Glossary of Real Estate Terms
Below is a list of some of the most commonly used terms relating to real estate and the property market. Browsing from A to Z will help you become more familiar with the meaning of these terms and give you a better knowledge of the real estate industry.
A B C D E F G H I J-K L M N O P Q R S T U-V W-Z
A
Acceptance
Consent by the person receiving
the offer to be bound by the terms and conditions of the person
making the offer. Acceptance of an offer constitutes an
agreement.
Act of God
Any act of nature such as rain,
lightning, floods or earthquakes. Many insurance policies do not
cover losses resulting from an ‘Act of God’.
Additional principal payment
A payment by
a borrower of more than the scheduled principal amount due in
order to reduce the remaining balance on the loan.
Administrator
A person appointed by a
probate court to administer the estate of a person who died
intestate (without a will).
Agreement
The written contract for the
sale and purchase of property between the seller (vendor) and
the buyer (purchaser).
Amenity
A feature of real property that
enhances its attractiveness and increases the occupant’s or
user’s satisfaction although the feature is not essential to the
property’s use, eg: scenic views, proximity to public transport
or recreational facilities.
Amortise
To repay a mortgage with regular
payments that cover both Principal and Interest.
Annuity
An amount paid yearly or at
regular intervals, often on a guaranteed dollar basis.
Appraisal
A written analysis of the
estimated value of a property prepared by a qualified appraiser.
Appraiser/Valuer
A person qualified by
education, training, and experience to estimate the value of
real property and personal property. You can tell someone is
accredited in NZ with the “B Prop” or “Dip Valuation” after
their name
Appreciation
An increase in the value of a
property due to changes in market conditions or supply and
demand, etc.
Architrave
A decorative moulding around
doors or windows.
Asking Price
The listed price of the
property buy may not always be the selling price. The owner may
be willing to negotiate.
Assessed Value
The valuation placed on a
property for the purposes of taxation by an authority.
Asset
Anything of monetary value that is
owned by a person, eg: personal property, bank accounts.
Assignment
The transfer of a mortgage or
lease from one person to another.
Auction
A public sale of a property or
real estate that is sold to the highest bidder when the owner’s
reserve is reached
B
Balloon Payment
A large loan payment to
clear a debt.
Beneficiary
The person designated to
receive the income from a trust, estate, or a deed of trust.
Bi-weekly payment mortgage
A mortgage that
requires payments to reduce the debt every two weeks, (instead
of the standard monthly payment schedule). The 26 (or possibly
27) bi-weekly payments are each equal to one-half of the monthly
payment that would be required if the loan were a standard 30
year fixed-rate mortgage and they are usually drafted from the
borrower’s bank account. The result for the borrower is a
substantial savings in interest.
Body Corporate
An administrative body made
up of all the owners within a group of units or apartments of a
strata building. The owners elect a committee, which handles
administration and upkeep of the site.
Bond
A sum of money paid by a tenant and
held by the Tenancy Services to ensure against defaulting on
payment and damage to the property.
Boundary
The lines that define the
perimeter of a property.
Brick Veneer
A type of construction in
which a structural timber frame is tied to a non-load bearing,
single-brick external wall.
Bridging Loan
A short term loan (usually
at a higher rate) taken out to cover the financial gap between
buying a new property and selling an existing property.
Building Code
Local Council regulations
that control design, construction and materials used in
construction.
Business Day
A standard day for conducting
business. 9.00am - 5.00pm. Excludes weekends and public
holidays.
Buyers Market
When the demand for property
is less than supply so the advantages shift to the buyer.
C
Capital
Money used to create income,
either as an investment in a business or an income property
The
money or property comprising the wealth owned or used by a
person or business.
The accumulated wealth of a person or
business.
The net worth of a business represented by the
amount its assets exceed its.
Capital Expenditure
The cost of an
improvement made to extend the useful life of a property or
added to its value.
Capital Gain
The gain on the sale of a
capital asset.
Capital Improvement
Any structure or
addition to a property erected as a permanent improvement that
adds to its value and useful life.
Cash Flow
A measure of cash inflow and
outflow from the business. Positive cash flow means more money
is coming into the business than is leaving it. Negative cash
flow is the converse.
Cash-out refinance
A refinance transaction
in which the amount of money received from the new loan exceeds
the total of the money needed to repay the existing first
mortgage, closing costs, points and the amount required to
satisfy any outstanding subordinate mortgage liens,. In other
words a refinance transaction in which the borrower receives
additional cash that can be used for any purpose.
