the mortgage loan, expressed in number of months
Amortize	To pay off a loan or mortgage with periodic payments that cover both principal and interest
Amortized loan	A loan in which both the principal and interest are payable in monthly or other periodic installments over the term of the loan, with no balloon payment prior to maturity
Annual mortgagor statement	An annual report sent to the borrower (mortgagor) each year, showing the amount paid in taxes and interest during the year, as well as the remaining mortgage loan balance
Annual percentage rate (APR)	The overall cost of a mortgage, including interest, mortgage insurance, and loan origination fee (points), stated as a yearly percentage, thus allowing buyers to compare different types of mortgages based on the associated annual finance charges; the APR must be disclosed to borrowers by lenders, per the Truth-in-Lending Act
Annuity	The return, including interest, from an investment of capital, paid in a series of regular payments
Appraisal	A written estimate of the value of an asset or property prepared by a qualified, independent party, through which the asset or property value is determined
Appraised value	The estimate of a property's fair market value, based on an appraiser's analysis of the property
Appraiser	An individual educated to estimate the value of real property and personal property
Appreciation	An increase in the worth of a property due to changes in economic conditions or other causes; the opposite of depreciation
Appurtenance	Anything attached to, or used with, a parcel of land that will go to the new owner on conveyance of the land
ARM	Adjustable-rate Mortgage. Also see "Variable Rate Mortgage"
Assessment	A tax, charge or levy against a property made by the government, based on its value, and levied for a specific purpose, such as to finance sidewalks, a sewer, etc.
Assessment rolls	The public record of taxable property
Assessor	A public official who evaluates the value of a property for taxation purposes
Asset	Anything of monetary value owned by an individual, including real property, personal property, and enforceable claims against others (bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, etc.)
Assign	To transfer interest
Assignee	One who receives an assignment or transfer of rights
Assignor	One who makes an assignment or transfer of rights to another
Assumable mortgage	A mortgage that allows a new owner to take over its obligations
Assumption	The process of transferring the seller's existing mortgage and liability for payments to the buyer when purchasing a property, which usually saves the buyer money, since assuming a new mortgage incurs additional closing costs and possibly higher interest charges
Assumption clause	The provision in an assumable mortgage that allows a buyer to take responsibility for that mortgage from the seller
Attachment	Seizure of property through Court process to force payment of a debt
Attorney-in-fact	One who holds a power of attorney from another to execute legal documents on behalf of the grantor of the power

