Glossary

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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

Blanket Mortgage

A mortgage which is secured by several structures or a number of lots. A blanket mortgage is often used to finance proposed subdivisions or development projects, especially cooperatives.

Boundaries

The perimeters or limits of a parcel of land as fixed by legal description which is usually a metes and bounds description.

Breach Of Contract

Violation of any of the terms or conditions of a contract without legal excuse; default, non-performance, such as failure to make payment when due.

Broker

One who acts as an intermediary between parties to a transaction. A real estate broker is a properly licensed person who, for a valuable consideration, serves as an agent to others to facilitate the sale or lease of real property.

Brokerage

That aspect of the real estate business which is concerned with bringing together the parties and completing a real estate transaction. Brokerage involves exchanges, rentals, trade-ins and management of property, as well as sales.

Building Permit

A written permission granted by the City Building Department and required prior to beginning the construction of a new building or other improvement (including fences, fence walls, retaining walls and swimming pools).

Bundle Of Rights

An ownership concept describing all those legal rights which attach to the ownership of real property, including the right to sell, lease, encumber, use, enjoy, exclude, will, etc.

CMHC	Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a Crown corporation that administers the National Housing Act for the federal government and encourages the improvement of housing and living conditions for Canadians. CMHC is one of two sources for high-ratio mortgage insurance.
Capped rate	An interest rate with a pre-determined ceiling, usually associated with a variable-rate mortgage.
Closed mortgage	Locks you into a specific payment schedule. A penalty usually applies if you repay the loan in full before the end of a closed term.
Closing costs	Costs in addition to the purchase price of a property and which are payable on the closing date. Examples include legal fees, land transfer taxes, and disbursements.
Closing date	The date on which the sale of a property becomes final and the buyer takes possession.
Conditional offer	An offer subject to conditions such as loan approval.
Condominium fee	A fee paid by the condo owner that is allocated to pay building expenses.
Conventional mortgage	A loan issued for up to 75% of the property's appraised value or purchase price, whichever is less.

Damages	The estimated monetary value of the injury a person suffers as a result of an unlawful act or negligent act of another person. Once proven, damages may be awarded by a Court.
Date Of Appraisal	The precise day, month and year upon which an assessment of the value of a property has been given.
Date Of Instrument	The specific day, month and year a legal document was signed or prepared.
Date Of Registration	The specific day, month and year upon which an instrument was registered on title to the property.
Dealer	Similar to a car dealer, a person who offers a collection of properties for sale to the public.
Debit	An entry on a financial statement which reflects payments or disbursements made on behalf of a party for which the party is responsible (opposite of "Credit").
Debt	An obligation to another person. That obligation which is created by borrowing. The total of all financial obligations of a person or corporation.
Debt Coverage Ratio (Dcr):	A comparison of the net income of a property with the cost of payments (principal and interest) on the mortgage on the property, used to assess the ability of the property to generate enough income to pay for itself.
Debt Equity Ratio	A comparison of the amount owing on a property with the equity (value of property minus amount owing).
Debt Financing	Paying for the purchase of a property with credit.
Debt Ratio	Also known as Debt-to-Income ratio. A comparison of the total monthly payments of all of the borrower's debts (including the mortgage) with the gross monthly income of the borrower, used to assess borrower's ability to pay mortgage.
Debt Service	The mortgage payment for a given period of time.
Debtor	A person who has borrowed and therefore owes (opposite of Creditor).
Declaration Of Restrictions	A Statement made by a developer of a new subdivision which sets out the restrictions of general application throughout the new development.
Declaration Of Trust	A signed statement by a trustee acknowledging that she holds legal title to property on behalf of someone else (the beneficiary of the trust).
Decree Of Foreclosure	An order of the Court setting out the amount outstanding on a delinquent mortgage and ordering the sale of the property to pay the mortgagee.
Dedication	Often required under subdivision or development agreements, the donation of parcels of land to the municipality for a public use, such as a street, a park or a school.
Deed	The instrument by which title to property is conveyed from one person to another.
Deed Of Reconveyance	A legal instrument which conveys title from a trustee back to the borrower under a mortgage once the mortgage has been paid out.
Deed Of Release	A legal instrument signed by lien claimants or mortgagees which gives up their claim to the property. See Discharge and Quit Claim Deed.
Deed Restriction	A clause in a deed which limits the use of the property in certain respects.
Default	Failure. In mortgages, the failure to make payments in full, on time or at all or to live up to any other obligations placed on the borrower by the loan agreement.
Default Judgment	A decision rendered by a Court when the defendant has failed to respond to the claim.
Defeasance Clause	A clause in a mortgage which ensures that, once the borrower has met all of her obligations under the terms of the mortgage and paid out the entire principle and interest borrowed, the lender's legal interest in the property is extinguished.
Defensible	Able to be revoked in the case of the occurrence (or non-occurrence) of a certain event or the performance (or failure) of a condition.
Defect Of Record	A registered claim on title which serves to interfere with the marketability of the owner's title to the property.
Defective Title	Ownership of property which is subject to some competing claim.
Deferred Interest	Interest which is not paid as it accumulates but which is added, instead, to the loan principle.
Deferred Interest Mortgage	A technique for reducing the amount of each periodic payment on a mortgage monthly by postponing the payment of a portion of the interest until a certain date in the future (or to when the property is sold), at which time the interest postponed is added to the principle owing.
Deficiency Judgment	A Court order against a borrower under a mortgage to pay to the lender an amount sufficient to make up for the difference between what the borrower owes under the mortgage and the amount the lender sold the property for under a mortgage remedy action.
Delinquency	The condition of being late on a payment but not yet in default.
Delivery	The act of turning over any legal document (including a Deed) to another party so as to make it legally operative and no longer revocable.
Demand Loan	A type of loan where the lender may require payment in full of the principal (and accumulated interest) at any time.
Demise	A conveyance of an interest in property for a set period of time (such as in a lease).
Density	A measure of the number of a certain thing within a defined space. Population density, for example, measures the number of people in a given area (a square-mile, an acre etc.)
Deposit	The money paid up-front by a purchaser as security for her completing the transaction. Also known as "good faith money" or "earnest money". An instrument which is not registered on title but placed in the records for a given piece of land for information purposes.

