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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ABSORPTION RATE Back to top The ratio of the number of properties in an area that have been sold against the number available. Used to show the volatility of a market. ABSTRACTION METHOD Back to top This method of estimating the value of property uses similar properties available in the same market to extract the value of a parcel of land. ACCELERATION CLAUSE Back to top A provision in a mortgage that gives the lender the right to demand immediate payment of the outstanding loan balance under certain circumstances. Usually when the borrower defaults on the loan. ACCESSORY BUILDING Back to top A building separate from the main structure on a property. Often used for a specific purpose, such as a workshop, storage shed or garage. ACCRETION Back to top The natural growth of a piece of land resulting from forces of nature. ACRE Back to top 43,560 square feet. A measurement of area. ACTUAL AGE Back to top The amount of time that has passed since a building or other structure was built. See also: EFFECTIVE AGE ADJUSTMENT DATE Back to top The date the interest rate changes on an adjustable rate mortgage. AD VAL OREM TAX Back to top Taxes assessed based on the value of the land and improvements. ADDENDUM Back to top A supplement to any document that contains additional information pertinent to the subject. Appraisers use an addendum to further explain items for which there was inadequate space on the standard appraisal form. ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE (ARM) Back to top A type of mortgage where the interest rate varies based on a particular index, normally the prime lending rate. ADJUSTED BASIS Back to top The value of an asset (property or otherwise) that includes the original price plus the value of any improvement, and less any applicable depreciation. ADJUSTED SALES PRICE Back to top An estimate of a property's sales price, after adjustments have been made to account for differences between it and another comparable property. AESTHETIC VALUE Back to top The additional value a property enjoys based on subjective criteria such as look or appeal. AFFIRMATION Back to top A declaration that a certain set of facts are truthful. AFFORDABILITY ANALYSIS Back to top A calculation used to determine an individual's likelihood of being able to meet the obligations of a mortgage for a particular property. Takes into account the down payment, closing costs and on-going mortgage payments. AGENT Back to top A person who has been appointed to act on behalf of another for a particular transaction. AMENITY Back to top Any feature of a property that increases its value or desirability. These might include natural amenities such as location or proximity to mountains, or man-made amenities like swimming pools, parks or other recreation. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF APPRAISERS Back to top An organization of appraisal professionals and others interested in the appraisal profession. AMORTIZATION Back to top The repayment of a loan through regular periodic payment. AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE Back to top The breakdown of individual payments throughout the life of an amortized loan, showing both principal contribution and debt service (interest) fees. AMORTIZATION TERM Back to top The length of time over which an amortized loan is repaid. Mortgages are commonly amortized over 15 or 30 years. ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR) Back to top The rate of annual interest charged on a loan. ANNUITY Back to top A sum of money paid at regular intervals, often annually. APPLICATION Back to top A form used to apply for a mortgage loan that details a potential borrowers income, debt, savings and other information used to determine credit worthiness. APPRAISAL Back to top A ''defensible'' and carefully documented opinion of value. Most commonly derived using recent sales of comparable properties by a licensed, professional appraiser. APPRAISAL FOUNDATION Back to top A not-for-profit educational organization established by the appraisal profession in the United States in 1987. It is dedicated to the advancement of professional valuation and responsible for establishing, improving, and promoting the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). APPRAISAL INSTITUTE Back to top A world-wide organization dedicated to real estate appraisal education, publication and advocacy. APPRAISAL PRINCIPLES Back to top The basic building blocks of the property valuation process, including property inspection, market analysis and basic economics. APPRAISAL REPORT Back to top The end result of the appraisal process, usually consists of one major, standardized form such as the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report form 1004, as well as all supporting documentation and additional detail information. The purpose of the report is to convey the estimated value of the subject property and support that estimate with corroborating information. APPRAISAL STANDARDS BOARD (ASB) Back to top An independent board of the APPRAISAL FOUNDATION, which writes, amends, and interprets USPAP. The ASB is composed of up to seven appraisers appointed by