Real Estate Glossary

Real Estate Glossary
Our glossary is the largest dictionary of real estate and construction terms on the Internet with almost 10,000 definitions.



 
Sa - San - Sav - Sc - Scre - Se - Secu - Sem

Set - Sh - Shel - Si - Sim - Sl - Sm - Sol - Sp - Spi

Spr - St - Stap - Step - Str - Stri - Su - Sup


This type of lamp cord consists of small diameter stranded wires, which are covered with rubber insulation.

Individual heating unit used to heat a small area, usually electrically heated.

Minimum dimensions required for various activities in a building, which are established by law for safety and comfort.

1. Cross shaped, small plastic pieces, which are used to space tiles during the installation of ceramic tile, so that they are evenly placed.
2. Small concrete blocks that support and maintain rebar at a specified height off of the bottom of a concrete pour.

Compound, which can be smoothed and painted, which is used to fill in small crack and holes and to cover other defects.

Wood boring bit which is used with a power drill to shave wood in a circular section equal in diameter to the width of the head of the bit. The flat head, whose edges are ground to a beveled edge, has a point used to center the bit in the wood. The turning shank forces the point into the wood.

Tool that uses a long, flat bade with a handle, used to compact newly placed concrete in the forms.

1. Flaking off of a concrete surface.
2. Fragment broken from a masonry structure.

Spread between girders or heavy walls, from eave to eave or between structural supports.

Maximum distance allowed that a structural member may span between supports.

The area between an arch and a ceiling or between and above two connected arches.

Wall section spanning the area from the top of a window to the sill of the window directly above it, on the next floor of the building.

Style familiar to the Southwest and patterned after Spanish missions.

Heavy texture style, also called a sponge twist, which uses plaster, stucco or drywall to produce circular swirls.

Home of one to three stories with stucco outside and a roof of red tiles.

Wrench with projecting teeth that fit into a groove on a particular nut.

Screen or metal cover installed at the outlet of a chimney or exhaust system to allow smoke to pass through but to protect from sparks.

Lighter which moves a flint across a piece of rough steel, to produce sparks to light a gas torch.

Exterior lacquer or liquid plastic-based varnish.

Flat, flexible bladed tool which is used as a putty knife or taping knife.

The products and the plans for construction of a building.

Dwelling constructed prior to being sold. The builder "speculates" that a buyer will be found, thus the term "spec" house.

Person who is retained to act for another, with limited authority.

Charged levied against property owners to finance an improvement made by the local government benefiting the homeowners and commercial businesses.

If a loan is a rehabilitation mortgage, funds for restoration and remodeling are placed in this type of account and disbursed to the appropriate contractors once their work is completed.

Building with limited uses and marketability, such as a church, theater, school or public utility.

Right granted by a local zoning authority to conduct certain activities within a zoning district. Such activities are considered conditional uses, which are permitted with the zone only upon special approval of the zoning authority. Also called a conditional use permit.

Property deed in which the grantor limits the title warranty to the grantee. A grantor does not warrant a title defect to the property occurring from a happening before the time of his ownership.

Individual who by his expertise, education and experience prepares syndication reports.

The ratio of a weight or mass of a given volume of a substance to that of an equal volume of another substance, water for liquids and solids, air or hydrogen for gases.

Calories needed to raise one gram of a substance by one degree centigrade. The number of Btu needed to raise one pound of a substance by one degree Fahrenheit.

Lien on a given property, such as a person's house as collateral for a loan.

A legal action in which the court requires a party to a contract to perform the terms of the contract when he has refused to fulfill his obligations.

Often called "specs", these are the written requirements for construction, such as for materials, equipment, etc.

Smooth, high-gloss finish.

High risk, often high return, business transaction undertaken with no guarantee of success.

A "Spec" house is one that is built without a buyer. Dwelling is constructed prior to being sold. The builder "speculates" that a buyer will be found.

Value that a speculator believes an investment will reach at some point in the future.

One who invests with the anticipation that an event or series of evens will occur to increase the value of the investment.

Three-sided, triangular shaped measuring tool, which is used to draw perpendicular lines on boards to be cut or to lay out angles.

Cash flow (from income producing property) which is reduced by income taxes resulting from the property's income.

Return to Top

Our glossary is the largest dictionary of real estate and construction terms on the Internet with almost 10,000 definitions.

Mortgage Calculator

These figures are ESTIMATES only, NOT A GUARANTEE, and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If you misenter your information, the payment information will remain empty.