Easement	A property interest which one person has in land owned by another entitling the holder of the interest to limited use or enjoyment of the other's land.
Easement In Gross	The limited right of one person to use another's land (servient estate), which right is not created for the benefit of any land owned by the owner of the easement; that is, there is no dominant estate, as the easement attaches personally to the owner, not to the land.
Emblements	Growing crops (called "fructus industriales"), such as rice and taro, which are produced annually through labor and industry.
Eminent Domain	The right of government, both state and federal, to take private property for a necessary public use, with just compensation paid to the owner.
Encroachment	An unauthorized invasion or intrusion of a fixture or other real property wholly or partly upon another's property, thus reducing the size and value of the invaded property.
Encumbrance	An unauthorized invasion or intrusion of a fixture or other real property wholly or partly upon another's property, thus reducing the size and value of the invaded property.
Entirety, Tenancy By	A form of joint ownership of property between husband and wife with the right of survivorship.
Environmental Impact Statement	A report which includes a detailed description of a proposed development project with emphasis on the existing environment setting, viewed from both a local and regional perspective, and a discussion of the probable impact of the project on the environment during all phases.
Equity	That interest or value remaining in property after payment of all liens or other charges on the property. A owner's equity is normally the monetary interest over and above the mortgage indebtedness.
Errors And Omissions Insurance	A form of insurance which covers liabilities for errors, mistakes and negligence in the usual listing and selling activities of a real estate office or escrow company.
Escheat	The reversion of property to the state when a decedent dies intestate and there are no heirs capable of inheriting, or when the property is abandoned.
Escrow	The process by which money and/or documents are held by a disinterested third person (a "stakeholder") until the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the escrow instructions (as prepared by the parties to the escrow).
Estoppel	A legal doctrine by which a person is prevented from asserting rights or facts which are inconsistent with a previous position or representation he had made by his act, conduct or silence.
Ethics	A system of moral principles, rules and standards of conduct.
Eviction	legal process of removing a tenant from possession of the premises for some breach of the lease contract.
Exchange	A transaction in which all or part of the consideration for the purchase of real property is the transfer of property of a like kind.
Exclusive Agency	A written listing agreement giving one agent the right to sell property for a specified time, but reserving to the owner the right to sell the property himself without payment of any commission.
Exclusive Listing	A written listing of real property in which the seller agrees to appoint only one broker to sell the property for a specified period of time. The two types of exclusive listings are the exclusive agency and the exclusive right to sell.
Executive	The act of making a document legally valid, such as formalizing a contract by signing, or acknowledging and delivering a deed.
Executor	A person appointed by a testator to carry out the directions and requests in the last will and testament, and to dispose of property according to the provisions of the will.
Executory Contract	A contract in which one or both of the parties has not yet performed.
Extender Clause	A "carry over" clause (referred to as a safety clause) contained in a listing which provides that a broker is still entitled to a commission for a set of period of time after the listing has expired if the property is sold to a former prospect of the broker.
Extension	An agreement to continue the period of performance beyond the specified period.
Easement	A property interest which one person has in land owned by another entitling the holder of the interest to limited use or enjoyment of the other's land.
Easement In Gross	The limited right of one person to use another's land (servient estate), which right is not created for the benefit of any land owned by the owner of the easement; that is, there is no dominant estate, as the easement attaches personally to the owner, not to the land.
Emblements	Growing crops (called "fructus industriales"),such as rice and taro, which are produced annually through labor and industry.
Eminent Domain	The right of government, both state and federal, to take private property for a necessary public use, with just compensation paid to the owner.
Encroachment	An unauthorized invasion or intrusion of a fixture or other real property wholly or partly upon another's property, thus reducing the size and value of the invaded property.
Encumbrance	An unauthorized invasion or intrusion of a fixture or other real property wholly or partly upon another's property, thus reducing the size and value of the invaded property.
Entirety, Tenancy By	A form of joint ownership of property between husband and wife with the right of survivorship.
Environmental Impact Statement	A report which includes a detailed description of a proposed development project with emphasis on the existing environment setting, viewed from both a local and regional perspective, and a discussion of the probable impact of the project on the environment during all phases.
Equity	That interest or value remaining in property after payment of all liens or other charges on the property. A owner's equity is normally the monetary interest over and above the mortgage indebtedness.
Errors And Omissions Insurance	A form of insurance which covers liabilities for errors, mistakes and negligence in the usual listing and selling activities of a real estate office or escrow company.
Escheat	The reversion of property to the state when a decedent dies intestate and there are no heirs capable of inheriting, or when the property is abandoned.
Escrow	The process by which money and/or documents are held by a disinterested third person (a "stakeholder") until the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the escrow instructions (as prepared by the parties to the escrow).
Estoppel	A legal doctrine by which a person is prevented from asserting rights or facts which are inconsistent with a previous position or representation he had made by his act, conduct or silence.

Fair Market Value	The highest monetary price which a property would bring, if offered for sale for a reasonable period of time in a competitive market, to a seller who is willing but not compelled to sell, from a buyer, willing but not compelled to buy, both parties being fully informed of all the purposes to which the property is best adapted and is capable of being used.
Farm Area	A selected geographical area or one specific building to which a real estate salesperson devotes special attention and study.
Feasibility Study	An analysis of a proposed project with emphasis on the attainable income, probable expenses, and most advantageous use and design.
Federal Housing Administration (Fha)	The FHA was set up in1934 under the National Housing Act to encourage improvement in housing standards and conditions, to provide an adequate home financing system by insurance of housing mortgages and credit, and to exert a stabilizing influence on the mortgage market.
Federal Tax Lien	A federal lien which attaches to real property, either if the federal estate tax is not paid, or if the taxpayer has violated the federal income tax or payroll tax laws.
Federal Trade Commission (Ftc)	A federal agency created to investigate and eliminate unfair and deceptive trade practices in business.
Fee Simple	The largest estate one can possess in real property. A fee simple estate is the least limited interest and the most complete and absolute ownership in land: it is of indefinite duration, freely transferable and inheritable. Fee simple title is sometimes referred to as "the fee.
Fiduciary	A relationship which implies a position of trust or confidence wherein one is usually entrusted to hold or manage property or money for another. Among the obligations a fiduciary owes to the principal are duties of loyalty; obedience; full disclosure; the duty to use skill, care and diligence; and the duty to account for all monies.
Filled Land	An area where the grade has been raised by depositing or dumping dirt, gravel or lava rock.
Finance Charge	The total of all costs imposed directly or indirectly by the creditor and payable either directly or indirectly by the customer, as defined under the federal Truth-in-Lending Law.
Finance Fee	A mortgage brokerage fee to cover the expenses incurred in placing the mortgage with a lending institution; a mortgage service charge or origination fee. Financial Statement - A formal statement of the financial status and net worth of a person or company, setting forth and classifying assets and liabilities as of a specified date.
Finder's Fee	A fee paid to someone for producing a buyer to purchase or a seller to list property; also called a referral fee.
Firm Commitment	A definite undertaking by a lender to loan a set amount of money at a specified interest rate for a certain term.
First Refusal, Right Of	The right of a person to have the first opportunity either to purchase or lease real property.
Fiscal Year	A business year used for tax, corporate or accounting purposes, as opposed to a calendar year.
Fixture	An article which was once personal property but has been so affixed to the real estate that it has become real property (e.g. stoves, bookcases, plumbing, etc.). If determined to be a fixture, then the article passes with the property even though it is not mentioned in the deed.
Flag Lot	A land parcel having the configuration of an extended flag and pole. The pole represents access to the site which is usually located to the rear of another lot fronting a main street.
Floor Area Ratio	The ratio of floor area to land area expressed as a percent or decimal, which is determined by dividing the total floor area on a zoning lot by the lot area.
Floor Duty	A frequent practice in real estate brokerage offices of assigning one sales agent the responsibility for handling all telephone calls and office visitors for a specified period of time.
Foreclosure	A legal procedure whereby property used as security for debt is sold to satisfy the debt in the event of default in payment of the mortgage note or default of other terms in the mortgage document.
Fraud	Any form of deceit, trickery, breach of confidence or misrepresentation by which one party attempts to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage over another.
Free And Clear Title	Title to real property which is absolute and unencumbered by any liens, mortgages, clouds or other encumbrances.
Frontage	The length of a property abutting a street or body of water; that is, the number of feet that "front" the street or water.
Functional Obsolescence	A loss in value of an improvement due to functional inadequacies, often caused by age or poor design.

