Real estate test Flashcards
Abutting
Abutting means an area of land or a building has a common boundary with another.
Acceleration clause
The acceleration clause is a contract provision that allows a lender to require a borrower to repay all of an outstanding loan if payments are not being made or there is a breach of contract.
Accretion
Accretion is the slow process of growth or acquisition of land, typically when soil is deposited by the natural action of water. Long term accretion can actually increase the size of a property.
Active property
If you or your client sees a home listing with just “active” as their status, this indicates that the property is available for sale.
Actual fraud
Actual fraud is an intentional misrepresentation of fact; or in plain terms lying.
Ad valorem
The Latin phrase ad valorem means “according to value.”
Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
An adjustable rate mortgage has a flexible interest rate. Adjustable rate mortgages have a fixed period during which the initial interest rate remains the same, after that the interest rate adjusts at a pre-arranged frequency. The fixed-rate period can vary significantly anywhere from one month to 10 years
Adverse possession
Adverse possession is the legal principle in which a person who does not have legal right to a property acquires legal ownership based on continuous occupation of the land without the permission of its real owner.
Agent
An agent is one who speaks for or represents someone.
Agreement of sale
A form that states the buyer consents to purchase a property and the seller agrees to sell that property with the terms and conditions illustrated in from both parties.
Air rights
Air rights are the rights to use the space above the earth.
Alienation
Alienation is the act of transferring title, ownership, an estate, or an interest in real estate from one party to another.
Alienation clause
The provision in a mortgage or deed of trust signed with the lender that states that the borrower must pay the mortgage in full before the borrower can transfer the property.
Amendments
Add ons, or fixes to contracts.
Amenities
Amenities are a useful feature or add on to a house that typically adds value to the property.
Amortization
Amortization is when payments divide into equal amounts for the duration of the loan
Antitrust laws
Antitrust Laws are a collection of federal and state government laws that regulate the conduct and organization of business corporations, normally to promote fair competition for the benefit of consumers.
Appraisal
An appraisal is an estimate of approximate worth of something.
Appraisal contingency
Most big lenders or banks require the buyer to have an appraisal done to the property before the loan is granted. This is to ensure the house is worth somewhat close to the price of the accepted offer.
Appraiser
Although brokers and agents usually have some understanding of the valuation process, usually they bring in an appraiser to do the job. Appraisers must have detailed knowledge of the methods of valuation and many states require a specific license or certification to perform those duties.
Appreciation
Appreciation is any gain in the value of a property over time from any cause.
Appurtenance
Appurtenance is a noun; describing an item that is attached to something. In real estate, after something is installed onto a property, it can be called an appurtenance. Meaning it is passed on to a new owner if the property is sold.
Appurtenant
Appurtenant is an adjective meaning it is attached to something. If something is appurtenant, it belongs to something else, either attached to or by law.
Appurtenant easement
An appurtenant easement is a type of easement that “runs with the land.”
Arbitration
Arbitration is a way to resolve disputes. Typically real estate arbitration happens when two homeowners want to resolve an issue and do not want to directly involve the courts.
Attorney-in-fact
Someone authorized to act on behalf of another person, typically in business or for some sort of business transaction.
Avulsion
Avulsion is the immediate action of adding or tearing away land by violent acts from natural causes. An example of avulsion is a dam breaking or a hurricane
Balloon loan
A balloon loan is a mortgage which does not fully amortize over the term.
Beneficiary
A beneficiary is an individual for whom a trust works for. They “benefit” from the trust.
Bilateral contract
Bilateral contract is an agreement between at least two people or groups. Most business and personal contracts fall into this category.
Bill of sale
The paperwork given to pass title to an individual property.
Blockbusting
Blockbusting is an illegal practice where real estate agents sell houses at a low price to one race then sell those same houses at a much higher price to a minority
Breach of contract
A breach of contract is the failure to complete an agreement per agreed terms.
Buffer zone
A buffer zone is a space of land between two use districts such as a park, playground or a highway. The point of a buffer zone is to ease the transition from zone to zone.
Building code
Building codes are the rules and standards of properties for the protection of public safety and welfare.
Bundle of rights
When a person purchases property, he or she is given the rights to the property; these rights can be split up and given to different parties.
Buyer’s home sale contingency
This contingency allows the buyer to cancel the contract if they are unable to sell their current home in a specified amount of time.
Buyer’s agent
If someone is in the market for a new home, they enlist a buyer’s agent. A buyer’s agent represents the buyer in a transaction in return for their services they receive a fee.
Capital gain
Capital gain is the profit from the sale or auction of property or investment.
Capitalization
Capitalization is the conversion of assets or income into capital.
Capitalization rate
Cap rate is used to indicate the rate of return that is expected to be generated on a property.
Caveat emptor
Caveat emptor is Latin for “Let the buyer or buyers beware”. The concept is that the buyer is responsible for checking the quality of a product before a purchase is made.
Cetris peribus
A Latin phrase meaning “other things equal” or in plain terms all things remaining constant.
Chattels
Another word for personal property.
Closing
Closing is the final step in executing a real estate transaction. It is when official ownership and payment is transferred to the rightful parties. Closing usually takes place after a purchase agreement is made and the title is now ready to be transferred.
Co-op
A co-op is a nonprofit corporation, complete with a board of directors, and each resident is a shareholder. Perhaps the largest distinction between a condominium and a co-op is that most co-op associations require that a prospective purchaser be approved by a committee composed of current co-op owners.
