Real Estate Chapter 1-15 study terms

Broker

Any person, partnership, association who, for a fee, sells, lists, leases, exchanges, negotiates, or otherwise deals in the real estate of others, or represents publicly that he does.

Independent Contractor

A self-employed salesperson paid on jobs completed rather than hours worked and responsible for setting their own hours and paying their own taxes.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

A listing service whereby local members of the Board of REALTORS agree to share listings and commissions on properties sold jointly. Members of the public may have access to the MLS, but not to all of the features and content.

Real Estate Licensee

A person licensed to practice real estate.

Realtist

Any real estate licensee who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS. (NAR)

Salesperson

A licensed agent who is associated with a broker and may perform most of the acts of a broker on behalf of the broker.

REALTOR

Any real estate licensee who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) and his affiliated state and local boards.

Fiduciary Duties

OLD CAR": Obedience, Loyalty, Disclosure, Confidentiality, Accountability, and Reasonable Care. This mnemonic device has a slight variation (e.g. care vs. reasonable care), but both are helpful in recalling the fiduciary duties an agent owes his clients

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commercial buildings.

Accredited Residential Manager

Those specializing in managing residential properties who complete an Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) course, meet experience standards, manage a sizable portfolio, and are endorsed by the local IREM chapter.

Certified Property Manager

Awarded by the IREM to those who meet certain requirements.

Real Property Administrator

Awarded to those completing training courses offered by the Building Owners and Managers International, which is an independent institute affiliated with the Building Owners and Managers Association.

Property Management Specialist

Awarded to those completing training courses designed to prepare licenses for entry into property management.

Property Management

Management of another's property for compensation

Commercial Properties

Include offices, stores, hotels, and other buildings.

Industrial Real Estate

Land and structures involved in the production, distribution, and storage of tangible economic goods.

Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR)

An organization devoted to addressing the issues, needs, and concerns of women in the real estate profession. Now affiliated with NAR.

Auctioneer

A person with an auctioneer's license as well as a real estate license who can sell real estate through an auction.

Education and Research Fund

A fund designed to offer scholarships and loans to students who are taking real estate-specific classes.

Reciprocity

The ability of the state department to give a real estate license to an applicant who received a real estate license in another state.

License Incentive

The license status of any salesperson who returns his license to the Division of Real Estate, or whose broker does not want to maintain sponsorship of the licensee.

License on Deposit

1. A special license status that is only available only to brokers who wish to return their broker's license to the Division of real estate in order to reactivate their license as a salesperson. A brokers license may remain on deposit indefinitely if time

Real Estate Recovery Fund

Used to satisfy unpaid judgments against real estate licensees for activities violating the license law that caused financial loss to the claimant.

Resigned License

The license status in which a license has been voluntarily and permanently surrendered to, or is otherwise in the possession of , the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, is not renewed, and is not associated with a real estate broker.

License Revocation

1. When the Real Estate Commission permanently withdraws a real estate agent's license. /// 2. The automatic event that occurs when a licensee allows their license to remain in a state of suspension for more than 12 months.

License Suspension

1. The temporary withdrawal of a real estate agent's license for a certain and specified period of time.

Voluntary Hold on License

The license status in which a license is in the possession of the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing for a period of not more than 12 months, is not renewed in accordance with the requirements specified, and is not associated with a real e

Misrepresentation

Knowingly passing along false information to a client. Making false promises with the intent to influence, persuade, or induce.

Condemnation

The legal process by which the government takes private land for public use, paying the owners a fair price. See EMINENT DOMAIN. Also called APPROPRIATION.

Cost of Money

The interest rate that people or businesses must pay to use another's money for their own purposes

Economic Base

The main business or industry in and area that a community uses to support and sustain itself.

Eminent Domain

Government's constitutional power to take(appropriate/condemn) private property for public use as long as the owner is paid just compensation.

PEGS

The factors that incluence the real estate market can be broadly divided into Physical, Economical, Governmental, and Social factors (P-E-G-S).

Business Cycles

General swings in business activity, resulting in expanding or contracting activity during different phases of the cycle.

Housing Cycles

General swings in real estate activity, resulting in increasing or decreasing activity and property values during different phases of the cycle.

Supply and Demand

An economic concept that states that the price of a good rises and falls depending on how many people want it (demand) and depending on how much of the good is available (supply).

Immobility

A physical characteristic of real estate referring to the fact that real estate can't move from one place to another.

