Real
Estate Glossary
EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT:
A sum of money paid by a potential purchaser as proof of her intention
to complete the purchase transaction. Held in trust, usually by the
Listing Agent, and credited to Purchaser off purchase price. May be
forfeited if Purchaser fails to complete transaction.
EASEMENT:
The right of the owner of one parcel of land to use all or part of the
land of another for a specific purpose. Runs with the land. Requires
one property to be in dominant position (enjoys the benefit of the
easement) and one property to be in servient position (is subject to
the right).
EASEMENT BY NECESSITY:
A land owner's right to make use of the property of another (or a
portion of it) for a specific purpose, when such use is required to
allow the land owner to enjoy his own land.
EASEMENT BY PRESCRIPTION:
The continuing, unchallenged use of all or part of a property by the
owner of a neighboring or nearby property for a specific period of
time (20 years in many jurisdictions) such that, by law, the using
owner gains a legal right to continue that use.
EASTLAKE HOUSE:
A house which is remarkable for its three-dimensional ornamentation
following a nineteenth-century style.
ECONOMIC BASE:
The commercial or industrial foundation of a community which provides
opportunities for employment.
ECONOMIC DEPRECIATION:
The decline in value of a property which is caused by reasons outside
of the property itself.
ECONOMIC LIFE:
The length of time an improvement to real estate can be expected to
provide more value than its operating or upkeep costs.
EFFECTIVE AGE:
An appraisal term for the age of improvements to a property based on
an assessment of their current condition (i.e. a well-maintained
100-year-old house could have an effective age of 10 years while a
ramshackle, unmaintained 20-year-old house could have an effective age
of 50 years). Opposite of "actual age".
EFFECTIVE GROSS INCOME:
1. For borrowers, the actual amount of money earned from stable
sources over a set period (i.e. a month) before taxes and expenses are
deducted.
2. For rental properties, the amount of income the property will
produce if leased at market value before costs, taxes, upkeep and
discounts for vacancy are deducted.
EFFECTIVE RATE:
The actual rate (or interest or return) once all factors are accounted
for (factors include compounding of interest or costs of earning the
return).
EFFICIENCY RATIO:
A comparison of the space in a building available for lease to the
total space of the building.
EFFICIENCY UNIT OR APARTMENT:
A term for a small dwelling unit in which kitchen and sometimes bath
areas are combined with the living area. Also known as "bachelor
apartment" or "studio apartment".
EGRESS:
Means of exit from a room, building or property (often to a road).
EJECTMENT:
Legal proceeding to evict a tenant without a lease.
ELIZABETHAN OR HALF TIMBER
STYLE:
A two-storey or two-and-a-half storey, English-style house which has
the upper storey overhanging the first, often with stone and stucco
walls and half-timber beams.
EMINENT DOMAIN:
The right of a body of government (often a state) to expropriate
private property, while paying appropriate compensation to the owner.
EMPTY NESTERS:
Middle-aged or older couples whose children have grown up and
"left the nest" to live on their own. Often looking to sell
a larger house and buy a smaller one.
ENCROACHMENT:
The intrusion across the property line and into one property of an
improvement to a neighboring property. May result in a claim for
adverse possession if the encroachment is unchallenged for a long
period of time.
ENCUMBRANCE:
Any right, interest or other claim against land which is registered on
title and affects the owner's ability to sell the property.
ENDORSER:
The person who signs a document to represent the transfer of property
to another.
ENERGY EFFICIENT:
A description of a property which has special features aimed at
reducing use of electrical or heating power (i.e. insulation,
double-insulated windows, high-efficiency furnace, etc.).
ENERGY TAX CREDITS:
A tax break given to property owners who took steps to save energy in
their property such as installing insulation.
ENTITLEMENT:
1. The legal right to a benefit or program.
2. Name for the VA home loan benefit.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT (EIS):
A report on the anticipated effect of a development on the local
environment. May be required for federal funding for the development.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY (EPA):
U.S. government agency for the protection of the environment.
EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT:
U.S. federal law aimed at affording people of all races, genders,
religions, ages etc. an equal chance to borrow money.
EQUALIZATION BOARD:
Agency with a mandate to ensure fairness in property tax assessments.
EQUITABLE CONVERSION:
A common law doctrine which treats a Vendor under an Agreement for the
sale of property as holding the property in trust for the Purchaser
even before the transaction has been completed such that the Vendor is
liable to the Purchaser for any damage negligently caused to the
property.
EQUITABLE TITLE:
The common law interest of the Purchaser in the property for which she
has entered an Agreement to Purchase prior to the completion of the
transaction.
EQUITY:
The difference, in dollars, between the market value of a property and
the principal owing on debts secured against the property. The amount
of money the owner will be able to keep from a sale transaction once
the mortgages are paid out. Also known as "owner's
interest".
EQUITY BUILDUP:
The increase over time of the owner's interest in a property, the
difference between the value of the property and the amount owed on
the mortgage.
EQUITY LOAN:
A loan to a home owner secured against the equity the owner enjoys in
the property.
EQUITY
OF REDEMPTION:
The right a borrower has to pay out in full a mortgage against a
property that has gone into foreclosure or power of sale proceedings,
thus redeeming the property.
EROSION:
The gradual diminishing of land or soil as a result of the action of
water, wind, rain, etc.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
INSURANCE:
Professional protection from liability for mistakes, negligence, etc.