Caveat
A warning on a title to a purchaser
that a third party might have some interest or right in the
property.
Caveat Emptor
A Latin phrase for “Let the
buyer beware”, i.e.: the onus is on the buyer to be satisfied
with any item before purchasing.
Certificated Salesperson
All Salespeople
in real estate who have not qualified by exam to be an Associate
(AREINZ), who are employed by a licensed Real Estate Agent.
Certificate of Occupancy
A document issued
by a local government to a developer permitting the structure to
be occupied. This generally indicates that the building is in
compliance with public health and building codes.
Certificate of Title
A description of a
property with the name of the registered owner, encumbrances,
i.e.: mortgages or easements on the property. It must be
produced by the vendor before the sale of the property.
Chattels
Moveable and removable items of
personal property. In real estate transactions, chattels
included in the sale usually include the stove, television
aerial, carpets, blinds, curtains, drapes and light fittings.
However, unless chattels are specified in the agreement, they
are not sold as part of the property.
Special Conditions in a Sale & Purchase Agreement
Cash out
Conditional upon a Specialist Report
Conditional
upon the sale of the purchaser’s property
Conditional upon
an existing agreement
Conditional upon a LIM report
Conditional
upon Finance
Clear Title
A title that is free of or
legal questions as to ownership of the property.
Collateral
An asset (such as a car or a
home) that guarantees the repayment of a loan. The borrower
risks losing the asset if the loan is not repaid according to
the terms of the loan contract.
Commission
A proportion (usually a
percentage) of the sale price of a property paid to a real
estate agent for negotiating a real estate transaction.
Common Law
An unwritten body of law based
on general custom in England and used to an extent in Australia.
Common Law Title
See Old System Title
Common Property
Area of building, land or
amenities within a strata title property that are shared by all
owners, eg: a driveway.
Company Title
A company owner has a
certificate of title and the owner automatically becomes a
member of a company that administers, manages and maintains the
property in which the owner’s flat is registered. The Directors
of that company are elected each year at the Annual General
Meeting from owners involved only with that company, i.e. owners
in that block.
Conditional Agreement
This is a legally
binding contract, but it is subject to conditions being
satisfied, usually by the purchaser. The conditions will be
detailed in the agreement and may, for example, require that you
are able to sell your existing home by a set date or to arrange
finance by a certain date. Conditions can also be included by
the purchaser that require the seller to do something by a
specified date - for example, that settlement will take place
only on the conditions that the house is painted, the windows
repaired or that rubbish around the section is removed. Note:
Purchasers' conditions usually do not prevent the sale-taking
place, but may allow the purchaser to delay settlement without
penalty or claim damages if the conditions are not met in time.
Construction Loan
Also called Building
Loan. A short-term, interim loan (only paid to registered
builders) for financing the cost of construction. The lender
makes payments to the builder at periodic intervals as work
progresses.
Contingency
Contingency. See Special
Condition.
Contract Note
An agreement in writing
setting out the terms and conditions relating to the sale or
purchase of a property.
Contract of Sale
An agreement in wiring
setting out the terms and conditions relating to the sale or
purchase of a property. It is the purchase document signed at
auction.
Covenant
Terms, conditions and
restrictions noted on the title. A covenant may affect future
plans or resale of the property.
Cover Note
A document issued by an
insurance company giving temporary insurance until a formal
policy is issued.
Credit History
A record of an individual’s
current and repaid debts which is usually used by a lender to
assess the risk of a potential borrower.
Credit Report
A report of an individual’s
credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender
in determining a loan applicant’s creditworthiness.
Cross Lease
This type of ownership is
common where there is more than one home on a block of land. You
are all owners of the land and you each lease your home. The
lease will usually provide for an exclusive use area for each
cross-lessee. It's like owning a freehold property but there are
some restrictions. Another form of ownership for more than one
home on a block of land is a unit title.
Cul-de-Sac
Also called a ‘Court’ or ‘Dead
End Street’. A street with only one entrance, the other end
being closed. Often valued for the privacy provide to homes in
the street.
D
Deed
A legal document conveying title to a
property.
Default
Failure to make mortgage payments
regularly or to comply with other requirements of the mortgage.
Deposit
A percentage of the purchase price
given to bind the sale of real estate.
Depreciation
A decline in the value of
property due to changes in market conditions or other clauses.
Disbursement
A cash expenditure for the
purpose of settling a debt.
Disposable Income
Money left over after
all expenses have been met.
