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Contact EXIT Team Realty

If you have any questions or need more detailed information, please feel free to contact us via phone at 401.349.5000 or fill out the form to let us know how we can help with your real estate needs.

Office Location

375 Putnam Pike Ste 35,
Smithfield, RI 02917
Phone: (401) 349-5000
Fax: (401) 349-5099

Real Estate Glossary

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Abandonment
The voluntary surrender of property, owned or leased, without naming a successor as owner or tenant.

Absentee Owner
An owner who does not personally manage or reside at property owned.

Absolute Auction
An auction in which the subject property is sold to the highest bidder regardless of the amount of the winning bid.

Absorption Rate
An estimate of the expected annual sales or new occupancy of a particular type of land use.

Abstract Exam
A fee related to the title insurance required by the lender. A public record search exam is done to insure that both you and the lender are aware of any liens or encumbrances that could affect the property.

Acceleration Clause
A provision in a mortgage that gives the lender the right to demand payment of the entire principal balance if a monthly payment is missed.

Acceptance
An offeree’s consent to enter into a contract and be bound by the terms of the offer.

Accepted Contract
A sales contract signed by both seller and buyer that defines the terms of the sale.

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.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)
A mortgage that permits the lender to adjust its interest rate periodically on the basis of changes in a specified index.

Adjusted Basis
The original cost of a property plus the value of any capital expenditures for improvements to the property minus any depreciation taken.

Adjustment Date
The date on which the interest rate changes for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM).

Adjustment Period
The period that elapses between the adjustment dates for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM).

Administrator
A person appointed by a probate court to administer the estate of a person who died intestate.

Administrative Fee
A fee charged by a lender to cover the administrative costs of processing your loan request. Also called a lender fee.

Affordability Analysis
A detailed analysis of your ability to afford the purchase of a home. An affordability analysis takes into consideration your income, liabilities, and available funds, along with the type of mortgage you plan to use, the area where you want to purchase a home, and the closing costs that you might expect to pay.

Agent
An authorized person who manages or transacts business for another. Laws governing real estate, especially relating to agents, vary from state to state.

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. Natural amenities include a pleasant or desirable location near water, scenic views of the surrounding area, etc. Human-made amenities include swimming pools, tennis courts, community buildings, and other recreational facilities.

Amortization
The gradual repayment of a mortgage loan by installments.

Amortization Schedule
A timetable for payment of a mortgage loan. An amortization schedule shows the amount of each payment applied to interest and principal and shows the remaining balance after each payment is made.

Amortization Term
The amount of time required to amortize the mortgage loan. The amortization term is expressed as a number of months. For example, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the amortization term is 360 months.

Amortize
To repay a mortgage with regular payments that cover both principal and interest.

Annual Fee
The annual fee for a line of credit is due at the beginning of the first anniversary of the credit line and every year thereafter.

Annual Mortgagor Statement
A report sent to the mortgagor each year. The report shows how much was paid in taxes and interest during the year, as well as the remaining mortgage loan balance at the end of the year.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The cost of a mortgage stated as a yearly rate; includes such items as interest, mortgage insurance, and loan origination fee (points).

Annuity
An amount paid yearly or at other regular intervals, often on a guaranteed dollar basis.

Application
A form used to apply for a mortgage loan and to record pertinent information concerning a prospective mortgagor and the proposed security.

Application Deposit
Funds required by a lender in advance of processing a loan request. Generally a deposit is collected to cover the costs of an appraisal and credit report and may or may not be refundable.

Appraisal
A written analysis of the estimated value of a property prepared by a qualified appraiser. Contrast with home inspection.

Appraisal Fee
In order to verify that the value of your home supports the loan amount you request, an appraisal will be ordered by the lender. The appraisal is generally performed by a professional who is familiar with home values in the area and may or may not require an interior inspection of the home. The fee for the appraisal is commonly passed on to the borrower by the lender.

Appraised Value
An opinion of a property's fair market value, based on an appraiser's knowledge, experience, and analysis of the property.

Appraiser
A person qualified by education, training, and experience to estimate the value of real property and personal property.

Appreciation
An increase in the value of a property due to changes in market conditions or other causes. The opposite of depreciation.

Assessed Value
The valuation placed on property by a public tax assessor for purposes of taxation.

Assessment
The process of placing a value on property for the strict purpose of taxation. May also refer to a levy against property for a special purpose, such as a sewer assessment.

Assessment Rolls
The public record of taxable property.

Assessor
A public official who establishes the value of a property for taxation purposes.

Asset
Anything of monetary value that is owned by a person. Assets include real property, personal property, and enforceable claims against others (including bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, and so on).

Assignment
The transfer of a mortgage from one person to another.

Assumable Mortgage
A mortgage that can be taken over ("assumed") by the buyer when a home is sold.

Assumption
The transfer of the seller’s existing mortgage to the buyer. See assumable mortgage.

Assumption Clause
A provision in an assumable mortgage that allows a buyer to assume responsibility for the mortgage from the seller. The loan does not need to be paid in full by the original borrower upon sale or transfer of the property.

Assumption Fee
The fee paid to a lender (usually by the purchaser of real property) resulting from the assumption of an existing mortgage.

Attorney Opinion
This fee is related to the title insurance required by the lender. It is a document issued by an attorney listing any liens or encumbrances that could affect the proeprty that are a matter of public record. Also known as a "title opinion".

Attorney Witness
Related to the settlement/closing fee. This fee is standard in some states and is the closing attorney's fee for witnessing the signing of the closing documents.

Attorney-In-Fact
One who holds a power of attorney from another to execute documents on behalf of the grantor of the power.

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