Garnishment	A legal process designed to provide a means for creditors to safeguard for themselves the personal property of a debtor which is in the hands of a third party ("garnishee").
General Agent	One who is authorized to perform any and all acts associated with the continued operation of a particular job or a certain business.
General Contractor	A construction specialist who enters into a formal construction contract with a land owner or master lessee to construct a real estate building or project.
General Partner	A co-owner of a partnership who is empowered to enter into contracts on behalf of the partnership and who is fully liable for all partnership debts.
Gift Tax	A graduated federal tax paid by a donor upon making a gift.
Good Faith	Bona fide. An act is done in good faith if it is in fact done honestly, whether it be done negligently or not.
Good Will	An intangible, salable asset arising from the reputation of a business.
Government Survey	A system of land description in which large blocks of land are divided into tracts bounded by imaginary lines conforming to the true meridian.
Graduated Rental Lease	A lease in which the rent payments commence at a fixed, often low rate, but "step up" or increase at set intervals as the lease term matures.
Grandfather Clause	Common expression used to convey the idea that something which was once permissible continues to be permissible despite changes in the controlling law.
Grantee	The person who receives from the grantor a grant of real property.
Grantor	The person transferring title to, or an interest in, real property. A grantor must be competent to convey; thus, for example, an insane person cannot convey title to real property.
Gross Area	The total floor area of a building measured from the exterior of the walls (excluding those unenclosed).
Gross Income Multiplier	A useful rule of thumb to estimate market value of income producing residential property. The multiplier is derived by using comparable sales divided by the actual or estimated monthly rentals and arriving at an acceptable average.
Gross Lease	A lease of property under which the lessee pays a fixed rent, and the lessor pays the taxes, insurance, and other charges regularly incurred through ownership.
Guardian	One who is given the lawful custody and care of another(called a ward).

Habendum Clause	That part of the deed beginning with the words "to have and to hold," following the granting clause and reaffirming the extent of ownership that the grantor is transferring
Habitable	Being fit to live in. The residential landlord has an obligation to keep the leased premises in a habitable condition.
Heir	A person who inherits under a will or a person who succeeds to property by the laws of descent if the decedent dies without a will (intestate)
Highest And Best Use	That use which, at the time of appraising the property, is most likely to produce the greatest net return to the land and/or the building over a given period of time.
High Rise	A popular expression for a condominium or apartment building generally higher than six stories.
Hold Harmless Clause	A clause inserted in a contract whereby one party agrees to indemnify and protect the other party from any injuries or lawsuits arising out of the particular transaction.
Holdover Tenant	One who stays on the leased premises after his lease has expired. The landlord normally has the choice of evicting the holdover tenant or permitting him to remain and continue to pay rent.
Homeowner's Association	A non-profit association of homeowners organized pursuant to a declaration of restrictions or protective covenants for a subdivision, a PUD, or a condominium.
Homestead	A home which is used as a personal residence.
Hotel	A building or group of attached or detached buildings containing dwelling or lodging units in which 50 percent or more of the units are lodging units, usually distinguished by a front desk, dining and other common facilities.
House Rules	Rules of conduct adopted by a board of directors of a condominium and designed to promote harmonious living among the owners and occupants.
Hud	A federal cabinet department officially known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Hypothecate	To pledge specific real or personal property as security for an obligation, without surrendering possession of it.

Implied Warranty Of Habitability	A legal doctrine imposing on the landlord a duty to make the leased premises acceptable to live in and ready for occupancy and to continue to maintain them in a state of repair throughout the entire term of the lease.
Impound Account	A trust account established to set aside funds for future needs.
Improved Land	Real property whose value has been enhanced by the addition of on-site and off-site improvements such as roads, sewers, utilities, buildings, etc.; as distinguished from raw land.
Improvements	Valuable additions made to property, amounting to more than repairs, costing labor and capital and intended to enhance the value of the property. Improvements of land would include grading, sidewalks, sewers, streets, utilities, etc. Improvements on land would include buildings, fences, and the like.
Imputed Interest	Interest implied by the federal tax law.
Income Approach	An approach to the valuation or appraisal of real property as determined by the amount of net income the property will produce over its remaining economic life.
Income Property	Property purchased primarily for the income to be derived plus certain tax benefits, such as accelerated depreciation. Income property can be commercial, industrial or residential.
Incorporeal Rights	Intangible or non-possessor rights in real property such as easements, licenses, profits and the like.
Independent Contractor	One who is retained to perform a certain act, but who is subject to the control and direction of another only as to the end result and not as how he performs the act. The critical feature, and what distinguishes an independent contractor and an employee or agent, is the right to control.
Industrial Park	An area zoned industrial and containing sites for many separate industries and developed and managed as a unit, usually with provisions for common services for the users.
Injunction	A legal action which forbids a party defendant from doing some act; it requires a person to whom it is directed to refrain from doing a particular thing.
Innocent Purchaser For Value	One who purchases real property without notice, actual or constructive, of any superior rights or interests in the real property.
Inspection	A visit to and review of the premises. A prudent purchaser of property always inspects the premises before closing.

Joint And Several Liability	A situation in which more than one party is liable to repay a debt or obligation and a creditor can obtain compensation from one or more parties, either individually or jointly, whichever he chooses.
Joint Tenancy	A form of property ownership by two or more persons in which the joint tenants have one and the same interest, arising by one and the same conveyance, commencing atone and the same time and held by one and the same possession(the concept of "four unities").
Joint Venture	The joining of two or more people in a specific business enterprise such as the development of a condominium project or a shopping center.
Judgment Lien	A lien binding on all the real estate of a judgment-debtor and giving the holder of the judgment a right to levy (i.e. to seize) the land for satisfaction of the judgment.
Judicial Foreclosure	A method of foreclosing upon real property by means of a court supervised sale. After an appraisal, the court determines an upset price below which no bids to purchase will be accepted.
Junior Mortgage	A mortgage which is subordinate in right or lien priority to an existing mortgage on the same realty, such as a second mortgage.
Jurisdiction	The authority or power to act, such as the authority of a court to hear and render a decision that binds both parties.
Just Compensation	An amount of compensation to be received by a party for the taking of property under the power of eminent domain.