Door Jambs
The vertical sides of a door
frame.
Drawdown
The disbursement of mortgage
funds provided by the Bank.
Dual Occupancy
A block of land which is
zoned so that there two distinct dwellings are permitted by the
Local Territorial Authority, to be constructed.
Duplex
See semi-detached
E
Easement
A right that someone has to use
the land belonging to another, eg: a water authority may have a
sewerage easement across part of your property.
Encroachment
Part of a house or
establishment illegally overhanging the street or a neighbour’s
property.
Encumbrance
An impediment to the use or
transfer of the property in the form of an interest or right in
the property.
Equity
The amount of an asset actually
owned, Equity is the difference between the market value of the
property and the amount still owed on its mortgage.
Establishment Fee
See Loan Application Fee
Estate
The total of all the real estate
and personal property owned by an individual at the time of
death.
Eviction
The lawful expulsion of an
occupant or tenant from real property.
Exclusive Listing/Sole Listing
A written
contract that gives a licensed real estate agent the exclusive
right to sell a property for a specified time.
Executor
A person named in a will to
administer an. ‘Executrix’ is the feminine form.
F
Fair Credit Reporting Act
A consumer
protection law that regulates the disclosure of consumer credit
reports by consumer/credit reporting agencies and establishes
procedures for correcting mistakes on one’s credit record.
Fee Simple
The greatest possible interest
a person can have in real estate.
Fibro Cement
Building material made of
compressed fibres cemented into rigid sheets.
FID
Financial Institutions Duty. State
duty on the receipts of financial institutions.
Fiduciary
A person who essentially holds
the character of a trustee. Real Estate agents and salespersons
are considered by law to be fiduciaries, thus they have a duty
to act primarily for the benefit of the principal (the person
who employed them) and not their own. A fiduciary must act with
the highest degree of care and good faith in relations with the
principal and on the principal’s business. Penalties for failing
in fiduciary duties may be quite severe.
First Mortgage
A mortgage that is the
primary lien against a property.
Fittings
Objects that can be removed from
a property without causing damage to it.
Fixed Instalment
The monthly payment due
on a mortgage loan. The fixed instalment includes payment of
both principal and interest.
Fixed Rate Mortgage
A mortgage in which
the interest rate does not change during the term of the loan.
Fixtures
Fixed items that cannot be
removed without damaging either the property or the fixture
itself, eg: cupboards.
Footing
The footing supports the building
on its foundation.
Foreclosure
The legal process by which a
borrower in default under a mortgage is deprived of his or her
interest in the mortgaged property. This usually results in the
selling the property by auction and the proceeds being used to
service the mortgage debt.
Freehold
An estate in real property which
continues for an indefinite period of time. Freehold estates may
be inheritable or non-inheritable. Inheritable estates include
the fee simple absolute, the qualified fee, and the fee tail.
Non-inheritable estates include various life estates which are
created by acts of parties, such as an ordinary life estate, or
by operation of law.
G
Gable
The triangular part of a building’s
end wall which extends up to meet the two slopes of a roof.
Garnishee
The legally divert part or whole
of someone’s money or property to someone else, eg: for Child
Support Payment.
Gearing
The ratio of your own money and
borrowed funds for investment.
Gross Income
Income before taxes are
deducted.
Guarantor
A person who agrees to indemnify
the holder of a loan all or a portion of the unpaid principal
balance in case of default by the borrower.
H
Habitable
Suitable for occupancy. Local
building codes ensure that structures are habitable through
requirements for building permits and certificates of occupancy.
Home Equity Line of Credit
A mortgage loan
which allows the borrower to obtain multiple advances of the
loan proceeds up to a specified percentage of the borrower’s
equity in a property.
Home Improvement Loan
A loan made to a
homeowner in which the home is used as collateral for the loan.
Home Inspection.
A thorough inspection
that evaluates the structural and mechanical condition of a
property.
I
Insured Mortgage
A mortgage that is
protected by private mortgage insurance. If the borrower
defaults on the loan, the insurer must pay the lender the lesser
of the loss incurred or the insured amount.
Interest
The fee charged for borrowing
money.
Interest Only Loan
A loan where only the
interest is repaid throughout the course of the loan. The
original amount is repaid at the end of the term of the loan,
rolled over by the same bank or the owner re-mortgages.
Interest Rate
The rate of interest in
effect for the monthly payment due.
Introductory Loan
A loan offered at a
reduced rate for an introductory period to new borrowers.