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Back ratio	The ratio of monthly housing costs (principal, insurance, taxes, and interest) plus regular monthly payments to gross monthly income, used by the lender to evaluate an applicant's qualification for a loan; typical back ratios are between 32 - 45 percent
Balloon mortgage	A mortgage with level monthly payments over a stated term, but which requires a lump sum payment in full due at the end of an earlier specified term
Balloon payment	The final lump sum payment that is made at the maturity date of a balloon mortgage, which is larger than preceding regular payments
Bankruptcy	A legal proceeding in a federal court in which a debtor who owes more than the total of his or her assets can surrender those assets to the Bankruptcy Court, thereby being relieved of the future obligation to repay his or her unsecured debts; a Trustee in Bankruptcy administers the assets, selling them to pay as much of the debt as possible
Bargain and sale deed	A deed that carries with it no warranties against liens or other encumbrances, but which implies that the grantor has the right to convey title
Basis	The financial interest an owner of an investment property has, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service, in order to determine annual depreciation and gain or loss on the sale of the asset Adjusted Basis: When property is purchased, the owner's basis is calculated to be the property cost plus the value of any capital expenditures for improvements made, minus any depreciation taken
Benchmark	A permanent reference mark made on a piece of property for the sake of surveyors
Beneficiary	The person named to receive income from a trust, an estate, or a deed of trust
Bequeath	To gift or transfer personal property to another party, executed via a will
Betterment	An improvement to property that increases its value, as opposed to repairs or changes that maintain its value only
Bid	A financial offer to purchase a property
Binder	A preliminary agreement for the purchase of real estate, secured by the payment of an earnest money deposit which evidences the purchaser's good faith and intent to complete the purchase
Blanket loan	A mortgage covering more than one parcel of real estate, which provides for each individual parcel's partial release from the mortgage upon repayment of a portion of the debt
Bond	A written financial obligation, usually secured by a mortgage or a deed of trust, and often posted with the Court, to guarantee against loss incurred with a potential claim
Breach	Failure to follow through on a contractual promise or legal obligation
Bridge loan	A form of second trust, collateral for which is the borrower's present home, usually taken on to allow the proceeds from the sale of the borrower's present home to be used to close on a new home, before the previous home is sold
Broker	An intermediary who assists in negotiating contracts between two or more parties, for a fee; in real estate, a broker is licensed to assist in the purchase, selling, rental or managing of real estate; the broker's services will vary, depending on whether he or she is employed by the seller or the buyer
Building code	An ordinance that specifies minimal standards for construction, alteration, or demolition of a building, set for the sake of safety
Building Restriction Line (or "Set-back")	The minimal distance from the road where a building may be positioned, which appears in the original plat of subdivision, restrictive covenants, or in zoning ordinances and building codes
Bureau of Land Management	The branch of government responsible for the surveying and management of public lands
Buy-back agreement	A written agreement which specifies the conditions under which the seller is allowed to repurchase the property, usually restricted to a certain period of time and to a price stated in the agreement
Buydown	When the lender or home builder lowers the interest rate on initial payments on a loan, often for the first few years, allowing a borrower whose income is expected to increase in subsequent years to qualify for a loan they otherwise are currently not qualified for
Buyer-agency agreement	When the broker is the agent for the buyer and is financially obliged to the buyer
Buyer's market	When the real estate buyer is at advantage because there is more supply of houses or real estate available for sale than there is demand, thus lowering prices

