Real
Estate Glossary
R VALUE:
A method of measuring the insulation capabilities of materials.
RADON:
A radioactive gas which may cause health problems for occupants of
some buildings.
RANCH HOUSE:
A description of a one-storey house, developed from the old,
western-style homes.
RANGE LINES:
From Government Surveying Method, lines which run parallel to the
principal meridian six mile apart to create "ranges" of
land.
RATE CAP:
A limit of how much an interest rate can change in a variable of
adjustable rate mortgage either in a given period or over the life of
the loan.
RATE COMMITMENT:
A written promise by a lender to lend money to a borrower at a stated
rate of interest -- usually time limited.
RATE LOCK-IN:
See "rate commitment". A written agreement in which the
lender guarantees the borrower a specified interest rate, provided the
loan closes within a set period of time.
RATIFIED SALES CONTRACT:
A firm and binding agreement for the purchase and sale of land.
RAW LAND:
Property that has not been developed or improved.
READY, WILLING, AND ABLE:
A term of art meaning in a position to complete a contract. In order
to enforce a contract against another party, you must be ready,
willing and able to complete the contract yourself.
REAL
ESTATE:
Term for land and all fixtures to land, including buildings and other
improvements.
REAL ESTATE AGENT:
A trained professional involved in the purchase, sale and marketing of
real property. The "listing agent" acts for the vendor, the
"selling agent" for the successful purchaser.
REAL ESTATE BROKER:
A real estate professional who is licensed to run a real estate firm,
to hold trust funds, etc.
REAL ESTATE COMMISSION:
1. The fee paid to the real estate agents after a transaction.
2. An agency that enforces real estate license laws.
REAL ESTATE EDUCATORS
ASSOCIATION:
An organization of post-secondary teachers of real estate courses.
REAL ESTATE MARKET:
A term for the pool of potential buyers and sellers of property at a
given time.
REAL ESTATE SALES
PROFESSIONAL:
See "real estate agent" or "real estate broker".
REAL ESTATE SETTLEMENT
PROCEDURES ACT (RESPA):
Statute requiring lenders to provide advance notice to borrowers of
fees and charges to be paid at closing.
REAL PROPERTY:
Also known as "real estate". Land, property, plus
improvements to land.
REALTOR:
Professional designation for a member of the National Association of
REALTORS or its affiliated local groups. Must be a real estate broker.
REALTOR'S ASSOCIATE:
Professional designation of a licensed real estate agent or
salesperson who is a member of the National Association of Realtors
but who has not been licensed as a broker.
REALTY:
See "real estate".
REAPPRAISAL
LEASE:
A rental agreement in which the periodic payment is adjustable
according to scheduled re-appraisals of the rental value of the
premises.
REASSESSMENT:
A change in the estimated value of a property for realty, municipal or
ad valorem tax purposes.
REBATE:
Any refund of all or a portion of money paid.
RECAST PAYMENT:
Adjustment of the periodic payment on an adjustable or variable rate
mortgage to ensure that the mortgage will be paid out by maturity
date.
RECASTING:
Adjusting the terms of a loan agreement in light of new developments
(i.e. lower rates, possible default).
RESCISSION OF CONTRACT:
The act of declaring a contract null and void and taking the necessary
actions to return the parties to the position they were in prior to
entering the contract.
RECITAL:
An unsworn statement of fact included in a document. In many
jurisdictions, recitals in registered documents are deemed true and
unassailable if unchallenged after a certain period of time.
RECONVEYANCE:
The return of title to property to its original owner. May occur as a
result of the pay-out of a mortgage or at the end of a limited estate.
RECORDING:
The act of entering title instruments in the public records, thus
giving notice to any interested parties of the existence of the
instrument.
RECORDING FEES:
The fees paid to have an instrument recorded in the public record.
RECOURSE:
The right of a lender to pursue a borrower personally for moneys owed.
RECOVERY FUND:
A pool of money made up of contributions from licensed brokers used to
compensate members of the public with claims against brokers.
RECTANGULAR SURVEY:
See "government rectangular survey method".
REDEEM:
To bring mortgage payments up-to-date after the lender has begun
default proceedings. Once a borrower (or other lien holder) redeems,
the mortgage is back in good standing and the relationship continues
as before the default.