Key Lot	A lot that has added value because of its strategic location, especially where it is needed for the highest and best use of contiguous property.
Kickers	Different types of equity participation a lender may seek as a condition for lending money, such as participation in rentals, profits, or extra interest.
Kiosk	A small structure usually constructed of wood with one

Land	The surface of the earth extending down to the center and upward to the sky, including all natural things thereon such as trees, crops, or water; plus the minerals below the surface and the air rights above.
Land Contract	Another name for an installment purchase contract, by which the buyer obtains equitable title (the right to use the property) while the seller retains legal title (recorded title) as security for payment of the balance of the purchase price.
Land Description	A description of a particular piece of real property.
Land Leaseback	A creative financing device often used with raw land which a developer wants to improve, in which the developer sells the land to an investor who leases the land back to the developer under a long-term net lease and subordinates his fee ownership to the lender providing development financing.
Land, Tenements And Hereditaments	A feudal phrase used to describe all types of immovable realty including the land, buildings and all appurtenant rights thereto.
Land Trust	An association organized by common owners of real property, which holds title to the real property in the name of one or more trustees for the benefit of the owners, whose beneficial interests may be represented by trust certificates.
Landlocked	Real property having no access to a public road or way.
Landlord	The leaser or the owner of leased premises. The landlord retains a reversion interest in the property so that when the lease ends the property will revert to the landlord.
Landmark	A stake, stream, cliff, monument or other object or feature which is used to fix or define land boundaries; also a prominent feature of a landscape or property that is the symbol for the place.
Landscaping	Shrubs, bushes, trees and the like, on the grounds surrounding a structure.
Lateral And Subjacent Support	The support received by a parcel of real property from the land adjoining it is called lateral support. Subjacent support is that support which the surface of the earth receives from its underlying strata.
Law Day	The date an obligation becomes due; sometimes refers to the closing date.
Lease	A lease is both a contract between leaser (landlord) and lessee (tenant) and a conveyance or demise of the premises by the leaser to the lessee. A lease is a contract in that item bodies the agreement between the parties.
Leasehold	A less-than-freehold estate which a tenant possesses in real property.
Legal Description	A description which is complete enough that an independent surveyor could locate and identify a specific piece of real property.
Legal Notice	That notice which is either implied or required by law. Constructive notice under the recording laws is also referred to as legal notice.
Legal Rate Of Interest	The maximum interest rate permitted bylaw, with anything above that rate being usury.
Lessee	The person to whom property is rented or leased; called a "tenant" in most residential leases.
Lessor	The person who rents or leases property to another. In residential leasing, the leaser is often referred to as a landlord.
Less-Than-Freehold Estate	An estate held by one who rents or leases property. This classification includes an estate for years, periodic tenancy, estate at will, and estate at sufferance.
Letter Of Credit	An agreement or commitment by a bank ("issuer") made at the request of a customer ("account party") that the bank will honor drafts or other demands of payment from third parties ("beneficiaries") upon compliance with the conditions specified in the letter of credit.
Letter Of Intent	An expression of intent to invest, develop or purchase without creating any firm legal obligation to do so.
Level Payment Mortgage	A mortgage which is scheduled to be repaid in equal periodic payments which include both principal and interest.
Leverage	The use of borrowed funds to purchase investment property with the anticipation that the property acquired will increase in return so that the investor will realize a profit not only on his own investment, but also on the borrowed funds; the employment of a smaller investment to generate a larger rate of return through borrowing.
Licensee	A person who has a valid license. A real estate licensee can be a salesperson or a broker, active or inactive, an individual, a corporation, or a partnership.
Lien	A charge or claim which one person (lienor) has upon the property of another (lienee) as security for a debt or obligation. Liens can be created by agreement of the parties mortgage) or by operation of law (tax liens).
Life Estate	Any estate in real or personal property which is limited in duration to the life of its owner or the life of some other designated person.
Limited Common Elements	That special class of common elements in a condominium reserved for the use of a certain apartments to the exclusion of other apartments.
Limited Partnership	A partnership formed by two or more persons having as members one or more general partners and one or more limited partners.
Line Of Credit	A maximum amount of money a bank will lend one of its more reliable and credit worthy customers without need for any formal loan submission.
Liquidated Damages	An amount predetermined by the parties to an agreement as the total amount of compensation an injured party should receive in the event the other party breaches a specified part of the contract.
Liquidity	The ability to sell an asset and convert it into cash at a price close to its true value.
Lis Pendens	A legal document recorded in the Bureau of Conveyances, which gives constructive notice that an action has been filed in either a state or federal court affecting a particular piece of property. "Lis Pendens" is a Latin term which means "action pending" and is in the nature of a quasi-lien.
Listing	A written employment agreement between a property owner and a broker authorizing the broker to find a buyer or a tenant for a certain real property.
Littoral Land	Land bordering on the shore of a sea or ocean and thus affected by the tide currents.
Loan Commitment	A commitment by a lender of the amount he will loan to a qualified borrower on a particular piece of real estate for a specified amount of time under specific terms.
Loan-To-Value Ratio	The ratio that the amount of the loan bears to the appraised value of the property or the sales price, whichever is lower.
Locus Sigilli	Latin for "under seal", used in the abbreviated form, "L.S.," at the end of signature line in some formal legal documents; used instead of the actual seal.
Loss Payee	The person designated on an insurance policy to be paid in case the insured property is damaged or destroyed.

Maintenance	The care and work put into a building to keep it in operation and productive use; the general repair and upkeep of a building. If maintenance is deferred, the building will suffer a loss in value.
Mall	A landscaped public area set aside for pedestrian traffic.
Marginal Land	Land which is of little value because of some deficiency, such as poor access, lack of adequate rainfall, or steep terrain.
Marketable Title	Good or clear title reasonably free from risk of litigation over possible defects; also referred to as merchantable title. Marketable title need not, however, be perfect title.
Market Value	The highest price, estimated in terms of money, which a property will bring if exposed for sale in the open market, allowing a reasonable time to find a purchaser who buys with knowledge of all the uses to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used.
Master Plan	A comprehensive plan to guide the long-term physical development of a particular area.
Meander Line	An artificial line used by the surveyors to measure the natural, uneven, winding property line formed by rivers, streams and other watercourses bordering a property.
Mechanic's Lien	A statutory lien created in favor of material men and mechanics to secure payment for materials supplied and services rendered in the improvement, repair or maintenance of real property.
Metes And Bounds	A common method of land description that identifies a property by specifying the shape and boundary dimensions of the parcel, using terminal points and angles.
Military Clause	A clause inserted in some residential leases to allow the military tenant to terminate the lease in case of transfer, discharge or other circumstances making termination appropriate.
Mineral Rights	Rights to subsurface land and profits. Normally, when real property is conveyed, the grantee receives all right and title to the land including everything above and below the surface, unless excepted by the grantor.
Misrepresentation	A false statement or concealment of a material fact made with the intent to induce some action by another party.
Money	The cash deposit (including initial and additional deposits) paid by the prospective buyer of real property as evidence of his good faith intention to complete the transaction; called hand money or a binder in some states.
Month-To-Month Tenancy	A periodic tenancy where the tenant rents for one month at a time. In the absence of rental agreement (oral or written), a tenancy is deemed to be month-to-month, or in the case of boarders, week-to-week.
Monuments	Visible markers, both natural and artificial objects, which are used to establish the lines and boundaries of a survey.
Mortgage	A legal document used to secure the performance of an obligation. In effect, the mortgage states that the lender can look to the property in the event the borrower defaults in payment of the note.
Mortgage Banker	A corporation or firm which normally provides its own funds for mortgage financing.
Mortgage Broker	A person or firm which acts as an intermediary between borrower and lender; one who, for compensation or gain, negotiates, sells or arranges loans and sometimes continues to service the loans.
Mortgagee	The one who receives and holds a mortgage as security for a debt; the lender; a lender or creditor who holds a mortgage as security for payment of an obligation.
Mortgagor	The one who gives a mortgage as security for a debt; the borrower; usually the landowner; the borrower or debtor who hypothecates or puts up his property as security for an obligation.
Multiple Listing Service (Mls)	An organization created by Realtors to facilitate the sharing of listings among member brokers.