Seller's Market

Situation in the housing market where there are more buyers than sellers. This allows sellers to choose from a large number of buyers looking for property in a specific area.

Buyer's Market

A situation in the housing market where buyers have a large selection of properties to choose from.

Taxation

The process of a government levying a charge on people or things (e.g. property taxes).

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Congress authorized a tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing homes on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

Fiscal Policy

The government's plan for spending, taxation, and debt management.

Secondary Mortgage Markets

Government-sponsored enterprises that buy and sell real estate mortgages.

Federal Housing Administration

(FHA) An agency of the federal government that insures private mortgage loans for financing of new and existing homes and home repairs.

Veteran's Administration

Administered by the federal government (but not through HUD). The VA guarantees mortgage loans for eligible veterans, even allowing them to buy a home with no down payment in some cases by guaranteeing repayment to lenders (up to a certain amount) in the

Appurtenance

A right that goes with ownership of real property; usually transferred with the property, but may be sold separately.

Easement

A right that goes with ownership of real property; usually transferred with the property, but may be sold separately. (A nonpossessory right to use another's property in a manner established by either express or implied agreement.)

Encumbrance

A nonpossessory interest in property burdening the property owner's title.

Fixture

An item of personal property that may or may not be attached to real property, but is closely associated with real property in such a way that it has legally, and is intended to become part of real property.

Freehold Estate

A possessory and ownership estate in real property; either a fee simple or a life estate. The holder of a freehold estate has title.

Leasehold Estate

An estate that gives the holder (Tenant) a temporary right to possession, without title.

Lien

A nonpossessory interest in a property, giving a lienholder the right to foreclose if the owner does not pay a debt owed the lienholder; a financial encumbrance on the owner's title.

Lis Pendens

A recorded notice stating that a lawsuit is pending that may affect title to the defendant's real estate.

Possessory Interest

An interest in property that entitles the holder to possess and occupy the property, now or in the future; an estate, which may be either a freehold or leasehold.

Restrictive Covenant

A promise to do or not do an act relating to real property. especially a promise that runs with the land; usually the owners promise not to use the property in a specific manner.

Trade Fixture

Fixtures and equipment that may be attached to a building during a tenant's occupancy, with the intention that they be removed when the tenant leaves

Natural Attachment

Plants growing on the land, whether naturally occurring or planted. They are considered real property while growing and personal property when removed.

Annexation

Legal term for attaching or affixing personal property to real property.

Agent

A person licensed to represent another (the principal) in a real estate transaction; a person authorized to represent the principal in dealings with third parties (clients or customers)

Customer

A party in a transaction with whom an agent does not have a fiduciary duty or relationship, but with whom an agent must still be fair and honest.

Dual Agent

A licensee who enters any dual agency in OH license law; licensee represents both the both buyer and seller in the same transaction.

Fiduciary

Someone in a position of trust and confidence held by law to high standards of good faith and loyalty.

Fraud

An intentional or negligent misrepresentation or concealment of facts; making statements that a person knows, or should realize, are false and misleading.

Management-Level Licensee

A licensee who is employed by or affiliated with a real estate broker and who has supervisory responsibility over other licensees employed by or affiliated with that real estate broker.

Negligence

Conduct that falls below the standard established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm.

Principal

A person who grants another person (an agent) authority to represent him in dealing with third parties. Also referred to as the client.

Split Agent

A licensee assigned by a broker to represent a buyer or seller in a transaction, usually in an in-company dual agency situation.

Subagent

An agent of an agent; a person that an agent has delegated authority to, so that the subagent can assist in carrying out the principals orders.

Agency Disclosure Statement

Form that states whether an agent is representing the seller, buyer, or both in a transaction.

Obedience

Means the agent must follow the legal directions of the principal (client), obey the restrictions of the agency relationship, and not stray beyond the scope of his authority.

As Is Clause

Provision in a purchase agreement stating the buyer accepts the property in present condition.

Constructive Fraud

A negligent misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact; when a person carelessly fails to disclose material information, or makes false or misleading statements. ALSO CALLED: Negligent Misrepresentation

Actual Fraud

Intentional misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact; when a person actively conceals material information or makes statements known to be false or misleading. ALSO CALLED: Deceit.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the terms of an offer to enter into a contract, thereby creating a binding contract.

Assignment

1. When a person transfers his interests under a contract to another. 2. When a tenant transfers his right of possession, or other interest, in leased property to another person for the remainder of the lease term.