REDEMPTION PERIOD:
The length of time during which the borrower may redeem a mortgage.
REDEVELOP:
To remove existing improvements and buildings on a parcel of property
and replace them with new, more useful and profitable improvements.
REDLINING:
An illegal practice, refusing to lend money to owners of property in
certain neighborhoods or to owners on the basis of their race, color,
religion, creed, age, gender, etc.
REDUCTION CERTIFICATE:
A mortgage statement setting out the amount owing on the loan as of a
given date. May be used for discharges or assumptions.
REEVALUATION LEASE:
See "reappraisal lease".
REFERRAL:
A recommendation, a suggestion to a client of the value of the
services of a person or firm. (i.e. a real estate agent may refer a
purchaser to a particular banker or lawyer.)
REFINANCE:
To replace an existing and perhaps mature mortgage with a new mortgage
on the same property. New mortgage may have different terms than the
old one.
REGENCY HOUSE:
A two-storey or three-storey house in a traditional English style of
the Regency Period, symmetrical in construction with a hip roof. May
have a small, eight-sided window above the front door.
REGISTRAR:
The person who has the task of collecting, recording, and maintaining
instruments related to title of land. May also have responsibility of
ruling on the acceptability of documents submitted for registration
and for making decisions as to how to correct title defects.
REGISTRATION:
The submission for recording in the public records of instruments
relating to title in land. Each jurisdiction may have specific
requirements as to documents which will be accepted for registration;
once registered, documents will be given a registration number and
recorded on the title abstract index for the property to which the
apply.
REGULATION Z:
A federal rule which requires lenders to provide borrowers with full
disclosure of the terms of a loan.
REHABILITATE:
To restore, refurbish, bring back to original condition.
REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT:
A tax provision allowing a tax credit of up to 20% for the
refurbishing of historic properties.
RE-ISSUE RATE:
A reduction in the fee for title insurance on a property which was
previously title insured.
RELEASE CLAUSE:
A term of a mortgage which allows the borrower to pay out the loan and
have the mortgage removed from title.
RELEASE OF LIEN:
A document which, once registered, removes certain kinds of claims
from title to property.
RELICTION:
The gradual migration of a body of water such that additional dry land
is left behind.
RELOCATION CLAUSE:
A term in a lease which allows the landlord to move the tenant to a
new unit, within the same building or elsewhere.
RELOCATION NETWORK:
An organization of real estate professionals in a number of different
areas specifically designed to allow information to be shared to allow
easier movement of clients from one area to another.
RELOCATION SERVICE:
A firm that specializes in helping employees who are transferred by
their employer to a new area take care of the move.
REMAINDER:
An interest in property that only arises once another interest ends.
REMODEL:
To refurbish, redesign, redecorate.
RENEWAL OPTION:
A right which arises out of a term in a contract and takes effect at
or near the termination date of a contract; the party who enjoys the
right may choose to continue the agreement on terms as set out in the
option clause or to treat the contract as at an end upon the
termination date.
RENOVATE:
Similar to remodel, with an emphasis on upgrading the existing
property.
RENT:
1. Verb -- to lease premises from the owner or a representative of the
owner.
2. Noun -- the periodic payments made by a tenant to the landlord for
the right to occupy the premises.
RENT CONTROL:
Government initiative to control raises in the amount charged for the
lease by tenants of residential premises.
RENT-FREE PERIOD:
An inducement to enter a lease, a specified number of months at the
beginning of the lease in which the tenant is not required to pay the
periodic rental payments.
RENTABLE AREA:
See "net leasable area".
RENTAL RATE:
The amount charged for the occupation of a property.
REPAYMENT PLAN:
A schedule arranged between a lender and borrower to set out how a
debt is to be paid out.
REPLACEMENT COST:
An insurance term, the total cost of erecting a new home or building
which adequately takes the place of the existing one.
REPORT:
A document sent by a lawyer to a bank certifying that title to the
subject property is clear and marketable.
REPORTING LETTER:
A letter sent by a lawyer to a client after a transaction is completed
(or when sent during the process of the transaction, called
"interim reporting letter") in which the lawyer certifies
title to the property and informs the client of all other matters
relating to the transaction.