the Foundation's Board of Trustees. The ASB holds public meetings throughout the year to interpret and amend USPAP. APPRAISED VALUE Back to top The estimated fair market value of a property as developed by a licensed, certified appraiser following accepted appraisal principals. APPRAISER Back to top An educated, certified professional with extensive knowledge of real estate markets, values and practices. The appraiser is often the only independent voice in any real estate transaction with no vested interest in the ultimate value or sales price of the property. APPRECIATION Back to top The natural rise in property value due to market forces. ARMS LENGTH TRANSACTION Back to top Any transaction in which the two parties are unconnected and have no overt common interests. Such a transaction most often reflects the true market value of a property. ASSESSED VALUE Back to top The value of a property according to jurisdictional tax assessment. ASSESSMENT Back to top The function of assigning a value to a property for the purpose of levying taxes. ASSESSMENT RATIO Back to top The comparative relationship of a property's assessed value to its market value. ASSESSOR Back to top The jurisdictional official who performs the assessment and assigns the value of a property. ASSET Back to top Any item of value which a person owns. ASSIGNMENT Back to top Transfer of ownership of a mortgage usually when the loan is sold to another company. ASSUMABLE MORTGAGE Back to top A mortgage that can be taken over by the buyer when a home is sold. ASSUMPTION Back to top When a buyer takes over, or assumes the sellers mortgage. ATTACHED HOUSING Back to top Any number of houses or other dwellings which are physically attached to one another, but are occupied by a number of different people. The individual houses may or may not be owned by separate people as well. BALLOON MORTGAGE Back to top A mortgage loan in which the monthly payments are not large enough to repay the loan by the end of the term. So at the end of the term, the remaining balance comes due in a single large payment. BALLOON PAYMENT Back to top The final large payment at the end of a balloon mortgage term. BANKRUPTCY Back to top When a person or business is unable to pay their debts and seeks protection of the state against creditors. Bankruptcies remain on credit records for up to ten years and can prevent a person from being able to get a loan. BILL OF SALE Back to top A physical receipt indicating the sale of property. BIWEEKLY MORTGAGE Back to top A mortgage where you make half payments every two weeks, rather than one payment per month. This results in making the equivalent of 13 monthly payments per year, rather than 12, significantly reducing the time it takes to pay off a thirty year mortgage. BLIGHTED AREA Back to top Any region of a city or town that has fallen into disrepair or otherwise has become undesirable. BONA FIDE Back to top Any genuine offer, made without intent to defraud or deceive. BRIDGE FINANCING Back to top An interim loan made to facilitate the purchase of a new home before the buyer's current residence sells and its equity is available to fund the new purchase. BROKER Back to top An individual who facilitates the purchase of property by bringing together a buyer and a seller. BUFFER ZONE Back to top A segment of land between two disparate municipal zones which acts as a shield to keep one zone from encroaching upon the other. Often used to separate residential districts from commercial areas. BUILDING CODE Back to top Regulations that ensure the safety and material compliance of new construction within a municipality. Building codes are localized to ensure they are adequate to meet the risk of common hazards. BUILDING LINE OR SETBACK Back to top The statutory distance between buildings and the property line, imposed by municipalities, home associations, or other agreements. BUILT-INS Back to top Specific items of personal property which are installed in a real estate improvement such that they become part of the building. Built-in microwave ovens and dishwashers are common examples. BUNGALOW Back to top A one-story, home-style dating from the early twentieth century. Often characterized by a low-pitched roof. BUY DOWN Back to top Extra money paid in a lump sum to reduce the interest rate of a fixed rate mortgage for a period of time. The extra money may be paid by the borrower, in order to have a lower payment at the beginning of the mortgage. Or paid by the seller, or lender, as incentive to buy the property or take on the mortgage. CALL OPTION Back to top A clause in a mortgage which allows the lender to demand payment of the outstanding balance at a specific time. CAP Back to top Associated with Adjustable Rate Mortgages. A limit on how high monthly payments or how much interest rates may change within a certain time period or the life of the mortgage. CAPE COD COLONIAL Back to top A single-story house style made popular in New England. Often characterized by a steep roof with gables. CAPITAL Back to top Accumulated goods and money which is most often used to generate additional income. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Back to top An outlay of funds designed to improve the income-producing capabilities of an asset or to extend its economic life. CASH-OUT REFINANCE Back to top Refinancing a mortgage at a higher amount than the current balance in order to transform a portion of the equity into cash. CAVEAT EMPTOR Back to top Literally translated: ''Let the buyer beware.'' A common business tenet whereby the buyer is responsible for verifying any and all claims by the seller of property. CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT Back to top A document showing that the bearer has a certain amount of money, at a particular amount interest, on deposit with a financial institution. CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT INDEX Back to top An index based on the interest rate of six month CDs. Used to set interest rates on some Adjustable Rate Mortgages. CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY Back to top A document issued by the Veterans Administration that certifies eligibility for a VA loan. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY Back to top Issued by an appropriate jurisdictional entity, this document certifies that a building complies with all building codes and is safe for use or habitation. CERTIFICATE OF REASONABLE VALUE (CRV) Back to top Usually based on an independent appraisal, a CRV for a particular property establishes the maximum amount which can be secured by a VA mortgage. CERTIFICATE OF TITLE Back to top A document designating the legal owner of a parcel of real estate. Usually provided by a title or abstract company. CERTIFIED GENERAL APPRAISER Back to top Generally, any professional who has met the local or state requirements, and passed the appropriate certification exam, and is capable of appraising any type of property. CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL APPRAISER Back to top A sub-classification of appraiser who is only licensed to appraise residential property, usually up to four units. CHAIN OF TITLE Back to top The complete history of ownership of a piece of property. CHATTEL Back to top Any personal property which is not attached to or an integral part of a property. Chattel is not commonly taken into consideration when appraising the value of real property. CLEAR TITLE Back to top Ownership of property that is not encumbered by any counter-claim or lien. CLOSING Back to top A torturous process designed to induce cramping in a home buyer's hands by requiring signature on countless pieces of documentation that nobody has ever read. Or, the process whereby the sale of a property is consummated with the buyer completing all applicable documentation, including signing the mortgage obligation and paying all appropriate costs associated with the sale (CLOSING COSTS). CLOSING COSTS Back to top All appropriate costs generated by the sale of property which the parties must pay to complete the transaction. Costs may include appraisal fees, origination fees, title insurance, taxes and any points negotiated in the deal. CLOSING STATEMENT Back to top The document detailing the final financial arrangement between a buyer and seller and the costs paid by each. COLLATERAL Back to top An asset which is placed at risk to secure the repayment of a loan. CO-BORROWER Back to top A second person sharing obligation on the loan and title on the property. COLLECTION Back to top The process a lender takes to pursue a borrower who is delinquent on his payments in order to bring the mortgage current again. Includes documentation that may be used in foreclosure. CO-MAKER Back to top A second party who signs a loan, along with the borrower, and becomes liable for the debt should the borrower default. COMMON LAW Back to top As opposed to statute law. Laws that have been established by custom, usage and courts over many years. COMMISSION Back to top A percentage of the sales price or a fixed fee negotiated by an agent to compensate for the effort expended to sell or purchase property. COMMON AREA ASSESSMENTS Back to top Fees which are charged to the tenets or owners of properties to cover the costs of maintaining areas shared with other tenets or owners. Commonly found in condominium, PUD or office spaces. COMMON AREAS Back to top Any areas, such as entryways, foyers, pools, recreational facilities or the like, which are shared by the tenets or owners of property near by. Commonly found in condominium, PUD or office spaces. COMMUNITY PROPERTY Back to top In many jurisdictions, any property which has been acquired by a married couple. The ownership of the property is considered equal unless stipulated otherwise by both parties. COMPARABLES Back to top An abbreviated term used by appraisers to describe properties which are similar in size, condition, location and amenities to a subject property who's value is being determined. The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) establish clear guidelines for determining a comparable property. COMPOUND INTEREST Back to top Interest paid on the principal amount, as well as any accumulated interest. CONCESSIONS Back to top Additional value granted by a buyer or seller to entice another party to complete a deal. CONDEMNATION Back to top The official process by which a property is deemed to be uninhabitable or unusable due to internal damage or other external conditions. CONDOMINIUM Back to top |