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CC & R ' s	Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions; or the rights and obligations of individual owners of real property within a subdivision (or other tract of land where there is more than one owner of property) in relation to other owners, or to the organized association of owners, within the same subdivision, relative to the use and maintenance of the property commonly owned among them
Call option	A provision of a mortgage that allows the mortgagee, or lender, to require the mortgage to be due and payable for any reason at the end of a specified period of time
Cap	A limit placed on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) as to how much the interest rate or mortgage payments may increase or decrease
Capital expenditure	The expense incurred making an improvement to a property in order to extend it useful life or to add to its value
Capital gain	Profit earned from the sale of an asset
Capitalization	A mathematical formula that estimates the value of a property, utilizing the rate of return on the investment and the annual net operating income expected
Capitalization rate	The rate of return a property will produce on the owner's investment
Cash-out refinance	A loan for refinancing a property which offers cash over and above what is needed to repay the first mortgage, closing costs, points and any other mortgage liens due. The additional cash can be used for any purpose
Caveat Emptor	Translation: "buyer beware", meaning that the buyer is responsible for inspecting any real estate or property before purchase for defects, as the seller is not required to disclose any problems to the buyer, though if asked outright, cannot conceal any defects
Certificate of deposit	A document provided by a bank or financial institution that is proof of a deposit of funds with that bank or institution, also promising to return the deposit plus earnings at a specified interest rate within a specified time period
Certificate of Eligibility	A document issued by the U.S. government certifying a veteran's eligibility for a VA guaranteed loan for a home or business
Certificate of occupancy	A city or county document certifying that a building is approved for occupancy, often required by insurance companies to insure the property
Certificate of Reasonable Value (CRV)	A document issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) establishing the maximum loan amount for a VA mortgage
Certificate of Satisfaction	A document recorded with land records and signed by the Noteholder of a property, showing release of a mortgage, deed of trust, or lien on that property
Certificate of title	A statement of opinion provided by a title company or attorney, based on examining public records, stating that the title to a piece of real estate is legally held by the current owner; because this certification does not cover matters not of record, it is no longer commonly used
Chain	A unit for measuring land equaling 66 feet in length
Chain of Title	The series of all historical title documents showing the succession of owners of a property, as evidenced in the land records, whereby it is proven that the present owner of that property in fact holds the title
Chattel	Personal property
Clear title	A document establishing ownership of a property that is free of any legal questions or controversies as to the current ownership
Closing	Also known as "escrow" or "settlement". The process of finalizing the sale of a property via a meeting of the buyer, seller and lender, at which legally binding documents are executed, money is dispersed, the deed is prepared, and ownership is formally transferred from the seller to the buyer
Closing costs	Expenses over and above the price of the property that are incurred by the buyers and sellers in transferring ownership of property, usually including property insurance, taxes, attorney's fees, an origination fee, an amount placed in escrow, title insurance, the mortgage insurance premium, points, and filing fees
Closing statement	A summary financial accounting of a real estate transaction disclosing all cash incoming, outgoing, and any charges or credits made
Clouded Title, or Cloud on Title	Any conditions revealed by a title search, usually during the sale of the property, that make the title to a piece of real estate controversial; can only be removed by a quitclaim deed, release, or court action
Coinsurance	A sharing of insurance risk between the insurer and the insured, and it depends on the amount of the policy and the actual value of the property insured at the time of the loss
Coinsurance	When more than one insurance company shares the risk of a particular transaction or series of transactions; lenders may require co-insurance on large commercial projects
Collateral	As asset pledged to secure a loan; collateral for a mortgage is typically the property itself
Co-maker	A person who takes on equal responsibility for the repayment of a loan by signing the promissory note along with the borrower
Commission	The fee charged by a broker or agent for negotiating a real estate or loan transaction, usually a percentage of the selling price of the property or amount of the loan
Commitment letter	A formal document issued by the lender, stating the terms under which the lender agrees to lend money to a homebuyer
Common area assessments	Fees levied against individual unit owners in a condominium or planned unit development project to generate additional capital to defray homeowners' association expenses, and to pay for repairs, maintenance and improvements to the common areas of the project
Common Interest Community (CIC)	An arrangement among property owners whereby they have mutual ownership of common areas of a property (e.g., condominiums, townhouses and planned unit developments) often through membership in an association
Common law	An unwritten body of law or ethical agreements, originating from general customs in England
Community Land Trust Mortgage Option	A financing option that enables lower or moderate-income buyers to purchase housing that has been improved by a nonprofit Community Land Trust, as well as to lease the land on which the property stands
Community property	In some US states, a recognized right of ownership, that any property acquired during a marriage as being jointly owned by both spouses, except that acquired as specifically personal for either individual
Comparables, or Comparable Properties	Properties that are similar in size, style, location and amenities to the property under consideration in an appraisal, which are used in the appraisal process to help determine the approximate fair market value of the subject property
Comparative market analysis (CMA)	A comparison of the sale prices of similar properties (e.g., size, style, location, amenities) in a given area, for the purpose of determining the fair market value of a property
Condemnation	The County or City determination that a building is dangerous for occupancy and must be demolished
Conditional-use permit	Written governmental permission given to allow a use of a property that is ordinarily inconsistent with existing zoning laws, but which is deemed necessary for the common good
Condominium	A system of individual ownership of units within a multi-unit structure, as well as joint ownership of certain common areas; each individual may sell or encumber his own unit within the structure
Conservator	An individual designated by the Court to protect and preserve the property of someone who is not able to manage his or her own affairs See "Guardian"
Construction loan	A short-term loan for financing the cost of construction of a structure, whereby payments are made to the builder usually in increments as the work progresses
Contingency	A condition that must be met before a contract is legally binding, or where one event or agreement is dependent on the fulfillment or completion of another event
Contract	An oral or written, often legally-binding, agreement between two parties
Contract for Deed, or Land Contract	A method of financing whereby the ownership of a piece of property or real estate remains in the seller's name as security until the buyer pays the purchase price in full
Conventional loan, or Conventional mortgage	A real estate loan or mortgage that is not insured or guaranteed by a government agency, such as the VA or FHA
Convertibility clause	A provision offered in some adjustable-rate mortgages giving the borrower the option to change the ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage at a specified point in time after the loan originated
Convertible ARM	An adjustable-rate mortgage that can be converted to a fixed-rate mortgage under specified conditions
Conveyance	Any document by which the title to real property is transferred
Cooperative (co-op)	A system of multiple ownership in which the residents of a multi-unit housing complex own stock in a corporation that then owns the property, and whereby each resident is given the right to occupy a specific unit pursuant to a lease
Cost approach	A method used by appraisers to estimate the value of a property, in which the appraiser's estimate of the replacement cost of the building is added to the estimated land value, minus the depreciation
Cost of funds index (COFI)	An index used to determine changes in the interest rate for certain adjustable-rate mortgage plans, determined by the weighted-average cost of savings, borrowings, and advances of the 11th District members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
Co-tenancy	Ownership of the same piece of property or real estate by more than one person
Counteroffer	A new offer, with different terms and conditions, made in rejection of an original offer received
Covenant	A clause written into mortgages, deeds or other real estate documents that obligates or restricts the borrower's actions, and which, if violated, can result in foreclosure of the property
Credit history, or Credit report	A record, prepared by an independent source, of an individual's debts and status of their payment, useful to a lender in qualifying a potential borrower for a loan
Credit life insurance	A type of insurance that can be purchased by mortgagors that will guarantee payment of the mortgage if the mortgagor dies while holding the policy