National Association Of Realtors	Formerly known as the National Association of Real Estate Boards (NAREB), it is the largest and most prestigious real estate organization in the world.
Negative Cash Flow	The investment situation where cash expenditures to maintain an investment (taxes, mortgage payments, maintenance, etc.) exceed the cash income received from the investment.
Negotiable Instrument	Any written instrument which may be transferred by endorsement or delivery so as to vest legal title in the transferee.
Negotiation	The transaction of business aimed at reaching a meeting of minds among the parties; bargaining.
Net Income	The sum arrived at after deducting from gross income the expenses of a business or investment, including taxes and insurance, and allowances for vacancy and bad debts; what the property will earn in a given year's operation.
Net Lease	A lease, usually commercial, whereby the lessee pays not only the rent for occupancy, but also pays maintenance and operating expenses such as tax, insurance, utilities and repairs. Thus the rent paid is "net" to the lessor.
Net Worth	The value remaining after deducting liabilities from assets.
Nominal Consideration	A consideration bearing no relation to the real value of the contract. A deed often recites a nominal consideration, such as "ten dollars and other valuable consideration."
Non-Competition Clause	A provision in a contract or lease prohibiting a person from operating or controlling a nearby business which would compete with one of the parties to the contract.
Nonconforming Use	A permitted use which was lawfully established and maintained but which no longer conforms to the current use regulations because of a change in the zoning.
Nondisturbance Clause	A clause inserted in a mortgage whereby the mortgagee agrees not to terminate the tenancies of lessees who pay their rent if the mortgagee forecloses on the mortgagor-lessor's building.
Normal Wear And Tear	That physical deterioration which occurs in the normal course of the use for which a property is intended, without negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse of the premises (or equipment or chattels) by the occupant, members of household, or their invitees or guests.
Note	A document signed by the borrower of a loan, stating the loan amount, the interest rate, the time and method of repayment and the obligation to repay. The note is the evidence of the debt. When secured by a mortgage, it is called a mortgage note.
Notice	(1) Legal notice is notice which is required to be made by law, or notice which is imparted by operation of law as a result of the possession of property or the recording of documents. (2) Notice which is required by contract, for example, when the parties agree to terminate a contract by the written notice of either party 30 days prior to termination.
Notice Of Completion	Document filed to give public notice that a construction job has been completed and that mechanics' liens must be filed within ,say, 45 days to be valid.
Notice Of Default	A notice to a defaulting party that there has been a default, usually providing a grace period in which to cure the default.
Notice Of Nonresponsibility	A legal notice designed to relieve a property owner from responsibility for the cost of improvements ordered by another person.
Notice To Quit	A written notice given by a landlord to his tenant, stating that the landlord intends to regain possession of the leased premises and that the tenant is required to quit and remove himself from the premises either at the end of the lease term or immediately if there is a breach of lease or if the tenancy is at will or by sufferance; sometimes refers to the notice given by the tenant to the landlord that he intends to give up possession on a stated day.
Novation	The substitution of a new obligation for an old one; substitution of new parties to an existing obligation, as where the parties to an agreement accept a new debtor in place of an old one.
Nuisance	Conduct or activity which results in an actual physical interference with another person's reasonable use or enjoyment of his property for any lawful purpose.
Null & Void	Having no legal force or effect; of no worth; unenforceable; not binding.

Obsolescence	A type of depreciation of property.
Offer	A promise by one party to act or perform in a specified manner provided the other party will act or perform in the manner requested.
Offer And Acceptance	The two components of a valid contract; a "meeting of the minds."
Office Exclusive	A listing in which the seller refuses to submit the listing to Multiple Listing Service, even after being informed of the advantages of MLS, and signs a certification to that effect.
Offsite Costs	Costs such as for sewers, streets, utilities, etc., which are incurred in the development of raw land, but are not connected with the actual construction of the buildings(onsite costs).
Open-End Mortgage	A mortgage in which the borrower is given a limit up to which he may borrow, with any incremental advances of money up to but not exceeding the original borrowing limit to be secured by the same mortgage.
Open House	The common real estate practice of showing a listed home to the public during established hours, frequently on Sunday afternoons.
Open Listing	A listing given to any number of brokers. The first broker who secures a buyer ready, willing and able to purchase at the terms of the listing is the one who earns the commission.
Open Space	Certain portion of the landscape which has not been built upon and which is sought either to be reserved in its natural state or used for agricultural or recreational purposes such as parks, squares, and the like).
Operating Expenses	Those periodic and necessary expenses which are essential to the continuous operation and maintenance of a property.
Opinion Of Title	An opinion by a person competent in examining titles, usually a title attorney, as to the status of the title of a property.
Option	An agreement to keep open, over a set period, an offer to sell or purchase property.
Origination Fee	The finance fee charged by a lender for placing a mortgage, which covers initial costs such as preparation of documents and credit, inspection and appraisal fees.
Overimprovement	An improvement which by reason of excess size or cost is not the highest and best use for the site on which it is placed.
Override	A commission paid to managerial personnel (e.g. principal broker) on sales made by their subordinates, usually calculated as a percentage of the gross sales commissions earned by the salesperson.