Consideration

Anything of value (e.g., money, services, goods, promise) given to induce another person to enter into a contract. ALSO CALLED: Valuable Consideration

Counteroffer

A response to an offer to enter into a contract, changing some terms of the original offer. It is a rejection of the original offer (not a form of acceptance) and does not create a binding contract unless the new counteroffer is accepted by the original o

Material Breach

An unexcused failure to perform according to the terms of a contract, important enough that the non-breaching party is not required to perform his contractual obligations.

Novation

A three-way agreement in which the obligor transfers all rights and duties to a third party.

Offer

When one person proposes a contract to another; if the other person accepts the offer, a binding contract is formed.

Mitigation

When the non-breaching party takes action to minimize the losses resulting from the beach of a contract.

Liquidated Damages

A sum on money specified in a contract as compensation to be paid to one of the parties if the other defaults.

Acknowledgment

A formal declaration by a party before a notary public in the presence of two witness by the person who signs an instrument to the effect that it is his own free and voluntary act done for the purposes therein expressed.

Attestation

The act of witnessing a person's signing of an instrument by a notary public.

Chain of Title

A history of the ownership affecting title to a parcel of land.

Clouds on the Title

Encumbrances or outstanding claims that could affect the owner's title; problems or uncertainties with a title to real property.

Co-Ownership

Title ownership held by two or more persons who must agree on how the property is used.

Deed

A document that transfers ownership of property from one party to another.

Donative Intent

Grantor's intent to transfer title immediately and unconditionally.

Equitable Title

An interest created in property upon the execution of a valid sales contract, whereby actual title is transferred by deed at a closing. The buyer's interest in property under a land contract. Also called an equitable interest.

Government Survey System

A method of land description in which meridians (lines of longitude) & base lines (lines of latitude) are used to divide land into townships & sections.

Lot and Block Description

A legal description used for platted property. The description states only the property's lot number and block number in a particular subdivision.

Marketable Record Title

Every link in the chain of title is recorded going back at least 40 years.

Metes and Bounds Description

A legal description of a parcel of land that begins at a well-marked point and follows the boundaries, using directions and distances around the tract, back to the point of beginning.

Ownership in Severalty

Sole ownership that only one person or legal entity holds the title to that property. (as opposed to co-ownership)

Words of Conveyance

The type of deed offered by the grantor is communicated through a phrase such as "does hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto . . ." This clause is referred to as the "Words of Conveyance.

Warranty Deed

A deed in which the grantor makes formal assurance as to quality of title.

General Warranty Deed

Deed that offers the most protection in which grantor fully warrants good clear title to the premises.

Limited Warranty Deed

Deed in which the grantor warrants title only against defects arising during the time he owned the property and not against defects arising before that time of ownership. Special Warranty Deed.

Quitclaim Deed

A deed to relinquish any interest in property which the grantor may have, without any warranty of title or interest.

Fiduciary Deed

A deed executed by a trustee, executor, or other fiduciary, conveying property that the fiduciary does not own but is authorized to manage.

Transfer on Death Designation of Beneficiary Affidavit

One present owner of the real property may designate one or more death beneficiaries and may also name contingent beneficiaries.

Cooperatives

Businesses owned and controlled by the people who use it - producers, consumers, or workers with similar needs who pool their resources for mutual gain.

Tenancy in Common

Ownership by two or more persons who hold undivided interest without right of survivor-ship; interests need not be equal.

Statutory Survivorship Tenancy

Gives each co-tenant has an equal, undivided interest in real property and right of survivorship. Also called joint tenancy with the right of survivorship.

Joint Tenancy

A form of concurrent ownership, which occurs when two or more persons own a single estate in land, with right of survivorship. Must have equal shares, right to partition.

PITT

Unity of Possession, Unity of Interest, Unity of Time, Unity of Title. For joint tenancy, all four unities, sometimes referred to as equalities, must be present.

Race/Notice Rule

When the same property has been sold to two different buyers, if the second buyer records the deed before the first buyer, then the second buyer has good title to the property as long as he did not have notice of the first buyer's interest.

Marketable Title Act

Is intended to improve the marketability of title and simplify the ittle search process by extinguishing certain old, dormant clauses against a title.

Section

Is one square mile (640 acres).

Township

A 6-by-6 mile area containing 36 sections each 1 mile square. A division of land in the rectangular survey method of land description.

Square Mile

A measure of area that is one mile by one mile, an area of 640 acres.

