Using industry-specific terminology makes buying or selling a home even more complicated. Just knowing common real estate terms will help make your experience much less stressful and confusing. Real estate terminology is the specialized vocabulary and used in the industry to describe various aspects of property transactions. Subsequently, below are some of the most common terminology that you may encounter when buying or selling a home.
An appraisal is a professional, objective valuation of a property. Moreover, the lender will use the appraisal to decide if the property is worth the loan. In other words, recent comparable sales, home and lot size, upgrades, and amenities all affect a home’s value.
Selling agents represent buyers in real estate transactions. An agent who helps homebuyers. Therefore, in order to buy a home, you must find the right property, negotiate the offer, help the buyer find the right lender, inspector, and closing attorney, and help them overcome any obstacles.
Traditional real estate loans are not backed by the government. Non-conforming and conforming loans are available. Conforming loans follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules, while non-conforming loans have more flexibility.
The Closing is the name given to the last stage of buying or selling real estate in the industry. Once all closing documents have been signed by all parties, all funds have been transferred. Also, the deed has been recorded at the courthouse, the ownership transfer is complete.
Closing is the final stage of a real estate transaction. The buyer and seller sign the Deed, Bill of Sale, and Closing Disclosure. Everything is transferred, including the down payment and closing costs. Subsequently, the courthouse records the Deed after both parties sign closing documents and exchange funds. The new owner now owns the property legally. The closing procedure can be challenging and time-consuming, but it is necessary to safeguard all parties and make the transaction legally binding.
Closing can be complicated and time-consuming to protect all parties and make the transaction legally binding.
Buyers must submit an earnest money deposit with their contract. An earnest money deposit is optional, but it shows the seller that the buyer is serious about buying the home.
A homeowner’s equity is their property’s financial value. Start with the property’s Fair Market Value and subtract any mortgage debt.
The Federal Housing Administration Loan, also known as an FHA Loan. FHA Loans, insured by the federal government, allow borrowers to buy a home with a 3.5% down payment. The minimum credit score is lower than for conventional loans, but borrowers must pay a Mortgage Insurance Premium for the life of the loan in exchange for government protection against default.
Real estate terminology often refers to a loan with a fixed interest rate. Thus guaranteeing the borrower’s monthly payments, making budgeting easier. Homebuyers prefer fixed-rate loans because they protect against interest rate changes. They also give peace of mind by guaranteeing monthly payments regardless of market conditions. Fixed-rate loans are more expensive than adjustable-rate loans, but their predictability and stability make them appealing to those who want to avoid market fluctuations.
Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) manage communities and condominiums. A homeowner who buys a home in a HOA must follow its rules and pay its fees. Pools, parks, sidewalks, landscaping, and security are typically maintained with the fees. HOAs can also restrict property use, home appearance, and noise. HOAs offer amenities and a sense of community, but some find the fees and restrictions burdensome. Thus, before buying a home in a HOA, one must carefully weigh the pros and cons.
A buyer pays a certified home inspector to inspect a property and write a report on any maintenance issues. The buyers will use this report to negotiate with the seller about repairs, a new purchase price, or whether to buy the property.
A document that is provided by lenders that is based on a borrower’s income, credit score, and debt is referred to as a pre-approval. When the applicant makes an offer on a house, they will then have evidence that they have been approved.
The amount of money that is still owed to the lender is called the principal (excluding interest). The loan’s interest and principal are both reduced by any payments that are made on it.
A buyer is required to provide “proof of funds,” which are documents demonstrating that the buyer has the cash available for the purchase of the home, the down payment, or the closing costs. Moreover, there are times when the seller will require that the buyer do this.
In real estate, a fixed-rate loan is a loan with a constant interest rate. The borrower’s monthly payments will also remain fixed, providing predictability and stability for budgeting. Fixed-rate loans protect homebuyers from interest rate fluctuations. They also give customers peace of mind because their monthly payments won’t change regardless of market conditions. In conclusion, fixed-rate loans have a higher interest rate than adjustable-rate loans, but they are attractive to those who want to avoid market fluctuations due to their predictability and stability.
A real estate professional who acts as the representative of the seller in a real estate transaction is known as a listing agent. Hence, as the name suggests, the listing agent is the one who advertises the home for sale and works on behalf of the seller to sell the home at a price and on terms that are favorable for the client’s particular situation.
Agent
If you have a preferred agent to work with, let us know and we will forward your information to them. If not, we will happily introduce you to one of our qualified agents to assist you in the buying or selling process.
Please fill out the form and you will receive an email from us. If you do not get the email in the next 5 minutes, check your spam/junk folder.