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Deed	A written document that conveys the ownership of real estate from one person or party to another
Deed-in-lieu, or Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure	A deed given by a mortgagor to the mortgagee when the mortgage is in default, to avoid foreclosure
Deed of trust	A written document that grants a trustee, in the event of foreclosure, the full power to sell, mortgage and subdivide the property in question
Deed Restriction	A clause in a Deed that limits the uses of the property (e.g., types or quantities of structures permitted)
Default	The failure to meet the legal obligations in a contract; in real estate, failure to pay mortgage payments as scheduled or to comply with other stipulations of the mortgage
Deferred interest	Interest on a mortgage which is delayed because the monthly payment of the mortgage is not large enough to cover the entire principal and interest due, and therefore is added to the loan balance See "negative amortization"
Deficiency judgment	A claim made by the holder of a note against the maker, in the event that a foreclosure sale does not bring in enough proceeds to fully cover the note and the costs of sale, for the difference
Delivery	The final, unconditional and absolute transfer of a Deed from seller to buyer, such that the seller cannot revoke the transfer of ownership; the Deed itself does not pass title until the seller delivers it to the buyer
Depreciation	A decline in the value of property, due to any cause; the opposite of appreciation Also an expense deduction taken for tax purposes over the period of owning income property
Devise	To dispose or convey ownership of real property via a will
Disclosure	A statement of facts made by the buyer about the condition of a property being sold and its surrounding area, required by law in most US states
Discount point	A unit of measurement used for loan charges, with one point equaling 1 percent of the value of the loan
Dower	The rights of a spouse to the property of their deceased spouse
Down payment	The amount of the purchase price of a property paid in cash (i.e. not financed with a mortgage) that is required to secure the property; typically 20%
Dual agency	Representation of opposing parties in a transaction (e.g. when a realtor is the agent for both buyer and seller); requires consent of both parties to be allowed, and is illegal in some US states
Due-on-sale clause	A provision in a mortgage allowing the lender to demand payment of the entire balance of the note if the mortgagor sells or otherwise transfers the property