Acre

A measure of land equal to 43,560 square feet.

Abstract of Title

A brief, chronological summary of the recorded documents affecting title to a particular parcel of real property.

Closing

In a real estate transaction, this is the final exchange in which the deed is delivered to the buyer, the title is transferred, and the agreed-on costs are paid.

Location Survey

A survey that determines if a property's buildings encroach on adjoining property, or if any adjoining property's buildings encroach on the subject property.

Marketable Title

Title free and clear of objectionable liens or encumbrances; title which is free from reasonable doubt or defects, which can be readily sold or mortgaged.

Proration

The division of expenses between buyer and seller in proportion to the actual usage of the item represented by a particular expense. ALSO CALLED: Adjustment.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)

(RESPA) Federal law dealing with real estate closings that provides specific procedures and guidelines for the disclosure of settlement costs.

Settlement Statement

A document that presents detailed accounting for a real estate transaction, listing each party's debits and credits and the amount each will receive or be required to pay at closing. ALSO CALLED: a closing statement or a HUD-1.

Survey

The process of precisely measuring the boundaries and determining the area of a parcel of land.

Title Insurance

Insurance that indemnifies against losses resulting from undiscovered title defects and encumbrances.

Escrow Closing

A closing by a disinterested 3rd party- often an escrow agent.

Roundtable Closing

A closing conducted with all parties present.

Escrow Account

The trust account established by the broker under the provisions of the license law for the purpose of holding funds on behalf of the broker's principal or some other person until consummation or termination of a transaction.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Insurance which financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called professional liability insurance.

Farming an Area

A term for a marketing technique, which is used to create an image of working on a specific area over a period of time for prospects.

Net to Seller

An estimate of the money a seller should receive from a real estate transaction, based on a certain selling price after all costs and expenses have been paid.

Sphere of Influence

People you know (and whom you can ask for referrals).

Blockbusting

Illegal practice of inducing homeowners to sell their properties by telling them that a certain people of a certain race, national origin or religion are moving into the area.

Disparate Impact

A law that is not discriminatory at face value, but has a greater impact on a minority group than on other groups.

Exclusionary Zoning

A zoning law that effectively prevents certain groups (e.g. minorities, low-income individuals) from living in a community.

Redlining

Refusing to make loans secured by property located in certain neighborhoods fro discriminatory purposes.

Steering

Channeling prospective buyers or tenants to particular neighborhoods based upon their race, religion, national origin, or ancestry.

Title VIII

Another name for the Federal Fair Housing Act, which is Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)

(ARM) A mortgage that permits the lender to periodically adjust the interest rate to reflect fluctuations in the cost of money.

Alienation Clause

A contract clause that gives the lender certain stated rights when there's a transfer of ownership in property. (Often called a due-on-sale clause.)

Amortized Loan

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.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

(APR) Relationship between the cost of borrowing and the total amount financed, represented as a percentage.

Acceleration Clause

A contract clause giving the lender the right to declare the entire loan amount due immediately because of borrower's default, or other reasons in the contract.

Defeasance Clause

A contract clause used to defeat or cancel a certain right upon the occurrence of specific event, A clause within a mortgage that legally binds the lender to release the lien from the title once the mortgage has been satisfied.

Equitable Right of Redemption

The right of a debtor to save (redeem) property from foreclosure proceedings prior to confirmation of sale.

Holder in Due Course

One who acquires a negotiable instrument in good faith and for consideration, and thus has certain rights above the original payee.

Land Contract

A real estate installment agreement where a buyer makes payment to a seller in exchange for the right to occupy and use property, but no deed or title transfers until all, or a specified portion of, payments have been made.

PITI

A typical mortgage payment that includes: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance (PITI)

Promissory Note

A financing instrument that states the terms of the underlying obligation, is signed by its maker, and is negotiable (transferable to a third party).

Residual Income

The income a borrower has remaining after subtracting taxes, housing expenses, and all recurring debts and obligations (used for VA loan qualifying.)

Security Instrument

An instrument that gives a creditor the right to sell collateral to satisfy a debt if the debtor fails to pay according to the terms of the agreement.

Subordination Clause

A contract clause that gives a mortgage recorded at a later date the right to make priority over an earlier recorded mortgage.

Trust Deed

An instrument held by a third party as security for the payment of a note. Unlike a mortgage, a trust deed has a power of sale, allowing the trustee to foreclose non-judiciary. ALSO CALLED: Deed of Trust.