Real Estate Glossary
Listed below are a glossary of real estate terms in alphabetical order that you may find usefull when considering a real estate transaction.
Rate lock: A commitment issued by a lender to a borrower or other mortgage originator guaranteeing a specified interest rate for a specified period of time at a specific cost.
Real estate agent: A person licensed to negotiate and transact the sale of real estate.
Real estate: The physical land at, above and below the earth's surface with all appurtenances, including any structures; any and every interest in land whether corporeal or incorporeal, freehold or nonfreehold; for all practical purposes, the term real estate is synonymous with real property.
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA): A consumer protection law that requires lenders to give borrowers advance notice of closing costs.
Real estate recovery fund: A fund established in some states from real estate license revenues to cover claims of aggrieved parties who have suffered monetary damage through the actions of a real estate licensee
Real property: Land and appurtenances, including anything of a permanent nature such as structures, trees, minerals, and the interest, benefits, and inherent rights thereof.
Realtor: A real estate agent, broker or an associate who holds active membership in a local real estate board that is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors.
Recorder: The public official who keeps records of transactions that affect real property in the area. Sometimes known as a "Registrar of Deeds" or "County Clerk."
Recording: The noting in the registrar’s office of the details of a properly executed legal document, such as a deed, a mortgage note, a satisfaction of mortgage, or an extension of mortgage, thereby making it a part of the public record.
Refinance transaction: The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from a new loan using the same property as security.
Remaining balance: The amount of principal that has not yet been repaid. See principal balance.
Remaining term: The original amortization term minus the number of payments that have been applied.
Rent: A fixed, periodic payment made by a tenant of a property to the owner for possession and use, usually by prior agreement of the parties.
Rent control: Ordinances that limit the rent a landlord can charge for a property.
Rent loss insurance: Insurance that protects a landlord against loss of rent or rental value due to fire or other casualty that renders the leased premises unavailable for use and as a result of which the tenant is excused from paying rent.
Repayment plan: An arrangement made to repay delinquent installments or advances.
Replacement reserve fund: A fund set aside for replacement of common property in a condominium, PUD, or cooperative project -- particularly that which has a short life expectancy, such as carpeting, furniture, etc.
Residential Purchase Agreement: A model purchase agreement form, initially developed in 1985 by the California Association of Realtors® in cooperation with the State Bar Association, that ensures a real estate purchase agreement will be complete and in compliance with state law.
Revolving debt: A credit arrangement, such as a credit card, that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved line of credit when purchasing goods and services. The borrower is billed for the amount that is actually borrowed plus any interest due.
Right of first refusal: A provision in an agreement that requires the owner of a property to give another party the first opportunity to purchase or lease the property before he or she offers it for sale or lease to others.
Right of ingress or egress: The right to enter or leave designated premises.
Right of survivorship: In joint tenancy, the right of survivors to acquire the interest of a deceased joint tenant.
Riparian rights: The rights of a landowner whose land borders on a stream or watercourse to use and enjoy the water which is adjacent to or flows over the owners land provided such use does not injure other adjacent land owners. Property boundary would be the center line of a non-navigable river or the low waterline of a navigable stream or river.