ESCALATOR CLAUSE:
Part of a net lease. A provision that increases the rent payable under
a lease when certain costs of the building increase (i.e. taxes,
utility charges, etc.).
ESCAPE CLAUSE:
Any provision in a contract that allows one or more parties to end the
contract upon the occurrence of certain events.
ESCHEAT:
The reversion of title to a property to the state. Can occur when an
owner dies with no legal heirs or when a corporate owner is dissolved
by act of law or by voluntary act while holding legal title to the
property.
ESCROW:
A state wherein consideration, benefits, legal rights, money,
documents or other valuables are transferred to another party in
advance of that party's legal entitlement to them, on the basis that
the legal entitlement will arise at a given point in the future. A
form of trust.
ESCROW
ACCOUNT:
A form of trust account in which advance payments are held on
behalf of the payor until the contract allows their use by the payee
or a third party.
ESCROW AGENT:
Any independent third party who receives items to be held in escrow,
holds such items until transfer is allowed, and then delivers them.
ESCROW CLOSING:
The completion of a transaction whereby documents, consideration etc.
are held in trust (either by the parties and their representatives or
by an independent third party) pending the completion of certain
conditions, at which time the items held in escrow are released and
the transaction is completed.
ESCROW COLLECTIONS:
Moneys taken in by the agent and set aside for future payments as
required by the contract (i.e., in a mortgage situation, for taxes,
insurance, etc. on the property). Also known as "escrow
deposits", "impounds" or "reserves".
ESCROW DEPOSIT:
Similar to "escrow collections", the deposit of funds for
the purpose of future payments required under the contract.
ESCROW DISBURSEMENTS:
The payment out of escrow funds of taxes, insurance, etc. as required
by the contract. Also known as "escrow payments".
ESCROW REIMBURSEMENT:
The return to the borrower of left over funds held in escrow once the
debt has been paid out.
ESTATE:
1. The nature and extent of a person's interest in real property.
2. The term used to described the collection of assets of a deceased
person.
ESTATE AT SUFFERANCE:
The continued occupation of a premises by a tenant after the lease has
expired or after the landlord has taken legal and appropriate steps to
remove the tenant.
ESTATE AT WILL:
The occupation of a premises by a tenant for an undefined period,
which either party may terminate at will.
ESTATE FOR LIFE:
Also known as "Life Estate". A legal interest in property
which ends with the death of the person who is entitled to the
interest.
ESTATE FOR YEARS:
Entitlement to land which allows a person to occupy, use and enjoy the
land for a specified period of time.
ESTATE IN REVERSION:
The right of an owner to re-occupy land once the estate he has granted
to another person (such as an estate for years or an estate for life)
has come to an end.
ESTATE TAX:
A government levy against the property in the estate of a deceased
person, payable out of the estate.
ESTOPPEL:
A legal doctrine which blocks a person from taking a position on any
fact which is contrary to a position that same person previously took
on that same fact. Also blocks a party from re-opening an issue that
has previously been decided by a court.
ESTOPPEL
CERTIFICATE:
A document issued by an interested party setting out certain facts to
which the issuer agrees to be bound. May be issued by a Condominium
Corporation (setting out the common element fees for a particular
unit, the amount in the corporation's reserve account, any special
assessments against unit owners, etc.), by a mortgagor or mortgagee
(setting out the terms, conditions, interest rate and principal
outstanding) or by a tenant in a building to be purchased (setting out
amount of rent, the amount of any rental deposit, etc.).
ET AL:
Latin meaning "and others".
ET CON:
Latin meaning "and husband".
ET UX:
Latin meaning "and wife".
EVALUATION:
An analysis of a property regarding its potential uses rather than its
current value.
EVICTION:
The forced removal of a tenant from occupation of a property. Also
known as "Actual eviction". See also "constructive
eviction".
EVIDENCE OF TITLE:
Instruments or documents that provide any proof or information
regarding ownership of land.
EXAMINATION OF TITLE:
Similar to a sub-search: a review of the current title to a property
for the purposes of establishing current apparent owners and
encumbrances.
EXCEPTION:
An exclusion from coverage in a policy of insurance, usually referring
to a known risk or defect for which the insurer assumes no
responsibility.
EXCLUSIVE AGENCY LISTING:
A contract whereby the owner of a property grants a single agent or
broker the right to market the property for sale.
EXCULPATORY CLAUSE:
The term of a mortgage giving the borrower the right simply to
surrender the property to the lender as payment for the loan without
personal liability to the borrower for any shortfall.
EXECUTED CONTRACT:
1. A contract which has been completely carried out by the parties.
2. A contract which has been signed by the parties.
EXECUTION:
1. The act of signing a legal document.
2. A writ filed with a Sheriff of a jurisdiction evidencing a legal
claim against the person named in the Writ. May attach to real
property owned by the person named in the writ.
EXECUTOR:
The person or people appointed in a will to give effect to the wishes
of the testator (the maker of the will) as set out in the will. A
female executor may be called "Executrix".
EXECUTORY CONTRACT:
A contract which has not yet been completely fulfilled by one or more
of the parties.
EXPENSE RATIO:
A comparison of the costs of owning and operating something to its
potential gross income.
EXPOSURE (MARKET):
A term used to describe the presence, through advertising, of a
property that is for sale in the marketplace.
EXTENSION:
The postponement of the completion date of an Agreement, agreed to by
the parties to the Agreement.