Investment Property
A property that is not
occupied by the owner, but provides a return to the owner
through letting or leasing to a tenant.
J-K
Joint Tenancy
A form of co-ownership that
gives each tenant equal shares and rights in the property
including the right of survivorship, eg: ownership of a property
passes to the surviving owners.
Key Tenant
A major or primary tenant in an
office building or shopping centre, generally such a tenant
leases a significant amount of the available space.
L
Laminated Timber
Layers of timer glued and
pressed together to increase rigidity or to use as bench tops or
cupboard doors.
Landlord
A person who rents property to
another, a lessor. A property owner who surrenders the right to
use property for a specific time in exchange for the receipt of
rent.
Leasehold
You buy the right to own the
home and lease the land for a certain time. You pay rent to the
landlord for the land. You can sell the lease if you want to
move on. There may be restrictions on your use of the property.
Lessee
A person leasing a property.
Lessor
The owner of a property that is
leased to another person.
Liabilities
A list of debts owned.
Lien
A legal claim against a property that
must be paid off when the property is sold.
Life Estate
Also called Tenancy for Life.
A freehold interest (in real property) that expires upon the
death of the owner or some other specified person.
LIM Report (Land Information Memorandum)
A
LIM is a report prepared by the local Council at your request.
It provides a summary of property information held by the
Council as at the day the LIM was produced.
A LIM provides some or all of the following:
- Information on special land features or characteristics including potential erosion, avulsion (removal of land by water action), falling debris, subsidence, slippage, alluvion (the deposition of silt from flooding), inundation (flooding), presence of hazardous contaminants which are likely to be relevant to land and is known to Auckland City
- Information on private and public stormwater and sewerage drains as shown in Auckland City's records
- Information relating to any rates owing in relation to the land
- Details of approved building, plumbing/drainage and resource planning permits and consents indicating where further action is required
-
As required by the Building Act 1991 details are included of
- Code Compliance Certificates: a final certificate of approval for building consents
- Compliance Schedule: required for certain systems or features of commercial and multi-residential properties
- Warrant /Statement of Fitness: in conjunction with compliance schedule -issued annually to maintain compliance standard
- Details of Dangerous Goods, Liquor, Hairdressing and Health Licences (mainly refers to commercial properties)
- Details of Operative and proposed zoning, road widening, height restrictions, view and tree protection, and any Historic Places Trust listing
- Any outstanding requisitions or notifications from Auckland City regarding any matters on that property that do not meet Auckland City specifications and which require action within a certain time frame. Satisfying requisitions is the responsibility of the owner of the property.
The Memorandum may also include:
- Such other information concerning the land which Auckland City considers, at its discretion, to be relevant. Line of Credit
- An agreement by a lender to extend credit up to a specified amount for a specified time for a specified purpose.
Liquid Asset
An asset, cash or otherwise,
that can be converted into cash.
Listing
A written contract between an
owner and a real estate, authorizing the agent to perform
services for the principal involving the owner’s property. The
property so listed.
Loan
A sum of borrowed money that is
generally repaid with.
Loan Application Fee
Also called
Establishment Fee. A fee paid to a lender for processing a loan.
Loan to Valuation Ratio
The amount of the
loan financed as a proportion of the property value, expressed
as a percentage.
M
Manhole
An opening which permits access to
the space between the roof and the ceiling, or below the floor.
Market Value
The price at which a seller
is happy to sell and a buyer is willing to buy. This assumes
that there is sufficient activity in the marketplace to generate
enough buyers and sellers so that neither party controls the
price. Establishing the market value is the objective of an
appraisal.
Mortgage
A legal document that pledges a
property to the lender as security for payment of a debit.
Mortgage Broker
An individual or company
that brings borrowers and lenders together for the purpose of
loan origination. Mortgage brokers typically require a fee or a
commission for their services. Usually paid by the Lender.
Mortgage Discharge Fee
A fee charged by
some lending institutions for finalising a loan repayment.
Mortgage Insurance
A policy that insures
the lender against the borrower on a loan. Most lenders
generally require insurance when borrowing more than 80% of the
property value.
Mortgage Life Insurance
A type of term
life insurance often bought by mortgagors. The amount of
coverage decreases as the principal balance declines. In the
event that the borrower dies while the policy is in force, the
debt is automatically satisfied by insurance proceeds.
Mortgage Offset
A non-interest earning
account that is offset against a home loan to reduce the total
interest payable.
Mortgagee
The lender in a mortgage
agreement.
