100+ Real Estate Vocabulary Words You Should Know

As a real estate investor or agent, it’s important to have a strong grasp on all of the real estate vocabulary words. Not only will it make you sound more knowledgeable and professional, but it will also help you communicate more effectively with clients, colleagues, and other industry professionals.

Here are the 100+ real estate vocabulary words you should know:

1. Acceleration clause: A provision in a mortgage contract that allows the lender to demand the full balance of the loan if the borrower defaults.
2. Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM): A mortgage with an interest rate that can change over time.
3. Agency: The relationship between a real estate agent and their client.
4. Amortization: The process of paying off a debt with regular payments over time.
5. Appraisal: An assessment of a property’s value.
6. Appreciation: An increase in the value of a property.
7. Assessed value: The value of a property as determined by a government authority for the purpose of taxation.
8. Balloon mortgage: A mortgage with a large payment due at the end of the loan term.
9. Beneficiary: The person or entity designated to receive the benefits of a trust or insurance policy.
10. Bridge loan: A short-term loan used to bridge the gap between the purchase of a new property and the sale of an existing one.
11. Buyer’s agent: A real estate agent who represents the interests of the buyer in a transaction.
12. Capital gains tax: A tax on the profit made from the sale of a property.
13. Cash flow: The amount of money coming in and going out of an investment property.
14. Certificate of occupancy: A document issued by a local government agency stating that a property is fit for habitation.
15. Clear title: A title to a property that has no liens or other claims against it.
16. Closing costs: Fees associated with the closing of a real estate transaction, including things like title fees and loan origination fees.
17. Closing statement: A summary of all the financial transactions that occurred during a real estate closing.
18. Closing: The final step in the home buying process where the sale is finalized and the keys are handed over to the buyer.
19. Cloud on title: Any issue that could potentially affect the ownership of a property.
20. Commission split: The percentage of a real estate commission that is divided between the listing agent and the selling agent.
21. Commission: The fee a real estate agent earns for their services.
22. Comparative market analysis (CMA): An evaluation of a property’s value based on the prices of similar properties in the area.
23. Condo: Short for condominium, a type of housing where residents own their individual unit and share ownership of common areas.
24. Conforming loan: A mortgage that meets the guidelines set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
25. Construction loan: A loan used to finance the building of a new property.
26. Contingency: A condition that must be met in order for a real estate contract to be completed.
27. Convertible ARM: An adjustable-rate mortgage that can be converted to a fixed-rate mortgage at a predetermined time.
28. Counteroffer: A response to an offer on a property that includes changes or modifications to the original offer.
29. Covenant: A promise or agreement made in a real estate contract.
30. Credit score: A numerical representation of a borrower’s creditworthiness, based on their credit history.
31. Deed of trust: A document that establishes a lender’s security interest in a property.
32. Deed: A legal document that transfers ownership of a property.
33. Default rate: The percentage of borrowers who default on their mortgages.
34. Default: Failing to make mortgage payments or otherwise breaching the terms of a loan agreement.
35. Deposit: A sum of money paid upfront as a show of good faith in a real estate transaction.
36. Depreciation: A decrease in the value of a property over time.
37. Discount points: An upfront fee paid to a lender to secure a lower interest rate on a mortgage.
38. Due diligence: The investigation and evaluation of a property before purchasing it.
39. Earnest money: A deposit made by a buyer to show their commitment to purchasing a property.
40. Eminent domain: The right of a government to seize private property for public use, with compensation to the owner.
41. Equity: The difference between the value of a property and the amount still owed on the mortgage.
42. Escrow account: A separate account where funds related to a real estate transaction are held until all conditions are met.
43. Escrow: A neutral third party that holds onto funds or documents related to a real estate transaction until all conditions of the sale have been met.
44. FHA loan: A mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
45. FSBO: Short for “for sale by owner,” a property that is being sold directly by the owner without the representation of a real estate agent.
46. Fair market value: The price a property would sell for on the open market.
47. First mortgage: A mortgage that has priority over all other liens or mortgages on a property.
48. Fixed-rate mortgage: A mortgage with an interest rate that remains constant over the life of the loan.
49. Foreclosure auction: The public sale of a foreclosed property.
50. Foreclosure prevention: Measures taken by a borrower to avoid foreclosure on their property.
51. Foreclosure sale: The sale of a foreclosed property by the lender.
52. Foreclosure: The legal process by which a lender repossesses a property due to the borrower defaulting on their mortgage.
53. GAP insurance: Insurance that covers the difference between the balance of a loan and the value of a vehicle in the event of a total loss.
54. HOA: Short for homeowner’s association, an organization that sets and enforces rules for a community of homes.
55. Hard money loan: A short-term loan secured by real estate, typically used for investment properties.
56. Home inspection: A thorough examination of a property’s condition, typically conducted before the purchase of a home.
57. Homeowner’s insurance: Insurance that covers a property and its contents in the event of damage or loss.
58. Housing bubble: A situation where the price of housing becomes inflated, often resulting in a crash.
59. Interest-only loan: A mortgage where the borrower only pays the interest on the loan, not the principal.
60. Jumbo loan: A mortgage that exceeds the conforming loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
61. Land contract: A contract for the sale of land where the buyer makes payments to the seller over time, with the deed transferring to the buyer upon full payment.
