terms Flashcards
abstract of title
The condensed history of a title to a particular parcel of real estate, consisting of a summary of the original grant and all subsequent conveyances and encumbrances affecting the property and a certification by the abstracter that the history is complete and accurate
acceleration clause
The clause in a mortgage or trust deed or note that can be enforced to make the entire amount of principal and interest due immediately if the mortgagor defaults on an installment payment or other covenant.
accrued item
on a closing statement, items of expense that are incurred but not yet payable, such as interest on a mortgage loan or taxes on real property.
acknowledgment
a formal declaration before a notary public or other authorized public officer that authenticates signatures on a document for the purpose of recording.
actual eviction
the result of legal action, originated by a lessor, whereby a defaulted tenant is physically ousted from the rented property pursuant to a court order
actual notice
the result of legal action, originated by a lessor, whereby a defaulted tenant is physically ousted from the rented property pursuant to a court order
adjustable-rate mortgage
a mortgage loan in which the interest rate may increase or decrease at specified intervals over the life of the loan
adverse possession
the actual, visible, hostile, notorious, exclusive, and continuous possession of another’s land under a claim of title. possession for a statutory period may be a means of acquiring title
alienation clause
the clause in a mortgage or deed of trust stating that the balance of the secured debt becomes immediately due and payable at the mortgagee’s option if the property is sold by the mortgagor. in effect, this clause prevents the mortgagor from assigning the debt without the mortgagee’s approval; also called a due-on-sale clause
amortization
a loan in which the principal as well as the interest is payable in monthly or other periodic installments over the term of the loan
appraisal
an estimate of the quantity, quality, or value of something. the process through which conclusions of property value are obtained; also refers to the report that sets forth the process of estimation and conclusion of value
appraisal
an estimate of the quantity, quality, or value of something. the process through which conclusions of property value are obtained; also refers to the report that sets forth the process of estimation and conclusion of value
appreciation
an increase in the worth or value of a property due to economic or related causes, which may prove to be either temporary or permanent; opposite of depreciation.
area
the size in square units (square inches, etc.) of a two-dimensional figure such as a triangle or a rectangle
attorney’s opinion of title
a writing based on a lawyer’s reading of an abstract of title that specifies any interprets it; states whether a seller may convey good title
auctioneer
a person who conducts the sale of property by competitive bid using any method, format, or venue; licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
automated underwriting
the process of electronically evaluation a loan application, assessing a borrower’s ability to repay, and subsequently providing a recommendation for or against loan approval.
balloon payment
a final payment of a mortgage loan that is considerable larger than the required periodic payments because the loan amount was not fully amortized
bargain and sale deed
a deed that carries with it no warranties against liens or other encumbrances but that does imply that the grantor has the right to convey title; a bargain and sale deed
basis
the dollar amount associated with an asset to determine annual depreciation and gain or loss on the sale of the asset. the owner’s basis is the cost of the property; adding the value of any capital expenditures for improvements to the property and subtracting any depreciation claimed as a tax deduction yields the adjusted basis
bequest
the transfer of personal property to a legatee in accordance with will
biweekly payment plan
a loan that calls for 26 half-month payments a year, resulting in an earlier loan retirement date and lower total interest costs than with a typical fully amortized loan
blanket mortgage
a mortgage covering more than one parcel of real estate, providing for each parcel’s partial release from the mortgage lien or repayment of a definite portion of the debt
boot
money or property given to make up any difference in value or equity between two properties in an exchange
buffer zone
zoning districts that gradually change from a high-intensity use to a lower-intensity use
building code
an ordinance that specifies minimum standards of construction for buildings to protect public safety and health
building permit
a permission issued by a city for the construction of a building to ensure compliance with building codes
business interruption insurance
a form of coverage that provides income to a business in the event the premises become untenable
buydown mortgage
a mortgage on which a cash payment, usually measured in points, has been made to the lender to reduce the interest rate a borrower must pay; usually “bought down” for the first two or three years of the loan
capital gain
income earned from the sale of an asset
capitalization rate
the rate of return a property will produce on the owner’s investment
cash flow
the net spendable income from an investment, determined by deducting all operating and fixed expenses from the gross income. if expenses exceed income, a negative cash flow is the result
casualty insurance
a type of policy that protects a property owner or other person from loss or injury sustained as a result of theft, vandalism, or similar occurrences
chain of title
the succession of conveyances from some accepted starting point, whereby the present holder of real property derives title