Co-ownership
Co-ownership is when a title to one parcel of real estate is held by two or more individuals, those parties are called co-owners or concurrent owners. Individuals may co-own property as tenants in common, joint tenants, or tenants by the entirety or lastly community property.
Color of title
The legal concept of a claim to title appearing to be legally valid, but in actuality, the claim is defective.
Collateral
Something of worth promised to a lender as security (mortgage) for an obligation.
Commercial property
Commercial property is a property that generates an income or salary.
Commission
A commission is a fee paid to an agent for performing a transaction.
Community property
Community Property Laws are based on the idea that husband and wife are equal, separate, partners rather than one whole one like tenants by the entirety.
Comparables
Another word for properties sold in the same area seen on a property report.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)
Also known as The Superfund. The Superfund is a United States federal government program designed to fund the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants.
Condemnation
The procedure used by a public or private entity with the powers granted from eminent domain to take privately owned real estate.
Condominium
A condominium often shortened to condo. Is a type of living space which is similar to an apartment but which is independently sellable and therefore regarded as real estate.
Conspiracy to boycott
Conspiracy to boycott occurs when two or more persons or entities conspire to restrict the ability of someone from competing. This unethical and highly illegal.
Constructive eviction
Constructive eviction is a term used in the law of real property to describe a circumstance in which a landlord either does something or fails to do something that he has a legal duty to provide.
Constructive fraud
Constructive fraud is best described as ignorance, or lying without knowing you are lying.
Contingent property
A contingent property means an offer for the property has been accepted but there is a condition or “contingency” that is written into the contract and it must be met before the sale can go through.
Contract
An agreement between two or more parties by law.
Corporation
Corporations may be formed for profit or nonprofit purposes. A corporation is managed and operated by a board of directors. A corporation has certain rights, privileges, and liabilities beyond those of partnerships. Doing business as a corporation has its advantages and disadvantages.
Cost approach
A real estate appraisal method that states the price a buyer pays for a property should equal the cost to build an equivalent building on the property.
Counteroffer
A counteroffer is similar to a purchase agreement. If a counter offer is made the original offer ceases to exist because legally the seller has rejected it.
Datum
The set of data that equals heights and depths measured on a horizontal plane.
Deed
A deed is a written legal document by which ownership of real estate is conveyed from one party to another.
Deed restrictions
Deed restrictions are limitations to the use of the property imposed by a past or current owner and are usually legally binded forever.
Defeasance clause
A required contract provision that ensures that the title for the property is transferred to the buyer, once the mortgage is fully paid off.
Delivery
The legal act of transferring ownership.
Depreciation
Depreciation is any loss in the value of a property over time from any cause.
Discount points
Discount points also known as mortgage points are prepaid interest.
Dividing territories
Dividing territories is when competing brokers agree to split territories, and divide interests accordingly. This is a clear antitrust violation.
Dominant estate
The dominant estate is a parcel of real property that has an easement over another piece of property.
Double net lease
“Double” means two additional costs will be added to your base rent. Usually taxes and insurance costs are added to the monthly lease payment.
Duress
Duress is the act of forcing an individual or business to do something against their will.
Dual Agency
Dual agency occurs when one real estate agent represents both the buyer and seller in a transaction
VA loan
A loan for a certified veteran through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Easement
An easement is a right held by one person to use the land of another for a specific purpose, such as driving through someone else’s property.
Easement for ingress and egress
An easement used for entering and exiting a property.
Egress
The right to exit a property.
Economic obsolescence
Refers to the loss of property value due to external factors, meaning things off the property affecting the properties value.
Emblements
Emblements are annual crops produced by cultivation legally belonging to the tenant with the implied right for its harvest, and they are treated as the tenant’s property.
Eminent domain
The right of the government to take over privately owned real estate for public use.
Encroachment
Encroachment is intrusion on a person’s territory or property.
Encumbrance
Encumbrance means an involuntary lien is on the property.
Endorsement
Signing paperwork normally a contract.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency responsible for dealing with environmental issues. The EPA was established in December 1970 by an executive order of United States President Richard Nixon.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
A regulation that aims to give all legal individuals an equal opportunity to apply for loans. The act prohibits creditors and lenders from considering a consumer’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion or marital status in deciding whether to approve their credit application.
Equitable title
The interest held by one party to purchase property before closing.
Equity
Equity is the difference between the market value of your home and the amount you owe the lender who holds the mortgage.
Erosion
The opposite of accretion, erosion is the wearing away of land or soil by the action of wind, water, currents, or ice. Long term erosion can decrease the size of a property.
Errors and omissions insurance
Some but not all states require this form of insurance. It is a type of liability insurance that protects professionals against claims of inadequate work or negligent actions.
Escheat
When a property owner dies and leaves no proper documented inheritance plan, the property ownership reverts to the government. Escheat ensures that property always has ownership.
Escrow
Escrow is a way for money and property to be transferred from one party to another through the use of a neutral, third-party agent also known as an escrow agent. Escrow makes it a lot safer for both buyers and sellers to close the sale without worrying about getting snubbed or cheated.
Estate at sufferance
An estate in sufferance arises when the tenant holds over after the expiration of their term.
Estate at will
An estate at will means that it can be ended at any time. The term of this estate is indefinite. It’s also important to note that not all states recognize an estate at will and ones that do vary in laws.
Exchange
Transfer of goods or services.