Real Estate Glossary from A to Z

After almost 2 years of regularly posting the Real Estate Glossary for each individual letter, we finally have completed the alphabet. The definitions where taken from different public sources, both printed and online. Some of its content might need reviewing, as the real estate terminology may change, but for the most part I believe it to be pretty accurate.

Click on the correspondent letter to view the definitions:

A . B . C . D . E . F . G . H . I . J . K . L . M . N . O . P . Q . R . S . T . U . V . W .  Y . Z

Ps: Even though we called it the Real Estate Glossary, it also contains a lot of Financial & Mortgage Terms.
Just so you know.

Feel free to use it as a reference, when you need it.

Real Estate Glossary: V

Valuation
The act or process of assessing value or price of a property through an appraisal.

Variable Interest Mortgage
A mortgage product where the interest rate can change or vary during the loan term. The variance in the interest rate usually depends on a specific factor such as prime bank rate or the guaranteed investment certificate rate for a designated lender.

Variable Interest Rate
Percentage paid by a borrower for the use of funds. This interest rate moves up or down periodically due to changes in other interest rates.

Variable Rate Mortgage
A mortgage product where the interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a standard financial index. Also called an “Adjustable-rate Mortgage.” CanEquity has access to the best Variable rate/below prime mortgages in Canada.

Vendor Take Back
In order to sell a property, the seller will provide all or some of the financing to ensure the transaction.

Verification of Employment
Confirmation from a place of employment that verifies a loan applicant is being truthful about where he or she works and about the salary he or she earns.

Void
Something that is void has no validity or effect under the law meaning it is null. For example, a contract can be rendered void.

Voidable
When an individual or party involved in a contract is entitled to renege or retract the contract at his or her discretion.

Real Estate Glossary: U

Umbrella Mortgage
A specific arrangement where one document encompasses one or more already existing mortgages registered on the same property. The mortgagee is responsible for remission of payment(s), to lender(s), while the mortgagor makes one payment to the mortgagee. Also referred to as a wraparound.

Underwriting
To support or agree to (a decision, for example). In real estate, underwriting refers to the analysis of the risk involved for a lender to grant a mortgage loan and whether or not the risk is acceptable. Underwriting involves a property evaluation as outlined in the appraisal report, and an evaluation of the borrower’s ability and willingness to repay the loan.

Unearned Income
This type of income can include funds that are gained from interest, dividends, investments, or capital gains as opposed to income that is earned by working for a salary, hourly wage, or gratuity.
Read more

Real Estate Glossary: T

Takeout Mortgage Loan
A long term mortgage loan that is advanced to a borrower on the completion of construction or in compliance with any other conditions in the loan commitment. The funds are typically used to pay off or take out the construction lender.

Tangible Personal Property
Assets other than real estate that physically exist. Business equipment and vehicles are tangible personal property whereas stock certificates and franchises only represent value and are therefore intangible property.

Tax Deduction
An allowable (by government) expense that can be subtracted from income before calculating income tax. Read more

Real Estate Glossary: S

Selling Expenses
Additional expenses to be paid when selling an immovable, including mortgage loan balance, real estate broker compensation, notary, tax adjustments, etc.

Sale-leaseback
A type of real estate transaction where the seller transfers the title to the buyer upon purchase, but then rents the property from the new owner. This practice is not common in Canada.

Sales Contract
A legal written document that details the agreed upon conditions between a seller and a buyer regarding the sale of a specific property. Also called an “Agreement of Sale.”

Sales tax
Provincial and federal taxes applied to the purchase of a property. Residential resale properties are usually exempt from federal GST but newly constructed properties are not. Read more

Real Estate Glossary: R

Rate
The percentage paid by a borrower for the use of money which is generally expressed as an annual percentage.

Rate Hold
The length of time, typically between 60 and 120 days, that a lender will guarantee a loan’s interest rate once you are locked in.

Rate Lock-in
A written agreement or contract in which the lender guarantees the borrower a specified interest rate, provided the loan closes within a set time period.

Real Estate Agent
An individual who is licensed to represent a buyer or a seller of real estate in a sales transaction. Real estate agents typically work on commission. Read more

Real Estate Glossary: Q

Qualifying Ratios
As calculated by lenders, the percentage of income that is spent on housing debt and combined household debt. The first qualifying ratio, called the gross debt service or GDS is up to and including a maximum of 32% of the combined gross family income. The second qualifying ratio is the Total debt service or TDS is up to and including 40% of gross income.

Quit Claim Deed
A general release of all claims or rights to a parcel of land.

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