closing
the consummation of a real estate transaction, when the seller delivers title to the buyer in exchange for payment by the buyer of the purchase price
closing agent
the person who employs an agent to perform a service for a fee
closing statement
a detailed cash accounting of a real estate transaction showing all cash received, all charges and credits made, and all cash paid out in the transaction
codicil
a supplement or an addition to a will, that normally does not revoke the entire will
commercial broker
broker that specialize in business property, including offers, shopping center, stores, theaters, hotels, industrial parks, and parking facilities
commitment
a statement of the terms and conditions on which a title insurance underwriter is willing to issue a title insurance policy
comparative market analysis (cma)
a comparison of the prices of recently sold homes that are similar to the subject home in terms of location, style, and amenities. compiled by a broker or a sales agent to assist a seller in determining a listing price
comparative market analysis (cma)
a comparison of the prices of recently sold homes that are similar to the subject home in terms of location, style, and amenities. compiled by a broker or a sales agent to assist a seller in determining a listing price
comprehensive plan
a master plan to guide the long-term development of a government subdivision, such as a city or a county, to ensure that social and economic needs are balanced against environmental and aesthetic concerns.
computerized loan origination (clo)
a computer network tied into a major lender that allows agents across the country to initiate mortgage loan applications in their own offices
conditional-use permit
a grant approved by a planning and zoning commission allowing, with conditions, a special use of property that is in the public interest
construction loan
a short-term loan usually made during the construction phase of a building project (in this case, often called a construction loan)
constructive eviction
actions of the landlord that so materially disturb or impair the tenant’s enjoyment of the lease premises that the tenant is effectively forced to move out and terminate the lease without liability for any further rent
constructive notice
notice given to the world by recorded documents. all people are charged with knowledge of such documents and their contents, whether or not they actually have examined them. possession of property also is considered constructive notice that the person in possession has an interest in the property
consumer
an individual, partnership, corporation, or Texas government agency that seeks or acquires, by purchase or lease, any goods or services, as defined by the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
contract for deed
a contract for the sale of real estate wherein the purchase price is paid in periodic installments by the purchaser, who is in possession of the property even though title is retained by the seller until final payment. also called an installment contract, land contract, or contract of sale
contract for deed
a contract for the sale of real estate wherein the purchase price is paid in periodic installments by the purchaser, who is in possession of the property even though title is retained by the seller until final payment. also called an installment contract, land contract, or contract of sale
conventional loan
a loan that is not insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA
cost approach
an estimate of value based on current construction costs, less depreciation, plus land value. contrast with the income approach to value and the sales comparison approach to value
credit
on a closing statement, an amount entered in a person’s favor - either an amount the party has paid or an amount for which the party must be reimbursed
debit
on a closing statement, an amount charged, that is, an amount that a party must pay
decedent
a person who has died
deed
a written instrument that, when executed and delivered, conveys title to or an interest in real estate
deed in lieu of foreclosure
a deed given by the mortgagor to the mortgagee when the mortgagor is in default under the terms of the mortgage. this is a way for the mortgagor to avoid foreclosure
deed in lieu of foreclosure
a deed given by the mortgagor to the mortgagee when the mortgagor is in default under the terms of the mortgage. this is a way for the mortgagor to avoid foreclosure
deed in trust
a form of deed by which real estate is conveyed to a trustee
deed of trust
an instrument used to create a mortgage lien by which the mortgagor (borrower) conveys title to a trustee, who holds it as security for the benefit of the lender (beneficiary); also called a trust deed
deed restriction
clauses in a deed limiting the future uses of the property
deed without warranty
a deed that carries with it no warranties against liens or other encumbrances but that does imply that the grantor has the right to convey title; a bargain and sale deed
defeasance clause
a provision in leases and mortgages that cancels a specified right on the occurrence of a certain condition, such as cancellation of of a mortgage on repayment of the mortgage loan
deficiency judgment
a personal judgement levied against the mortgagor when a foreclosure sale does not produce sufficient funds to pay the mortgage debt in full
delivery and acceptance
title passes when the grantor delivers the deed and the grantee accepts it. the deed may be delivered personally or through a third-party escrow agent; recordation by the county clerk creates an assumption of delivery and acceptance
depreciated cost
the value of a property after deducting an allowance for depreciation
depreciation
- in appraisal, a loss of value in property due to any cause, including physical deterioration, functional obsolescence, and external obsolescence.