Mortgagor
The borrower in a mortgage
agreement.
N
Negative Gearing
Where the return on an
investment is not sufficient to cover the costs on the
investment, eg: property maintenance and interest on the loan
against income from letting/leasing.
Negotiation
Make an offer and we will
attempt to negotiate a concluded contract between the parties.
Net Income
Income after taxes are
deducted.
Net Worth
The value of a person’s assets
minus liabilities.
Nominee
A person who, in a limited sense,
acts for or represents another.
Notice of Default
A formal written notice
to a borrower that has occurred and that legal action may be
taken.
Notice to Quit
A notice to a tenant to
vacate the property.
Null and Void
That which cannot be legally
enforced, as with a contract provision that is not in
conformance with the law.
O
Off The Plan
To purchase a property before
it is completed after having only seen the plans.
Offer
Conveyed intent by one party to form
a contract, which may have conditions and stipulations, with
another party.
Offers
A process of calling for offers on
the property, usually required by a certain date.
Offset Account
An account linked to a
mortgage account so that the interest earned is applied to
reduce the interest on the mortgage.
Ombudsman
The Banking Industry Ombudsman
is the avenue through which a customer can make a complain about
their bank and have it dealt with independently.
Ongoing Fee
A loan maintenance fee charged
regularly over the life of the loan.
Open Space
Land which has not had
improvements such as buildings and other structures added to it.
Such land is often left in a subdivision by a developer or
stipulated by a local authority for recreational use or for
personal use by the owner.
P
Passed In
The highest bid fails to meet
the reserve price of a property at an auction and consequently
does not sell.
PIM (Project Information Memorandum)
A
report giving information on items such as potential erosion,
subsidence, hazardous contaminants, stormwater. It may also
include classifications under organisations such as the Dept. of
Conservation or Historic Places Trust, as well as authorisations
required by the Resource Management Act.
POA
A pricing method used by some Real
Estate companies, meaning Price On Application.
Power-of Attorney
The person who has
authority to execute documents on behalf of the grantor of the
power. Also a legal document which authorises another person to
act on one’s behalf. A power of attorney can grant complete
authority or can be limited to certain acts and/or certain
periods of time.
Pre-qualification
The process of
determining how much money a prospective home buyer will be
eligible to borrow before he or she applies for a loan.
Prime Rate
The interest rate that banks
charge their preferred customers. Changes in this rate can
influence other rates including mortgage interest rates.
Principal
The amount borrowed or still to
be repaid. The part of the monthly payment that reduces the
balance of the mortgage.
Private Sale
The sale of property by the
owner without the services of a real estate agent.
Private Treaty Sale
The sale of property,
through a real estate agent, by negotiation.
Proxy
A person who represents another,
particularly, in some meeting. Also, the document giving to
another, the authority to represent.
Q
Qualified Buyer
A buyer who has satisfied
a lender that he or she is financially able to qualify for a
loan. Qualifying the buyer is one of the primary steps taken by
the lender as part of the loan process.
R
Rafter
Part of the framework of the roof,
the rafters slope down from the ridge to the eaves.
Real Estate Agent
A person or Company
licensed to negotiate and transact the sale or lease of real
estate on behalf of the property owner.
Refinance
The process of paying off one
loan with the proceeds from a new loan using the same property
as security.
REINZ
Real Estate Institute of New
Zealand. National representation body of real estate agents.
Requisitions on Title
A process where the
buyer requests additional information about the title of the
property from the vendor.
Reserve Price
The minimum price which a
seller will accept at auction.
Resource Consents
Resource consents are
necessary when a group or individual wishes to carry out an
activity or development that may have some effect on the
environment. Resource consents relate directly to the rules set
out in the District or Regional Plans and the Resource
Management Act and are different to Building Consents.
Right of First Refusal
A provision in an agreement that gives a party the first
opportunity to purchase or lease the property before it is
offered for sale or lease to others.
Right of Survivorship
In, the right of the survivors to acquire the interest of
a deceased joint estate.
Right of Way
A right of one property or the general public for access
to or across another property.
Rise and Fall clause
This clause may be contained in a building contract. It
provides for an upward or downward contract price which
correlates to the movement of prices, wages or other factors
specified in the clause.
Roof Pitch
The slope of the roof.
S
Sash
The frame in which a pane of glass is set to form a
window.
Second Mortgage
A mortgage that, on the sale of a property, is paid off
only when the first mortgage is paid.
Security
The property that is pledged as collateral.