Package Mortgage	A method of financing in which the loan that finances the purchase of a home also finances the purchase of personal items such as a washer and dryer, refrigerator, stove and other specified appliances.
Parcel	A specific portion of a larger tract; a lot.
Partial Release	A clause found in a mortgage which directs the mortgagee to release certain parcels from the lien of the blanket mortgage upon the payment of a certain sum of money.
Participation Mortgage	A mortgage in which the lender participates in the income of the mortgaged venture beyond a fixed return, or receives a yield on the loan in addition to the straight interest rate.
Partition	The dividing of common interests in real property owned jointly by two or more persons.
Partnership	"An association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners a business for profit," as defined in the Uniform Partnership Act, which is in force in a majority of the states.
Party Wall	A wall which is located on or at a boundary line between two adjoining parcels and is used or is intended to be used by the owners of both properties in the construction or maintenance of improvements on their respective lots.
Penthouse	An apartment located on the roof of a building, or more commonly, an apartment on the top floor of a building.
Percentage Lease	A lease whose rental is based on a percentage of the monthly or annual gross sales made on the premises.
Percolation Test	A hydraulic engineer's test of soil to determine the ability of the ground to absorb and drain water.
Performance Bond	A bond, usually posted by one who is to perform work for another, which assures that a project or undertaking will be completed as per agreement or contract.
Periodic Tenancy	A leasehold estate which continues from period to period, such as month to month, year to year. All conditions and terms of the tenancy are carried over from period to period, and continue for an uncertain time until proper notice of termination is given.
Permanent Financing	A long-term loan, as opposed to an interim loan.
Personal Property	Things which are tangible and moveable; property which is not classified as real property; chattels; personalty.
Piggyback Loan	A joint loan with two lenders sharing a single mortgage.
Planned Unit Development (Pud)	A modern concept in housing designed to produce a high density of dwellings and maximum utilization of open spaces.
Plat	A map or a town, section, or subdivision indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties.
Plottage	The merging or consolidating of adjacent lots into one larger lot, with the consequent result of improved usability and increased value; also called assemblage.
Pocket Listing	A listing which is retained by the listing broker or salesperson, who does not make it available to other brokers in the office or to other Multiple Listing Service members.
Point Of Beginning	The starting point in a metes and bounds description of property, which is usually a street intersection or a specific monument.
Points	A generic term for a percentage of the principal loan amount which the lender charges for making the loan; each point is equal to one percent of the loan amount.
Police Power	The constitutional authority and inherent power of a state to adopt and enforce laws and regulations to promote and support the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
Porte Cochere	A roofed structure extending from the entrance of a building over an adjacent driveway to shelter those getting into or out of vehicles.
Possession	The act of either actually or constructively possessing or occupying property.
Power Of Attorney	A written instrument authorizing a person the attorney-in-fact) to act as the agent on behalf of another to the extent indicated in the instrument.
Power Of Sale	A clause written into a mortgage authorizing the mortgagee to sell the property in the event of default.
Premises	The subject property, such as the property which is deeded or the unit that is leased.
Prepaid Interest	The paying of interest before it is due.
Prepayment Penalty	The amount set by the creditor as a penalty to the debtor for paying off the debt prior to its maturity. The prepayment penalty is charged by the lender to recoup a portion of interest that he had planned to earn when he made the loan.
Prepayment Privilege	The right of the debtor to pay off part or all of the debt without penalty prior to maturity, such as in a mortgage or agreement of sale.
Pre-Sale	A pre-construction sale program by a condominium developer who is required to sell a certain percentage of units before a lender will commit to finance construction of the project.
Prescription	The acquiring of a right in property, usually in the form of an intangible property right such as an easement or right-of-way, by means of adverse use of property that is continuous and uninterrupted for the prescriptive period.
Present Value Of One Dollar	A doctrine which is based on the fact that money has a time value. The present worth of a payment to be received at some time in the future is the amount of the payment less the loss of interest.
Prime Rate	The minimum interest rate charged by a commercial bank on short-term loans to its largest and strongest clients those with the highest credit standings).
PrincipaL	The capital sum; interest is paid on the principal. NOT spelled principle.
Principal Broker	The licensed broker directly in charge of and responsible for the real estate operations conducted by a brokerage company.
Private Mortgage Insurance	A special form of insurance designed to permit lenders to increase their loan-to-market-value ratio, often up to 95 percent of the market value of the property.
Probate	The formal judicial proceeding to prove or confirm the validity of a will. The will is presented to the probate court, and creditors and interested parties are notified to present their claims or to show cause why the provisions of the will should not be enforced by the court.
Procuring Cause	That effort which brings about the desired result, as in producing the buyer for the listed property.
Pro Forma Statement	A projection of future income and expenses.
Promissory Note	An unconditional written promise of one person to pay a certain sum of money to another, or order, or bearer, at a future specified time.
Property	The rights or interests a person has in the thing owned; not, in the technical sense, the thing itself. These rights include the right to possess, to use, to encumber, to transfer and to exclude, commonly called the "bundle of rights."
Property Management	That aspect of real estate devoted to the leasing, managing, marketing and overall maintenance of the property of others.
Property Report	A disclosure document required under the federal interstate land sales act where applicable to the interstate sale of subdivided lots.
Proprietary Lease	A written lease in a cooperative apartment building, between the owner-corporation and the tenant-stockholder, in which the tenant is given the right to occupy a particular unit.
Prorate	To divide or distribute proportionately.
Prospect	A person or corporation who may be interested in buying or selling real property. The prospect does not become a client until the parties establish a fiduciary relationship, such as upon signing a listing contract or upon executing a DROA.
Prospectus	A printed statement distributed to describe, advertise and give advance information on a business, venture, project or stock issue.
Puffing	Exaggerated or superlative comments or opinions not made as representations of fact and thus not a grounds for misrepresentation. A statement such as "the apartment has a fantastic view," is puffing because the prospective buyer can clearly assess the view in each case.
Punch List	A discrepancy list showing defects in construction which need some corrective work to bring the building up to standards set by the plans and specifications.
Purchase Money Mortgage	A mortgage given to the seller as part of the buyer's consideration for the purchase of real property, and delivered at the same time that the real property is transferred as a simultaneous part of the transaction.

Qualified Fee	An estate in fee which is subject to certain limitations imposed by the owner.
Quantity Survey	A method of estimating construction cost or reproduction cost; a highly technical process used in arriving at the cost estimate of new construction and sometimes referred to in the building trade as the price take-off method.
Quiet Enjoyment	The right of a new owner or a lessee legally in possession to uninterrupted use of the property without interference from the former owner, leaser or any third party claiming superior title.
Quiet Title Action	A circuit court action intended to establish or settle the title to a particular property, especially where there is a cloud on the title.
Quitclaim Deed	A deed of conveyance which operates, in effect, as a release of whatever interest the grantor has in the property; sometimes called a release deed.

Range	A measurement, used in the government survey system, consisting of a strip of land six miles wide, running in a north-south direction.
Rate Of Return	The relationship (expressed as a percentage) between the annual net income generated by a business and the invested capital, or the appraised value, or the gross income, etc., of the business.
Raw Land	Unimproved land; land in its unused natural state prior to the construction of improvements such as streets, lighting, sewers, and the like.
Real Estate	The physical land and appurtenances, including any structures; for all practical purposes synonymous with real property.
Real Property	All land and appurtenances to land, including buildings, structures, fixtures, fences, and improvements erected upon or affixed to the same; excluding, however, growing crops.
Realtor	A registered word which may only be used by an active real estate broker who is a member of the state and local real estate board affiliated with the National Association of Realtors. The use of the name REALTOR and the distinctive seal in advertising is strictly governed by the rules and regulations of the National Association.
Realty	Land and everything permanently affixed thereto.
Rebate	A reduction or kickback of a stipulated charge.
Recapture Clause	A clause usually found in percentage leases, especially in shopping center leases, giving the landlord the right to terminate the lease (and thus "recapture" the premises) if the tenant does not maintain a specified minimum amount of business. x
Recapture Clause	A clause usually found in percentage leases, especially in shopping center leases, giving the landlord the right to terminate the lease (and thus "recapture" the premises) if the tenant does not maintain a specified minimum amount of business.
Receiver	An independent party appointed by a court to impartially receive, preserve and manage property which is involved in litigation, pending final disposition of the matter before the court.
Recording	The act of entering into the book of public records the written instruments affecting the title to real property, such as deeds, mortgages, contracts of sale, options, assignments, and the like. Proper recordation imparts constructive notice to all the world of the existence of the recorded document and its contents.
Redemption, Equitable Right Of	The right of a mortgagor who has defaulted on the mortgage note to redeem or get back his title to the property by paying off the entire mortgage note prior to the foreclosure sale.
Reduction Certificate	An instrument which shows the amount of the unpaid balance of a mortgage, the rate of interest and the date of maturity. x
Reduction Certificate	An instrument which shows the amount of the unpaid balance of a mortgage, the rate of interest and the date of maturity.
Refinance	The act of obtaining a new loan to pay off an existing loan; the process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from another.
Reformation	A legal action to correct or modify a contract or deed which has not accurately reflected the intentions of the parties due to some mechanical error, such as a typo graphical error in the legal description.
Release	The discharge or relinquishment of a right, claim or privilege. Releases involving real property transactions should be acknowledged and recorded.
Release Clause	A provision found in many blanket mortgages enabling the mortgagor to obtain partial releases of specific parcels from the mortgage upon the payment of, typically, a larger-than-pro-rata portion of the loan.
Remainder Estate	A future interest in real estate created at the same time and by the same instrument as another estate, and limited to arise immediately upon the termination of the prior estate.
Renewal Option	A covenant in some leases which gives the lessee the right to extend the lease term for a certain period, on specified terms.
Rent	Fixed periodic payment made by a tenant or occupant of property to the owner for the possession and use thereof, usually by prior agreement of the parties.
Rent Control	Regulation by state or local governmental agencies restricting the amount of rent landlords can charge their tenants; such regulation is a valid exercise of the state's police power.
Rental Agreement	An agreement, written or oral, which establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit and premises; a lease on residential property.
Rental Pool	A rental arrangement whereby participating owners of rental apartments agree to have their apartment units available for rental as determined by the rental agent, and then share in the profits and losses of all the rental apartments in the pool according to an agreed formula.
Reproduction Cost	The cost, on the basis of current prices, of reproducing a new replica property with the same or fairly similar material.
Rescission	The legal remedy of canceling, terminating or annulling a contract and restoring the parties to their original positions; a return to the status quo.
Reserve Fund	Monies set aside as a cushion of capital for future payment of items such as taxes, insurance, furniture replacement, deferred maintenance, etc.; sometimes referred to as an impound account.
Residual Process	An appraisal process used in the income approach to estimate the value of the land and/or the building, as indicated by the capitalization of the residual net income attributable to it.
Restrictions	Limitations on the use of property. Private restrictions are created by means of restrictive covenants written into real property instruments, such as deeds and leases.
Restrictive Covenant	A private agreement, usually contained in a deed, which restricts the use and occupancy of real property.
Retaliatory Eviction	An act whereby a landlord evicts the tenant in response to some complaint made by the tenant.
Reversion	A future estate in real property created by operation of law when a grantor conveys a lesser estate than he has. The residue left in the grantor is called a reversion which commences in possession in the future upon the end of a particular estate granted or devised, whether it be freehold or less-than-freehold.
Right Of Survivorship	The distinctive characteristic of a joint tenancy (also tenancy by entirety) by which the surviving joint tenants succeeds to all right, title and interest of the deceased joint tenant without the need for probate proceedings.
Right-Of-Way	The right or privilege, acquired through accepted usage or by contract, to pass over a designated portion of the property of another.
Riparian	Those rights and obligations, which are incidental to ownership of, land adjacent to or abutting on watercourses such as streams and lakes.
Risk Of Loss	Responsibility for damages caused to improvements. The risk of loss passes to the vendee when either title or possession passes, or he should protect himself by securing proper insurance. x
Risk Of Loss	Responsibility for damages caused to improvements. The risk of loss passes to the vendee when either title or possession passes, or he should protect himself by securing proper insurance.
Running With The Land	Rights or covenants which bind or benefit successive owners of a property are said to run with the land, such as restrictive building covenants in a recorded deed which would affect all future owners of the property.