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Earnest money	A deposit made of a portion of the purchase price by the buyer to demonstrate his or her serious intent to purchase the property, usually accompanied by an agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the sale
Easement	The permanent or temporary right to use the property of another for a specific purpose -- e.g. for access over the property, putting up utility lines, etc.
Egress	The right to leave or exit over a piece of property
Eminent domain	The right of the government to take over private property for public purposes upon payment of its fair market value
Encroachment	A physical, illegal intrusion onto another's adjoining property; examples are a structure, driveway, fence
Encumbrance	Any claim against the fee simple title to a property, such as a lien, mortgage, or easement
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)	A federal law that requires lenders and other creditors to make credit equally available without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or receipt of income from public assistance programs
Equity	The owner's financial interest in a property, over and above any indebtedness for that property; or the difference between the fair market value of the property, and the amount still owed on its mortgage
Equity Sharing	A form of joint ownership between an owner/occupant and an owner/investor, whereby the owner/investor receives depreciation deductions as his portion of interest in the property, and the owner/occupant receives some of the tax write-offs for interest and taxes, as well as part of his monthly payment being applied against his rent. If the property were sold, the co-owners would also divide the profit
Escheat	Property that reverts to state ownership when an individual dies without a will and without heirs
Escrow	A deed, contract, or something of value deposited with a disinterested third party, to be delivered upon the performance of certain conditions by the parties involved; e.g., an attorney or escrow agent taking custody of funds and documents upon the closing of a sale of real estate
Escrow account	An account established by an escrow agent to hold funds for the agent's principal until the consummation of the transaction
Escrow instructions	A document that outlines the duties of the escrow agent and the obligations of the parties involved in an escrow transaction
Escrow payment; also "impounds" or "reserves" in some states	The portion of a mortgagor's monthly payment that is retained by the escrow agent to cover the costs of taxes, hazard or mortgage insurance, lease payments, and other costs incurred in the course of the transaction
Estate	An individual's possessions and property, relevant particularly at the time of death
Eviction	The legally directed removal of an occupant from real property
Exclusive listing, or Exclusive agency listing, or Exclusive right-to-sell listing	A written contract giving a licensed real estate broker the exclusive right to sell a property for a designated period of time, on terms stated by the owner, for a fee, while also reserving the owner's right to sell the property himself, without paying anyone a commission
Executor	A person named in a will, or in the absence of such designation, appointed by the probate court, to administer an estate and carry out its terms
Extended Mortgage	A mortgage in which the due date of payment is extended, and is usually charged at a higher interest rate than the original mortgage

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Fair Credit Reporting Act	A federal law that regulates the disclosure of consumer credit reports by consumer/credit reporting agencies, and establishes procedures for rectifying errors on individuals' credit records
Fair Housing Act	A federal law which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status and national origin
Fair market value	The highest price that a buyer, who is willing but not required to buy, would pay for a piece of property or home, and the lowest price that a seller, who is willing but not required to sell, would accept
Fannie Mae	The Federal National Mortgage Association (also FNMA), a private corporation which is federally chartered to provide financial products and services that increase the availability and affordability of housing, by purchasing mortgages from banks and other lending institutions; the FNMA is the largest non-bank financial services company in the world, as well as the largest resource for financing of home mortgages in the U.S.
Farmer's Home Administration (FmHA)	A federal agency that provides credit assistance to farmers and other individuals residing in rural areas of the U.S.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)	An independent federal agency that insures the deposits in commercial banks
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)	A corporation established to purchase primarily conventional mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market
Federal Housing Administration (FHA)	An agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), whose function is the insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders; while setting standards for construction and underwriting, the FHA itself does not lend money, or construct housing
FHA insurance	Mortgage insurance provided by the Federal Housing Administration to protect banks, savings and loans, and mortgage companies against loss on real estate loans
FHA loan	A loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration, and made by an approved lender in accordance with the FHA's regulations
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)	A governmental agency established to purchase any kind of mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market from the primary lenders
Fee simple	The greatest interest in a parcel of land that is possible, or the total interest in real property
Fiduciary relationship	A relationship of trust and confidence, as between principal and agent, trustee and beneficiary, attorney and client
Finder's fee	A commission paid to a mortgage broker for sourcing a mortgage loan for a prospective borrower
First mortgage	A mortgage that is the primary lien against a property
Fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)	A mortgage in which the interest rate remains fixed over the duration of the term of the loan
Fixture	Any item of property that is attached to real property such that it becomes a permanent part of the real property, and therefore is usually sold with it
Foreclosure	A legal proceeding usually initiated by the lender or creditors, involving a forced sale of a property owned by a borrower who has defaulted on payment of, or on the terms of, a loan on said property, and whereby the borrower is deprived of his or her interest in the property
Forfeiture	The loss of money, property, rights, or privileges due to a breach of legal obligation
Forfeiture of Title	The provision in a deed that accounts for title being passed to another, should certain terms not be met or certain circumstances occur
Freddie Mac	The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (also FHLMC), a private corporation that is federally chartered to purchases and sells mortgage loans; a major player in the secondary market, along with the Federal National Mortgage Associate (FNMA)
Front ratio	The ratio of a potential borrower's monthly housing costs to their gross monthly income, utilized by lenders to qualify an applicant for a loan; typically 28-40 percent is acceptable
Fully amortized ARM	An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with a monthly payment that is sufficient to pay off the remaining balance at the interest accrual rate over the amortization term
Fully indexed note rate	Te index value at the time of application for an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) plus the gross margin stated in the note

