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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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Backfill
The replacement of excavated dirt into a hole, crevice or against a structure such as a foundation.

Backup Contract
A contract to buy property that becomes effective if a prior contract fails to be agreed upon.

Balance Due at End of Loan Term
Some home equity loans may have a balance due at the end of the loan term. This means that if you make the minimum monthly payment during the life of the loan the entire balance will not be paid in full. A "balloon" payment will be due at that time.

Balance Sheet
A financial statement in a table form that shows assets, liabilities, and net worth as of a specific date.

Balloon Mortgage
A short term fixed rate loan which involves smaller payments for a certain period of time and one large payment for the entire balance due at the end of the loan term.

Balloon Payment
The final lump sum payment that is made at the maturity date of a balloon mortgage.

Bankrupt
A person, firm, or corporation that, through a court proceeding, is relieved from the payment of all debts after the surrender of all assets to a court-appointed trustee.

Bankruptcy
A proceeding in a federal court in which a debtor who owes more than his or her assets can relieve the debts by transferring his or her assets to a trustee.

Before-Tax Income
Income before taxes are deducted.

Beneficiary
The person designated to receive the income from a trust, estate, or a deed of trust.

Bequeath
To transfer personal property through a will.

Betterment
An improvement that increases property value as distinguished from repairs or replacements that simply maintain value.

Bill of Sale
A written document that transfers title to personal property.

Billing Error
Any mistake in your monthly statement as defined by the Fair Credit Billing Act.

Binder
A preliminary agreement, secured by the payment of an earnest money deposit, under which a buyer offers to purchase real estate.

Binder Deposit
A sum of cash paid to a seller by a buyer prior to closing to show that the buyer is serious about buying the house. The binder deposit is deducted from the purchase price at closing and is not an additional cost. Sometimes referred to as earnest money.

Biweekly 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) biweekly 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.

Blanket Insurance Policy
A single policy that covers more than one piece of property (or more than one person).

Blanket Mortgage
The mortgage that is secured by a cooperative project, as opposed to the share loans on individual units within the project.

Bona Fide
In good faith, without fraud.

Bond
An interest-bearing certificate of debt with a maturity date. An obligation of a government or business corporation. A real estate bond is a written obligation usually secured by a mortgage or a deed of trust.

Breach
A violation of any legal obligation.

Breach of Contract
A violation of the terms of any legal obligation or agreement.

Bridge Loan
A form of second trust that is collateralized by the borrower's present home (which is usually for sale) in a manner that allows the proceeds to be used for closing on a new house before the present home is sold. Also known as "swing loan."

Broker
A person who, for a commission or a fee, brings parties together and assists in negotiating contracts between them. See mortgage broker.

Budget
A detailed plan of income and expenses expected over a certain period of time. A budget can provide guidelines for managing future investments and expenses.

Budget Category
A category of income or expense data that you can use in a budget. You can also define your own budget categories and add them to some or all of the budgets you create. "Rent" is an example of an expense category. "Salary" is a typical income category.

Building Code
Local regulations that control design, construction, and materials used in construction. Building codes are based on safety and health standards.

Business Days
Check with your lending institution to find out what days it considers as business days under the Truth in Lending and Electronic Fund Transfer Acts. Usually excludes weekends and holidays.

Buydown
A process that allows a borrower to obtain a lower interest rate on a mortgage by paying points to a lender. A temporary buydown will reduce the interest rate paid during the first few years of the loan. A permanent buydown reduces the interest rate over the entire life of the loan.

Buydown Account
An account in which funds are held so that they can be applied as part of the monthly mortgage payment as each payment comes due during the period that an interest rate buydown plan is in effect.

Buydown Mortgage
A temporary buydown is a mortgage on which an initial lump sum payment is made by any party to reduce a borrower’s monthly payments during the first few years of a mortgage. A permanent buydown reduces the interest rate over the entire life of a mortgage.

Buyer Agent
An agent who represents the buyer in a real estate transaction. A buyer agent may be paid by the buyer, seller, or listing agent at closing, provided all parties consent.

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