Sale And Leaseback	A transaction in which, typically, an owner sells his improved property and as part of the same transaction signs a long-term lease and remains in possession.
Schematics	Preliminary architectural drawings and sketches; basic layouts not containing the final details of design.
Second Mortgage	A mortgage which is junior or subordinate to a first mortgage; typically, an additional loan imposed on top of the first mortgage, which is taken out when the borrower needs more money.
Secondary Mortgage Market	A market for the purchase and sale of existing mortgages, designed to provide greater liquidity for mortgages; also called secondary money market.
Security Agreement	A security document which creates a lien upon chattels, including chattels intended to be affixed to land as fixtures; known as a chattel mortgage prior to the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Security Deposit	Money deposited by or for the tenant with the landlord, to be held by the landlord for the following purposes: to remedy tenant defaults for damage to the premises (be it accidental or intentional), for failure to pay rent due, or for failure to return all keys at the end of the tenancy.
Septic Tank	A sewage settling tank in which part of the sewage is converted into gas and liquids before the remaining waste is discharged by gravity into a leaching bed underground.
Setback	Zoning restrictions on the amount of land required surrounding improvements; the amount of space required between the lot line and the building line.
Settlement	The act of adjusting and prorating the various credits, charges and settlement costs to conclude a real estate transaction.
Severalty	Sole ownership of real property.
Shell Lease	A lease wherein a tenant leases the unfinished shell of a building, as in a new shopping center, and agrees to complete construction himself by installing ceilings, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems, and electrical wiring.
Shopping Center	A modern classification of retail stores, characterized by off-street parking and clusters of stores, subject to a uniform development plan, and usually with careful analysis given to the proper merchant mix.
Shoreline	The dividing line between private land and public beach on beachfront property.
Simple Interest	Interest computed on the principal balance only.
Special Assessment	A tax or levy customarily imposed against only those specific parcels of realty which will benefit from a proposed public improvement, as opposed to a general tax on the entire community.
Special Warranty Deed	A deed in which the grantor warrants or guarantees the title only against defects arising during the period of his tenure and ownership of the property and not against defects existing before the time of his ownership.
Specific Performance	A legal action brought in a court of equity to compel a party to carry out the terms of a contract.
Spot Loan	A loan on a particular property, usually a condominium unit, by a lender who has not previously financed that particular condominium building.
Standing Loan	A commitment by the interim or construction lender to keep the money already funded in the project for a specified period of time after the expiration of the interim loan, usually until permanent take-out financing is secured.
Statute Of Frauds	That law which requires certain contracts to be in writing and signed by the party to be charged therewith in order to be legally enforceable.
Statute Of Limitations	That law pertaining to the period of time within which certain actions must be brought to court.
Step-Up Lease	A lease with fixed rent for an initial term and provision for pre-determined rent increases at specified intervals and/or increases based upon periodic appraisals; sometimes called a graduated lease.
Straight Note	A promissory note evidencing a loan in which "interest only" payments are made periodically during the term of the note, with the principal payment due in one lump sum upon maturity.
Subject To Mortgage	A grantee taking title to real property "subject to mortgage" is not personally liable to the mortgagee for payment of the mortgage note. In the event the grantor-mortgagor defaults in paying the note, the grantee could, however, lose property, and thus his equity, in a foreclosure sale.
Subordination Agreement	An agreement whereby a prior mortgagee agrees to subordinate or give up their priority position to an existing or anticipated future lien.
Summary Possession	A legal process used by a landlord to regain possession of the leased premises if the tenant has breached the lease or is holding over after the termination of tenancy.
Surrender	A premature conveyance of a possessory estate to a person having a future interest, as when a lessee surrenders the leasehold interest to the owner of the reversion interest, the lessor, before the normal expiration of the lease.
Survey	The process by which boundaries are measured and land areas are determined; the on-site measurement of lot lines, dimensions, and position of houses in a lot including the determination of any existing encroachments or easements.
Survivorship	The right of survivorship is that special feature of a joint tenancy whereby all title, right and interest of a decedent joint tenant in certain property passes to the surviving joint tenants by operation of law, free from claims of heirs and creditors of the decedent.