Seller’s Market
When demand for property is greater than supply. The
result is greater opportunities for owners who may find someone
willing to offer the asking price or even a figure greater than
the asking price.
Semi-detached
Also called Duplex. A type of construction where two
buildings are attached together by a common wall.
Service (the loan)
The period, normally monthly, collection of mortgage
interest and principal repayment and other related expenses,
such as property taxes and property insurance.
Settlement
The sale of a property is finalized by the legal
representatives of the vendor and the purchaser, mortgage
documents come into effect, costs are paid and the new owner
takes possession of the property and receives the keys.
Sinking
Sinking of the soil or any part of
the structure which it supports.
Shingles
Thin pieces of wood or other material set in overlapping
rows to form a roof or wall cladding.
Sill
The horizontal section of material at the base of a
window opening.
Skillion
A roof shape consisting of a single sloping surface
without a ridge.
Sole/Exclusive Agency
A sole or exclusive agency precludes all other agents
from working on the disposal of the property, although another
agent may approach the sole agent if the former has a suitable
client. But even then the sole agent would finalise the deal.
Special Condition
A condition that must be met before the contract is
legally binding. For example, if buying a home the purchaser may
specify that the contract is not legally binding until the
purchaser has obtained a building inspection and been satisfied
by the report.
Strata Title
A title to a unit or lot on a plan of subdivision
associated with townhouses, units and blocks of flats and based
on the horizontal and vertical subdivision of air space. Owners
have a certificate of title, are absolute owners of a freehold
flat and have an undivided share of the common property.
Studs
The uprights in the wall of a building.
Subdivision
A tract of land divided into individual lots for a
housing development.
Survey
A drawing or map showing the precise legal boundaries of
a property, the location of improvements, easements, rights of
way, encroachments, and other physical features.
T
Tenancy
The right to occupy a property under agreed terms and
conditions.
Tenancy for Life
See Life Estate
Tenants in Common
A type of joint tenancy in a property where two or more
purchasers own a property in unequal shares. If one dies, his or
her shares pass to his or her beneficiaries under the terms of
the will. The shares can be sold without consultation of the
other owners.
Tender
A process of selling, calling for purchasers to make
their best offers in writing for that property by a given date.
Title
A legal document evidencing a person’s right to or
ownership of a property.
Title Search
A check of the title records to ensure that the seller is
the legal owner of the property and that there are no other
claims or outstanding.
Townhouse
A dwelling unit, generally having two or more floors and
attached to other similar units via party walls. Can be Strata
or Cross lease titled.
Transfer
A document registered at the Land Titles Office and noted
on the Certificate of Title which verifies the change of
ownership of a property.
Trustee
A person who holds or controls property for the benefit
of another.
U-V
Unconditional Agreement
The legal contract that binds both the purchaser and the
seller to settle on the agreed date at the agreed price. It is
either not subject to any conditions or those conditions have
already been satisfied. You should only consider entering an
unconditional agreement if and when you are absolutely sure you
want to buy a particular property and you already have the full
purchase price or 'pre-approved' loan finance from a lender. You
should also be confident that there are no other issues or
requirements that must be satisfied before you are committed to
purchase the property. An unconditional agreement commits you to
purchasing the property.
Under License
Early possession of the property before settlement with
the permission of the vendor. This usually involves the payment
of rent.
Underpinning
Supports placed under an existing wall to provide added
strength.
Unsecured Loan
A loan that is not backed up by assets or guarantee.
Utilities
The private or public service facilities such as gas,
electricity, telephone, water and sewer that are provided as
part of the development of the land.
Valuation
A written analysis of the estimated value of a property
prepared by a qualified valuer.
Vendor
The person or entity legally authorised to sell a
property.
Void
Having no legal force or effect. Unenforceable.
W-X-Y-Z
Wall cavity
The space between the inner and outer sections of a wall.
Water Course
A natural stream of running water being fed by a natural
source such as a stream or river.
Wish List
Think of a wish list as the criteria for your perfect
home. While it’s rare to find everything you’d like in the house
you finally purchase, sitting down and making a wish list will
help you find the house, which most closely matches your dream.
X
A notation made by an individual who has not learned to
write or physically unable to write, to show intent to sign an
instrument such as a deed or will. In regard to the conveyance
of real property, such a person would be required to make such a
mark or at least a thumbprint as intent to sign and have it
witnessed.
Yield
The interest earned or return by an investor on an
investment, stated as a percentage of the amount invested.
Zoning
Local authority guidelines for the permitted use of land.