REPRODUCTION COST:
The cost of making an exact duplicate of a property.
REQUIRED CASH:
Collective term for the total sum of money required to complete a
transaction, including purchase price, taxes, legal fees, mortgage
fees, etc.
RESCIND:
To treat a contract as being at an end, to withdraw one's offer or
acceptance of an agreement.
RESCISSION:
The act of treating a contract as being at an end as a result of the
failure, breach or misconduct of another party.
RESERVE FUND:
A pool of money held for use for future contingencies, usually in the
management of a building, condominium corporation or cooperative unit.
RESERVE PRICE:
The amount set prior to an auction which must be met in the bidding
for a particular item before the item will be sold. Also known as
"reserve bid".
RESIDENCE:
The dwelling in which a person lives, may also refer to the country or
state where a person lives.
RESIDENTIAL BROKER:
A real estate professional who deals in dwelling properties.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY:
Real estate that is occupied by the owner.
RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CONTRACT:
A warranty or insurance contract which covers services such as
electrical, plumbing etc. in a resale home.
REISSUE RATE:
See "re-insurance rate".
RESTORE:
To refurbish a building or other asset to its original condition.
RESTRAINT ON ALIENATION:
Any limit on the ability of an owner to sell or transfer property.
RESTRICTION:
Any limit or control on the owner's ability to use the property. May
be contained in a deed and be binding on the land and future owners of
it.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT:
See "restriction".
RETIRE (A DEBT):
To fulfill one's obligations under a loan or mortgage so that the
lender has no further claims against the borrower.
REVERSE ANNUITY MORTGAGE
(RAM):
A type of mortgage where the equity in the home serves as security for
periodic payments made by the lender to the borrower. Mortgage is
generally paid out upon the sale of the property.
REVERSE LEVERAGE:
A term for the situation where the income from ownership of property
is lower than the rate of interest paid to finance the ownership.
REVERSION:
The return of a property to the original grantor upon the occurrence
of an event specified in the grant.
REVERSIONARY INTEREST:
The legal right to a property of a person under a reversion clause.
REVERSIONARY VALUE:
The value of the property at the time of reversion.
REVOCATION:
Taking back, recalling. One might revoke a power of attorney or a
consent given.
REZONING:
The amendment of the classification of a property under use and
building by-laws or ordinances. A property may rezoned from industrial
to residential to allow a warehouse to be converted into condominiums.
RIDER:
A document which contains additional or amending clauses to a
contract.
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL:
The ability to make an offer for a property before the owner puts it
up for sale on the open market.
RIGHT OF REDEMPTION:
See "equity of redemption".
RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP:
The legal term for the right of a surviving joint tenant to take title
to a property alone upon the death of the other joint tenant.
RIGHT TO RESCISSION:
Being legally entitled to treat a contract as being at an end.
RIGHT-OF-WAY:
A form of easement, the legal entitlement to pass over a portion of
the land of another.
RIPARIAN OWNER:
A person who has title to land bordering on a body of water.
RIPARIAN RIGHTS:
The rights of an owner of land bordering a body of water to use or
control that body of water or a part thereof.
ROD:
160 feet measured in a line, a unit of measurement.
ROLLOVER LOAN:
A loan where the amortization period is much longer than the term and
the borrower is allowed to refinance at the end of the term at the
interest rate then applicable.
ROOT DEED:
The first conveyance in a chain of title. If a jurisdiction has
legislation which cures any title defects that are older than a
certain number of years, the root deed will be the first deed beyond
that period.
ROOT OF TITLE:
Any defect in ownership of property which throws into question the
very basic issue of who actually owns the property. An unresolved
problem going to the root of title is grounds for rescission of the
Agreement of Purchase and Sale no matter when it is discovered before
closing.
ROW HOUSE:
A dwelling that is attached to its neighbors by way of common walls.
RULE OF 72'S:
To calculate the number of years it will take to double money while
earning compound interest, divide the interest rate into 72. Money
invested at 10 percent compound interest will take 7.2 years to
double.
RUN WITH THE LAND:
A legal term which suggests that a rule, restriction, right or
obligation forms part of the land itself and is transferred to each
new owner along with the land.
RURAL:
A term to describe something which is not of an urban center.
