Insurance protection for specified losses due to
natural causes, such as fire, floods, earthquake, tornadoes, and other "acts of
God"
Heir
An individual who will potentially inherit an
interest in land from someone who dies
Hiatus
A gap or space between two parcels of lands that
is not included in the legal description of either parcel
Home equity line of credit, or Home equity
loan
A mortgage loan (usually not the primary
mortgage) or line of credit which gives the property owner the option to obtain
cash advances from the loan proceeds, using his or her residence as collateral,
but which is not to exceed a pre-arranged amount of the owner's total equity in
the property
Homeowners' association
A nonprofit association of individual owners of
units in a multi-unit structure (either a planned unit development, or a
condominium) that manages the common areas of that structure. In a planned unit
development (PUD) project, the association holds title to the common elements,
whereas in a condominium project, it holds no title to the common
elements
Homeowner's insurance
An insurance policy available to residential
real estate owners that protects homeowners against financial loss from fire,
theft, public liability, and other risks
Homestead
Real estate that is owned and utilized as the
primary family residence, protected in some states as exempt from the claims of
creditors
Homestead deed
A document filed in the land records asserting a
homestead exemption, protecting a variable amount of his assets (depending on
which state) against the claims of creditors
Housing ratio, or Debt-to-income
ratio
The percentage that results from dividing a
borrower's housing expenses by his/her gross monthly income, used by the lender
to evaluate an applicant's qualification for a loan
HUD-1 statement
The document used in closing a real estate
transaction (also known as a "closing statement" or a "settlement sheet") which
itemizes the funds that are payable at closing, including broker commissions,
loan costs, and escrow amounts, and which provides a summary of the seller's
net proceeds and the buyer's net payment at closing. It is required by the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) whenever federally-related
mortgages are being made on residential properties
Is there a real estate word that I failed to explain here in my dictionary for homebuyers and sellers? Let me be your personal real estate dictionary! I'll send a brief explanation of any word or term that you encounter when buying and selling property.
Do you have a suggestion of a real estate word that should be included? Let me know! I always appreciate feedback.
Do any of these definitions raise questions for you? Didn't find the word you're looking for? Let me know! I'm happy to answer ANY questions. It's my job! There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...
Real Estate Tips
Selling Your Home >When to Take a Walk
Your agent calls to say he is bringing prospective buyers to see your home at 2:00 p.m. You quickly straighten up the house and run the dishwasher. What should you do then? If you have to let them into the house--then take a drive or walk the dog!
Many owners think they should linger close by while their home is being shown. They are afraid that the real estate agent might miss the storage shelves in the basement or forget to point out the beautiful new floor in the kitchen. It is better for the agent to miss something than for you to be ushering the buyers around, so resist the temptation to stay while your house is being shown.
Buyers usually base their decision to buy on an attraction that often has more to do with emotions than pure logic, and a lot goes on between buyer and agent during a showing. The buyer needs to evaluate the home's pluses and minuses, and the agent needs the opportunity to work with the buyer's objections. This process cannot take place comfortably if the seller is on the scene.
Chrisitne Papworth, the Real Estate Doctor. That's a big title, isn't it? It's one I take very seriously. From every caller on my radio show to every client and, I suppose, every person and situation I come in contact with I focus one thing...healing. From diagnosis to cure and all points between. How and in what way can I help the most? It's never about me. It's all about you. Isn't that what you want?
www.TheRealEstateDR.com
is brought to you by Christine Papworth, real estate for
San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties, California