Glossary

An interior style that features a steeply peaked roofline and a ceiling that is open to the top rafters.

The summary of a court judgment that creates a lien against a property when filed with the county recorder.

A tax calculation that provides greater depreciation in the early years of ownership of real estate or personal property.

A bookkeeping method that depreciates property faster in the early years of ownership.

A provision that gives a lender the right to collect the balance of a loan if a borrower misses a payment.

The seller's written approval of a buyer's offer.

Any means by which a person can enter property.

The degree to which a building or site allows access to people with disabilities.

The gradual addition to the shore or bank of a waterway by deposits of sand or silt.

A written declaration affirming that a person acted voluntarily.

A measurement of land equal to 43,560 square feet.

The volume of material needed to cover an acre of land one foot deep.

A system that utilizes electric pumps or fans to transfer solar energy for storage or direct use.

The number of years a structure has been standing.

The interest a borrower pays on the principal for the duration of the loan.

An addition or change to a contract.

Extra money included in the monthly payment to help reduce the principal and shorten the term of the loan.

A loan with an interest rate that is periodically adjusted to reflect changes in a specified financial index.

The cost of any improvements the seller makes to the property. Deducting the cost from the original sales price provides the profit or loss of a home when it is sold.

The amount of time between interest rate adjustments in an adjustable-rate mortgage.

A person given authority to manage and distribute the estate of someone who died without leaving a will.

A legal document that an administrator of an estate uses to transfer property.

The acquisition of title to property through possession without the owner's consent for a certain period of time.

The access and use of property without the owner's consent.

Soil that is composed of materials deposited by the wind.

A person who makes a sworn statement.

A substitution for an oath granted to people based on religious reasons.

The relationship of trust that exists between sellers and buyers and their agents. The agency is formed through a written contract.

The process by which a lender uses a title company or other firm as an agent to complete a loan.

A person licensed by the state to conduct real estate transactions.

A compromise boundary to which property owners agree in order to resolve a dispute.

A document the buyer initiates and the seller approves that details the price and terms of the transaction.

A recessed section of a room, such as a breakfast nook.

A provision that requires the borrower to pay the balance of the loan in a lump sum after the property is sold or transferred.

Mineral salt found in soil.

Soil that contains a higher concentration of mineral salt than natural acid.

A lane behind a row of buildings or between two rows of buildings.

Budgets offered by builders of new homes for the purchase of carpeting and fixtures.

Any home loan that does not conform to a standard fixed-rate mortgage.

A metal covering that provides an alternative to paint for owners of wood homes.

Wooden windows with aluminum covering the exterior.

Parks, swimming pools, health-club facilities, party rooms, bike paths, community centers and other enticements offered by builders of planned developments.

The American Society of Home Inspectors is a professional association of independent home inspectors. Phone: (800) 743-2744.

A law passed in 1990 that outlaws discrimination against a person with a disability in housing, public accommodations, employment, government services, transportation and telecommunications.

The process of paying the principal and interest on a loan through regularly scheduled installments.

Mathematical tables that lenders use to calculate a borrower's monthly payment.

The strength of an electrical current.

A large steel bolt anchored in concrete and attached to a building to prevent the structure from moving.

Something that happens once a year.

A yearly statement to borrowers that details the remaining principal and amounts paid for taxes and interest.