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General warranty deed	A deed in which the grantor warrants title against all claims, offering the greatest guarantee of protection of any type of deed, and which is used in most real estate deed transfers of title
Ginnie Mae	The Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), a United States corporation that guarantees privately issued securities backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, or the Veterans Administration
Graduated-payment mortgage (GPM)	A flexible-payment mortgage with monthly principal and interest payments that increase by a certain percentage each year for a certain number of years, and then level off for the remainder of the term
Grantee	The person who, by written document, receives title or an interest in real property from a grantor
Grantor	The person who, by written document, transfers title to or an interest in real property to a grantee
Gross Lease	The most common of residential leases, whereby the landlord pays for all property expenses incurred through ownership, such as taxes, insurance, repairs, etc.
Ground Lease	A long-term lease of land (usually 99 years) that allows the lessee to build and use the land as agreed in the lease, at the end of which, the land and any improvements revert to the owner
Ground rent	The payment made for the use of land when the title to the property is of a leasehold estate, rather than as a fee simple estate
Growing-equity mortgage (GEM)	A fixed-rate loan for which the monthly payments increase over a designated period of time, with the increased amount of the monthly payment being applied directly to the principal balance, thereby shortening the term of the loan
Guarantee mortgage, or Insured mortgage	A mortgage that is guaranteed against default by a third party (such as the FHA), and for which the borrower must pay an insurance premium
Guardian	An individual designated by the Court to protect and preserve the property of someone who is not able to manage his or her own affairs See "Conservator"

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Hazard insurance	Insurance protection for specified losses due to natural causes, such as fire, floods, earthquake, tornadoes, and other "acts of God"
Heir	An individual who will potentially inherit an interest in land from someone who dies
Hiatus	A gap or space between two parcels of lands that is not included in the legal description of either parcel
Home equity line of credit, or Home equity loan	A mortgage loan (usually not the primary mortgage) or line of credit which gives the property owner the option to obtain cash advances from the loan proceeds, using his or her residence as collateral, but which is not to exceed a pre-arranged amount of the owner's total equity in the property
Homeowners' association	A nonprofit association of individual owners of units in a multi-unit structure (either a planned unit development, or a condominium) that manages the common areas of that structure. In a planned unit development (PUD) project, the association holds title to the common elements, whereas in a condominium project, it holds no title to the common elements
Homeowner's insurance	An insurance policy available to residential real estate owners that protects homeowners against financial loss from fire, theft, public liability, and other risks
Homestead	Real estate that is owned and utilized as the primary family residence, protected in some states as exempt from the claims of creditors
Homestead deed	A document filed in the land records asserting a homestead exemption, protecting a variable amount of his assets (depending on which state) against the claims of creditors
Housing ratio, or Debt-to-income ratio	The percentage that results from dividing a borrower's housing expenses by his/her gross monthly income, used by the lender to evaluate an applicant's qualification for a loan
HUD-1 statement	The document used in closing a real estate transaction (also known as a "closing statement" or a "settlement sheet") which itemizes the funds that are payable at closing, including broker commissions, loan costs, and escrow amounts, and which provides a summary of the seller's net proceeds and the buyer's net payment at closing. It is required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) whenever federally-related mortgages are being made on residential properties