Take-Out Financing	Long-term permanent financing.
Tax Lien	A general statutory lien imposed against real property for failure to pay taxes. There are federal tax liens and state tax liens.
Tax Shelter	A phrase often used to describe some of the tax advantages of real estate investment, such as deductions for depreciation, interest, taxes, etc., which may offset the investor's other ordinary income to reduce the investor's overall tax payment.
Tenancy At Sufferance	A tenancy which exists when a tenant wrongfully holds over after the expiration of a lease, without the landlord's consent, as where the tenant fails to surrender possession after termination of the lease.
Tenancy At Will	A tenancy in which a person is in possession of real estate with the permission of the owner, for a term of unspecified or uncertain duration, as when an owner permits a tenant to occupy a property until it is sold.
Tenancy By The Entirety	A special joint tenancy between a lawfully married husband and wife, which places all title to the property into the marital unit, with both spouses having an equal, undivided interest in the whole property.
Tenancy For Years	A less-than-freehold estate in which the property is leased for a definite, fixed period of time, be it for 60 days or any fraction of a year, a year, ten years, etc.
Tenancy In Common	A form of concurrent ownership of property between two or more persons, in which each has an undivided interest in the whole property; frequently found when the parties acquire title by descent or by will.
Tenancy In Severalty	Ownership of property vested in one person alone, and not held jointly with another; also called Several Tenancy or Sole Tenancy.
Tenant	In general, one who holds or possesses property, such as a life tenant or a tenant for years; commonly used to refer to a lessee under a lease.
Time Is Of The Essence	The clause in a contract which emphasizes that punctual performance is an essential requirement of the contract.
Time Sharing	A modern approach to communal ownership and use of real estate which permits multiple purchasers to buy undivided interests in real property (which is usually in a resort condominium or hotel) with a right to use the facility for a fixed or variable time period.
Title Insurance	A comprehensive contract of indemnity under which the title company agrees to reimburse the insured for any loss if title is not as represented in the policy.
Title Search	An examination of the public records to determine what, if any, defects there are in the chain of title.
Townhouse	A type of dwelling unit normally having two floors, with the living area and kitchen on the base floor and the bedrooms located on the second floor.
Township	A piece of property, used in the government survey system of land description, which is 6 miles square, and contains36 sections, each 1 mile square; and consists of 23,040 acres.
Trade Fixtures	Articles of personal property annexed to leased premises by the tenant, as a necessary part of the tenant's trade or business.
Triple Net Lease	A net, net, net lease, where in addition to the stipulated rent, the lessee assumes payment of all expenses associated with the operation of the property.
Trust Deed	A real property security device (also called a deed of trust) very similar to a mortgage, except that there are three parties, the trust or, the trustee, and the beneficiary (the lender).
Trust Fund Account	An account set up by a broker at a bank or other recognized depository, into which the broker deposits all funds entrusted to him by his principal or others.
Turnkey Project	A development term meaning the complete construction package from ground breaking to the completion of the building. All that is left undone is to turn over the keys to the buyer.

Unilateral Contract	A contract in which one party makes an obligation to perform without receiving in return any express promise of performance from the other party, such as an open listing contract, where the seller agrees to pay a commission to the first broker who brings in a ready, willing and able buyer.
Upset Price	A minimum price set by a court in a judicial foreclosure, below which the property may not be sold by a court appointed commissioner at public auction; the minimum price which can be accepted for the property after the court has had the property appraised.
Useful Life	That period of time over which an asset, such as a building, is expected to remain economically feasible to the owner.
Usury	Charging a rate of interest in excess of that permitted by law.

Va	See Department of Veteran's Affairs
Va Loan	A loan on below market terms guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, given to former members of the armed forces.
Vacancy Rate	The calculation of the percentage of all available rental units in a particular area that are not occupied.
Vacant Land	Land that may be improved and developed but is not currently in use.
Vacate	To leave or move out of a premises.
Vacation Home	An occasional-use property, often in a resort area (ski, sun, ocean), which may be rented out by the owner to other vacationers while not in use by the owner.
Valid	Legally binding; authorized.
Valuation	The estimation of the worth or sale price of an asset.
Variable Expenses	Operating costs of a property which are not fixed, which change as a result of certain contingencies, such as percentage occupation of the property, type of use of the property, perhaps even the season of the year (for heating and air conditioning costs).
Variable Interest Rate	An interest rate that may change according to change in the index rate.
Variable-Maturity Mortgage	A long-term loan in which the date the balance is due may be changed to adjust the level of periodic payments.
Variance	An indulgence granted by a local zoning commission or authority to allow a non-conforming use of a property to continue. The zoning bylaw or ordinance is actually amended as it pertains to the particular property.
Vendor	Seller. Purchasee.
Vendor And Purchaser Application	Also known as "V&P Application". The bringing before a court in Ontario of any dispute between parties to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with regard to the terms of the Agreement. Named after the Vendors and Purchasers Act, the statute which sets out the procedure for such an application.
Veneer	Any kind of thin wood or brick finish which is attached to the exterior of an item, be it a wall or a piece of furniture.
Vest	To become the property of someone through action of law.
Violation	Any breach of a contract, rule, law or ordinance.
Void	Null, not legally enforceable.
Voidable	A contract that may be treated as legally unenforceable at the option of a party (usually the injured party) but remains enforceable until that party exercises her option.
Voluntary Alienation	Transfer of title to an asset with the consent of the owner.
Voluntary Lien	A claim that is recorded/registered with consent of the owner.

Waive	To voluntarily give up a legal right or claim.
Waiver	The voluntary giving up of a right or claim. A document to evidence such a relinquishment
Walk-Through Inspection	A physical examination of the property which usually takes place immediately prior to closing to ensure that no changes have taken place and no new damage has been done to the property. May also be used to confirm that fixtures and chattels included in the sale remain on the premises.
Warranty	A signed statement which guarantees the condition or continued usefulness of an asset or guarantees the truth of the facts set out in the statement. The person signing is legally liable if the statement turns out to be untrue or if the asset proves in worse condition than stated.
Waste	Allowing or causing a property to suffer damage or undue wear and tear to the detriment of another person who has an interest in or claim to the property.

Water Rights	The legal right to use water from a water course or body of water on a property
Water Table	The natural accumulation of water either above or below ground, often used for well purposes. May also refer to the distance from the surface of the land to the location of the water.
Wear And Tear	The term for the reduction in value of an asset resulting from normal use.
Weekly Payments	An alternative to the more traditional monthly payments on a loan or mortgage. Results in faster pay-down of principal, lower total interest paid.
Wetlands	Lands restricted for development as a result of their proximity to bodies of water and the fact that they are occasionally or often flooded. May also be environmentally sensitive.
Will	A written statement of a person's wishes for the disposition of that person's estate after their death.
Wire Transfer	The movement of funds from one place to another electronically.
Wood Destroying Insect Report	"Termite Report"
Wraparound Mortgage	A secondary financing option in which new money borrowed is blended with money already owed and registered on title to the property. A second mortgage is registered as security for the new money but the old mortgage remains in existence and the rate of interest is a blend of the rate chargeable on the old mortgage and the rate chargeable on the newly borrowed money.
Writ Of Execution	A claim or lien which is registered with the local enforcement officer to enforce a judgement of a court. The officer is then required to enforce the judgment against the judgment debtor and any property owned by that debtor in the jurisdiction.

Zone	an area set off by local ordinance for specific use, subject to certain restrictions or conditions.
Zoning	a legal mechanism for local governments to regulate the use of privately owned real property by specific application of police power to prevent conflicting land uses and promote orderly development.
Zoning Map	a map of the local jurisdiction that indicates current zoning designations.
Zoning Ordinance	act of city or county or other authorities specifying the type of use to which property may be put in specific areas.