- in real estate investment, an expense deduction for tax purposes taken over the period of ownership of income property. see also cost recovery
developer
one who converts raw land into a platted subdivision, installs utilities, and paves streets, and who also may construct buildings on lots and sell them
discount points
an added loan fee charged by a lender to make the yield on a lower-than-market-value loan competitive with higher-interest-rate loans
diversification
distribution of investments along several types of investments (such as savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate) in order to average the risk of loss
doctrine of relation back
irrevocable deposit of the executed deed, purchase money, and instructions into escrow pending performance of escrow conditions
economic life
the period of time during which a structure may reasonably be expected to perform the function for which it was designed or intended
equity loan
a line of credit made against the equity in the borrower’s home
escrow
the closing of a transaction through a third party called an escrow agent, or escrowee, who receives certain funds and documents to be delivered on the performance of certain conditions outlined in the escrow agreement
estate for years
a leased interest in property for a certain, exact period of time and for a specified consideration
estate from period to period
an interest in leased property that continues from period to period - week to week, month to month, or year to year
evidence of title
proof of ownership of property, commonly a title insurance policy or an abstract of title with an attorney’s opinion of title
exchange
a transaction in which all or part of the consideration is the transfer of like-kind property (such as investment real estate for investment real estate)
external obsolescence
reduction in property’s value caused by factors outside the subject property, such as social or environmental forces; also called economic or locational obsolescence
extraterritorial jurisdiction
a half-mile to five-mile area surrounding an incorporated area over which the municipality has the right of subdivision approval and the potential for annexation
extraterritorial jurisdiction
a half-mile to five-mile area surrounding an incorporated area over which the municipality has the right of subdivision approval and the potential for annexation
fannie mae
a privately owned corporation that participates in the secondary market by buying conventional, FHA and VA loans. formerly the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
farm and ranch or land sales broker
brokers that specialize in farms, timeberland, pastureland, ranches, and orchards
farm service agency (fsa)
an agency of the u.s. department of agriculture that makes and guarantees loans and provides credit counseling and supervision to farmers and ranchers who are temporarily unable to obtain private, commercial credit
farmer mac
a secondary market for farm real estate loans; the federal mortgage corporation
federal reserve system (the ‘fed’)
a central banking system designed to manage the nation’s economy; ‘the fed’
fha loan
a loan insured by the federal housing administration and made by an approved lender in accordance with fha regulations
financing
the business of providing the funds necessary to complete real estate transactions
fire and extended coverage insurance
a type of policy to protect against fire, hail, windstorn, and other damage
flexible-payment loan
a payment plan in which a mortgagor makes lower monthly payments for the first few years of a loan and larger payments for the remainder of the term
forcible detainer suit
a court suit initiated by a landlord to evict a tenant from leased premises after the tenant has breached one of the terms of the lease or has held possession of the property after the lease’s expiration
foreclosure
a legal procedure whereby property used as security for a debt is sold to satisfy the debt in the event of default in in payment of the mortgage note or default of other terms in the mortgage document
formal will
a written instrument disposing of property on the death of the marker. the testator must be of legal age and sound mind, and not subject to undue influence. the document must be signed and witnessed; also known as a witnessed will
freddie mac
a corporation established to purchase primarily conventional mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market. chartered as the federal home loan mortgage corporation (fhlmc)