62. Lease: A legal contract outlining the terms of a rental agreement.
63. Leasehold estate: A type of tenancy where the tenant has the right to use and occupy a property for a specific period of time.
64. Lender-owned property: A property that has been repossessed by a lender due to the borrower defaulting on their mortgage.
65. Liability insurance: Insurance that protects against claims or lawsuits related to injuries or damages caused by the policyholder.
66. Lien: A legal claim on a property as security for the repayment of a debt.
67. Lienholder: The party holding a lien on a property.
68. Listing: A property that is for sale or rent, represented by a real estate agent.
69. Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The ratio of the amount of the loan to the value of the property.
70. Long-term mortgage: A mortgage with a loan term of 15 years or more.
71. Manufactured home: A home that is built off-site and transported to its final location.
72. Market value: The price a property would sell for on the open market.
73. Mortgage broker: A professional who helps borrowers shop for the best mortgage rates and terms.
74. Mortgage insurance: Insurance that protects the lender in the event of a borrower defaulting on their mortgage.
75. Mortgage: A loan used to purchase a property.
76. Mortgagee: The party lending the money in a mortgage.
77. Mortgagor: The party borrowing the money in a mortgage.
78. Multiple Listing Service (MLS): A database of properties for sale or rent, accessible to real estate agents.
79. Negotiated sale: A real estate sale where the terms, including the price, are negotiated between the buyer and seller.
80. Offer to purchase: A written proposal to buy a property at a certain price.
81. Offer: A proposed agreement to purchase a property at a certain price.
82. Open house: An event where a property is open for prospective buyers to view.
83. Option contract: A contract giving the buyer the right to purchase a property at a set price within a certain time frame.
84. Owner financing: A type of financing where the owner of a property acts as the lender.
85. Partial ownership: A type of ownership where the owner holds a percentage of the property rather than the entire property.
86. Partial release: The removal of a part of a property from a lien or mortgage.
87. Passive income: Income generated from an investment property without the need for active management.
88. Pre-approval: A statement from a lender indicating that a borrower is qualified to borrow a certain amount of money.
89. Pre-foreclosure: The period of time between when a borrower defaults on their mortgage and when the lender begins the foreclosure process.
90. Prepayment penalty: A fee charged to a borrower for paying off their mortgage before the end of the loan term.
91. Principal residence: A person’s main place of residence.
92. Principal: The amount of money borrowed or remaining on a loan, not including interest.
93. Private mortgage insurance (PMI): Insurance that protects the lender in the event of a borrower defaulting on their mortgage.
94. Property management: The oversight and management of a rental property.
95. Quitclaim deed: A deed that transfers any claim or interest the grantor has in a property to the grantee, without warranties or guarantees.
96. Rate lock: A commitment from a lender to hold a certain interest rate for a specified period of time.
97. Refinance closing costs: Fees associated with refinancing a mortgage.
98. Refinance: The process of replacing an existing loan with a new one, often to secure a lower interest rate.
99. Rent roll: A list of all the units in a rental property and their current rents.
100. Rent-to-own: A type of agreement in which a tenant rents a property with the option to purchase it at a later date.
101. Renter’s insurance: Insurance that covers the belongings of a tenant in the event of damage or loss.
102. Reverse mortgage: A mortgage that allows a homeowner to borrow against the equity in their home.
103. Second mortgage: A mortgage that has a lower priority than the first mortgage on a property.
104. Seller carryback: A type of financing where the seller carries a portion of the mortgage for the buyer.
105. Seller’s agent: A real estate agent who represents the interests of the seller in a transaction.
106. Settlement statement: A document outlining all the costs and fees associated with a real estate transaction.
107. Short sale: A sale of a property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage.
108. Subdivision: A piece of land divided into smaller lots for the purpose of development.
109. Survey: A measurement and depiction of a property’s boundaries and features.
110. Tenancy at sufferance: A type of tenancy that occurs when a tenant stays on a property after their lease has expired, without the landlord’s consent.
111. Tenancy at will: A type of tenancy where the tenant has the right to occupy the property for an indefinite period of time, as long as both parties agree.
112. Tenancy in common: A type of ownership where two or more people own a property together, with each owner having the right to sell or transfer their share.
113. Tenancy in entirety: A type of ownership where a married couple owns a property together and both parties must agree to sell or transfer the property.
114. Term: The length of time a mortgage loan is in effect.
115. Title insurance: Insurance that protects the owner of a property from any claims or disputes over ownership.
116. Title insurance: Insurance that protects the owner of a property from any claims or disputes over ownership.
117. Title search: The process of examining public records to ensure the seller of a property has the legal right to sell it.
118. Title: Legal ownership of a property.
119. Underwriting: The process of evaluating a borrower’s creditworthiness and the risk involved in lending them money.
120. VA loan: A mortgage guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
121. Warranty deed: A deed that includes guarantees from the grantor to the grantee regarding the title to the property.
122. Zoning: The regulation of the use and development of land in a specific area.

I hope this list of real estate vocabulary words was helpful! If you’re new to the industry, it might be a good idea to bookmark this list for reference.

As you gain more experience, you’ll become more comfortable using these terms and incorporating them into your everyday language. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you come across a term you don’t understand. The more you know about the real estate industry, the more successful you’ll be as an investor!