Real Estate Definitions and Acronyms

Learn Some of the Essential Terms in Real Estate

  • "Acceptance” means the time the offer or final counter offer is accepted in writing by a Party and is delivered to and personally received by the other Party or that Party’s authorized agent in accordance with the terms of this offer or a final counter offer.
  • “Agreement” means this document and any counter offers and any incorporated addenda, collectively forming the binding agreement between the Parties. Addenda are incorporated only when Signed by all Parties.
  • “Appreciation” means the amount a home increases in value over time
  • “C.A.R. Form” means the most current version of the specific form referenced or another comparable form agreed to by the parties.
  • “CCR” means Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions are promises written into contracts where the parties agree to perform, or not perform, certain actions.
  • “Close Of Escrow”, including “COE”, means the date the grant deed, or other evidence of transfer of title, is recorded.
  • “Copy” means copy by any means including photocopy, NCR, facsimile and electronic.
  • “Days” means calendar days. However, after Acceptance, the last Day for performance of any act required by this Agreement (including Close Of Escrow) shall not include any Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday and shall instead be the next Day.
  • “Days After” means the specified number of calendar days after the occurrence of the event specified, not counting the calendar date on which the specified event occurs, and ending at 11:59 PM on the final day. H. “Days Prior” means the specified number of calendar days before the occurrence of the event specified, not counting the calendar date on which the specified event is scheduled to occur.
  • “DCR” means Debt Coverage Ratio is a term commonly used by lenders in underwriting loans for income-generating properties.
  • “Deliver”, “Delivered” or “Delivery”, unless otherwise specified in writing, means and shall be effective upon: personal receipt by Buyer or Seller or the individual Real Estate Licensee for that principal as specified in the section titled Real Estate Brokers on page 10, regardless of the method used (i.e., messenger, mail, email, fax, other).
  • “Electronic Copy” or “Electronic Signature” means, as applicable, an electronic copy or signature complying with California Law. Buyer and Seller agree that electronic means will not be used by either Party to modify or alter the content or integrity of this Agreement without the knowledge and consent of the other Party.
  • “GOI” means Gross Operating Income is the actual annual income collected from the property, which includes all sources of income (laundry, parking, storage, etc.) and takes into account any vacancies.
  • “Law” means any law, code, statute, ordinance, regulation, rule or order, which is adopted by a controlling city, county, state or federal legislative, judicial or executive body or agency.
  • “LTV” means Loan-to-Value, also important if you’re taking out a loan on your investment property, is calculated by dividing the loan by the property’s value, then expressing that as a percentage.
  • “NOI” means Net Operating Income is the income left over from your rents after paying all your monthly operating expenses.
  • “PITI” means Principal (P), Interest (I), property Taxes (T) and Insurance (I). This is basically the “bottom line” or the minimum you need to calculate when thinking about purchasing an investment property with a loan.
  • “Repairs” means any repairs (including pest control), alterations, replacements, modifications or retrofitting of the Property provided for under this Agreement.
  • “Signed” means either a handwritten or electronic signature on an original document, Copy or any counterpart.
  • “Under Contract” means when a seller has accepted an offer from a buyer but the transaction has not yet closed.