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Impound, or Reserves	The portion of a borrower's monthly payments held by the lender to pay for taxes, hazard and mortgage insurance, lease payments, and other items that will come due
Income approach	The method of estimating the value of a property by calculating its generated income
Income property	Real estate developed for the purpose of generating income
Indemnify	To provide for compensation in the case of loss or damage to property
Indemnity	The statement of terms under which loss or damage to property will be compensated
Index	A published interest rate used by lenders to compare the interest rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with that earned by other investments (e.g., the yield on Treasury bills, interest rate on loans from savings and loans institution, etc.), as a result of which the ARM interest rate is adjusted
Ingress	The right to enter on or over a piece of property
Insurable Title	A property title which an insurance company is willing to insure against possible claim
Installment contract, or Contract for deed	A contract for the sale of real estate whereby the buyer is in possession of the property while paying off the purchase price in periodic installments, despite the title being retained by the seller until the future date of final payment
Insured closing letter	An indemnity provided by a title insurance company to a lender, whereby the title insurance company assumes responsibility in the case that the closing agent does not fulfill the terms of the loan, or misappropriates the loan proceeds
Insured mortgage	A mortgage that is protected by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or by private mortgage insurance (MI) so that if the borrower defaults on the loan, the insurer compensates the lender the lesser of the loss incurred or the actual insured amount
Interest rate buydown plan	An arrangement made for the initial years of a mortgage whereby the seller (or any other party) deposits money into an account that is then released toward the monthly payments on the mortgage, thereby bringing the mortgagor's interest rate down below the actual interest rate
Interest rate ceiling	The maximum interest rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), as specified in the mortgage note
Interest rate floor	The minimum interest rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), as specified in the mortgage note
Interim financing	A temporary or short-term loan, often made during the construction phase of a building project, and usually replaced by a permanent long-term mortgage
In testate	The condition of dying without leaving a will. The description of an estate without a will
Involuntary lien	A claim or charge against property placed without the consent of the property's owner

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J, K

Joint Ownership Agreement	An agreement made between two or more owners of the same property, defining their rights and responsibilities (e.g. recommended in the case of married owners of property) See Equity sharing
Joint tenancy, or Tenants by the entirety	Ownership of real estate by two or more parties held jointly for life; if one of the owners dies, the survivor(s) inherit the property without reference to the deceased's will
Judgment	A decision or decree made by a court of law
Judgment lien	A claim against the real property of a debtor, as decreed by the court
Jumbo loan, or Non-conforming loan	A loan amount that exceeds the limits set by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; because such loan cannot be funded by these two agencies, it carries a higher interest rate
Junior mortgage, or Secondary mortgage	A mortgage whose claim to repayment is of lesser priority than another, previously recorded mortgage

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Land contract	See Contract for deed
Late charge	The penalty a borrower pays when a payment is made after the due date
Lease	A written agreement between the property owner and a tenant that stipulates rent to be paid, as well as the terms under which the tenant may reside in the real estate for a designated period of time
Leasehold estate	The tenant's right to title to a property for a specific period of time whereby the tenant does not actually own the property but has a long-term lease on it
Lease option	A lease that gives the tenant the right to purchase the property, either during the lease term or at its end
Lender's Title Insurance	An insurance policy covering a lender for the loan amount, whereby the coverage declines in amount as the loan is paid off, to the point where there coverage ends when the loan is paid completely
Lessee	The individual or party who takes property upon a lease
Lessor	The individual or party who grants property upon a lease
Liabilities	An individual's financial obligations
Lien	A legal claim or charge allowed to a creditor against a debtor's property that must be paid when the property is sold to transfer title
Life estate	The right to use, occupy and own, for the duration of the life of the individual
Lifetime payment cap, or Lifetime rate cap	The limit on the amount that payments can increase or decrease over the term of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Liquid asset	Cash, or an asset that can be readily converted into cash
Liquidated damages	The compensation predetermined by both parties to a contract to be paid to the injured party, should the other party breach the contract
Lis pendens	A legal document filed in either a federal or state court indicating that a suit is pending against property located in the county where the notice is recorded
Listing agreement	A contract by which a broker is employed by the seller to find a buyer for the seller's real estate, according to the seller's terms, and for which service, the broker is paid a commission
Listing broker	A broker whose office initiates the property listing (as opposed to the cooperating broker, whose office negotiates the sale); the listing broker and the cooperating broker may be the same person
Loan origination	The process by which a lender sets up a mortgage loan secured by real property
Loan origination fee	The fee charged by the lender to the borrower for setting up a mortgage loan, usually computed as a percentage of the total mortgage amount
Loan-to-value (LTV) percentage	The proportion of the amount of the mortgage loan against the appraised value or sales price of the piece of property being pledged as collateral; e.g., a home with appraised value of $100,000 but with a $90,000 mortgage has a LTC of 90 percent
Lock-in	A guaranteed interest rate established at the time of closing which is honored if the mortgage closes within a certain period of time, also usually establishing the number of points to be paid at closing as well
Lock-in period	The time period during which the set interest rate is guaranteed to the borrower
Loss Payable Clause	A provision in an insurance policy that provides payment for any loss to two or more parties, as their interest so justifies, the two parties typically being the owner and the lender
Lot	A parcel of land with fixed boundaries as determined by a survey

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Majority	The age at which an individual is legally entitled to handle his or her own affairs
Margin	The amount added to the index on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that establishes the adjusted interest rate at a given time
Market value, or Fair market value	The most likely price that a piece of property or home can realistically be sold for, and is dependent on the selling price of similar real estate in the area
Marketable title	A clear, unencumbered title, reasonably acceptable without the threat of the risk of litigation
Maturity	The date on which the principal balance of a loan, bond, or other financial commitment is due and payable
Mechanic's lien	A lien created by statute to allow unpaid contractors, laborers or suppliers who have performed work on or furnished materials for the construction of a building to recover the value of their work
Metes and Bounds	Means for describing property by a set of directions and distances, when there isn't identification based on a surveyed lot number
Minor	An individual below the age at which he or she is legally entitled to handle his or her own affairs
Monument of Survey	le indications made on natural or man-made objects that indicate the boundaries of a survey
Mortgage	A legal document that pledges a property to the lender as security for the payment of a loan or debt
Mortgage broker	An individual or company that acts as an agent between borrowers and lenders for the purpose of arranging and negotiating mortgage contracts; who is paid a fee for such service
Mortgage insurance	A contract that guarantees the lender against loss caused by a mortgagor's default on a government or conventional mortgage; such insurance can be issued by a private company or by a government agency, and covers either only a percentage, or the total, of the mortgage loan
Mortgagee	The lender in a mortgage transaction
Mortgagor	The borrower in a mortgage transaction
Multiple-listing service (MLS)	An organization of brokers who share their listing agreements with one another in order to find buyers for their properties more effectively than they could individually

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National Association of Realtors (NAR)	A real estate trade organization that sets the standards for integrity and honesty within the real estate profession nationwide
Negative amortization	A gradual increase in the balance of a loan or mortgage which occurs because the monthly payments made are too small to cover the entire principal and interest charges; this shortfall amount is added to the remaining balance, resulting in negative amortization
Net listing	The advertisement of the price of property for sale in terms of the net price the seller will receive, once the property is sold, a type of listing which is illegal in many states
Net worth	The total value of all of an individual's assets, minus all liabilities or debts
No cash-out refinance	A transaction for refinancing a mortgage in which the new mortgage amount is limited to the sum total of the remaining balance of the first mortgage, points, closing costs, whatever is required to satisfy any liens that are more than one year old and other funds for the borrower's use (as long as the amount is one percent or less of the principal amount of the new mortgage)
Notary	An individual authorized by law to certify documents and signatures
Note	A legal document that obligates a borrower to repay a loan or owed sum of money at a stated interest rate over a designated period of time

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Open listing

A contract under which the broker is commissioned to find a buyer before the property is sold by the seller or another