Real Estate Glossary

REAL ESTATE | LEGAL | FINANCIAL

ABSTRACT
A written history of the title to a parcel of real estate as recorded in a Land Registry Office.

ACRE
A measure of land equalling 160 square rods, or 4,840 square yards, 43,560 square feet, or .4 hectares.

AGENT
One who is authorized by a principal to represent him/her in business transactions with a third party, in the real estate profession it refers to a licensed brokerage.

AGREEMENT for SALE
An agreement for the purchase of real property wherein the purchase price is paid in installments and title is not conveyed to the purchaser until the purchase price is paid in full.

AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE AND SALE
A contract by which one party agrees to sell and another agrees to purchase.

AGREEMENT TO LEASE
A contract by which one party agrees to rent real estate to another party for a rental fee or other compensation.

APPRAISAL
The act of process of estimating value.

APPRAISED VALUE
An estimate of the value of the property. Conducted by a certified appraiser for the purpose of mortgage lending.

APPURTENANCE
Something which is outside the real property itself, but belongs to the land and is joined thereto. It adds to greater enjoyment of the land. A right-of-way is an appurtenance.

ASSESSED VALUE
A valuation placed upon property as a basis for municipal taxation.

ASSESSOR
An official who has the responsibility of determining assessed value for tax purposes.

BROKER
See Real Estate Broker.

BUILDING CODES
Regulations established by local governments providing for structural requirements for building.

BUILDING LINE
A line fixed at a certain distance from the front and/or sides of a lot, beyond which no building can project.

BUILDING PERMIT
A document issued by the municipal authority certifying the blueprints for construction and allowing work to commence.

CHARGE
The name given to a mortgage document when title is registered under the Land Titles Act.

CLOSING
See Date of Completion

CLOUD ON TITLE
Any encumbrance or claim that affects title to real property.

COMMISSION
Remuneration paid to an agent on sale or lease of property, usually as a percentage of the amount involved.

COMPENSATION
Payment or reward for performance of service.

CONDOMINIUM
The fee ownership of a specified amount of space (the unit) in a multiple dwelling or other multi-occupancy building with tenancy-in-common ownership of portions used jointly with other owners (the common elements.)

CONDOMINIUM FEE
A common payment made by owners that is allocated to pay expenses.

CONSTRUCTION LIEN
See Mechanics Lien.

CONVEYANCE
The transfer of an interest in property from one person to another.

DATE OF COMPLETION
The date specified in the agreement of purchase and sale, when the purchaser is to deliver the balance of money due and the vendor to deliver a duly executed deed and vacant possession of the property (unless otherwise agreed.)

DEVELOPER
One who engages in the subdivision or improvement of land.

DOMINANT TENEMENT
The estate (i.e. property) which derives benefit from an easement over a servient tenement, as in a Right-of-way.

DUPLEX
A two-family dwelling or house.

DWELLING
Residence.

ESTATE
An interest in land.

EXCLUSIVE LISTING
The giving of the sole right to offer the described property for sale according to the terms of the agency agreement.

EXPROPRIATION
Taking of private property by the state for public use, with fair compensation to the owner, through the exercise of the right of eminent domain.

EXTRAS
Chattels included in the sale.

FEE SIMPLE
The highest estate or absolute right in real property.

FIXTURES
Permanent improvements to property that may not be removed at the expiration of the term of lease or tenure.

FLASHING
Sheet metal or other material used in roof and wall construction to shed water.

FOOTING
The widened section, usually concrete, at the base or bottom of a foundation wall, pier or column.

FRAMING
The rough timber work of a house, including the flooring, roofing, partitioning, ceiling and beams.

GRANT
A technical term used in deeds of conveyance to indicate a transfer of an interest or estate in land.

GUTTER
An eaves trough used to convey rainwater from the roof to the downspout.

JOIST
One of a series of horizontal wood members used to support a floor, ceiling or roof.

LAND TRANSFER TAX , DEED TAX OR PROPERTY PURCHASE TAX
A fee paid to the municipal and/or provincial government for the transferring of property from seller to buyer.

LANDLORD
The person from whom another holds tenancy.

LEASE
Contract between landlord (lessor) and tenant (lessee) for the occupation or use of the landlord's property by the tenant for a specified time and for a specified consideration (rental).

LESSEE
Tenant under a lease.

LESSOR
The person who grants use of property under lease to a tenant.

LINTEL
A horizontal structural member (beam) that supports the load over an opening such as a door or window.

LISTING
An oral or written agreement between a property owner and a broker authorizing the brokerage to offer the owner's real property for sale or lease.

MARKET VALUE
The highest price in terms of money, which the property will bring to a willing seller if exposed for sale on the open market allowing a reasonable time to find a willing purchaser, buying with the knowledge of all the uses to which it is adapted and for which it is legally capable of being used, and with neither party acting under necessity, compulsion or peculiar and special circumstances.

METES AND BOUNDS
A system of land description whereby all boundary lines are set forth by use of terminal points and angles - mete referring to a limit or limiting mark, and bounds referring to boundary lines.

METROPOLITAN AREA
That area which includes not only the entire chief urban core of a city (the central city) but also the outlying suburbs which are appended thereto.

MULTIPLE LISTING
An arrangement among brokerages, usually real estate board members, whereby each brokerage presents its listings to the other members, who may negotiate the transaction.

OPEN LISTING
A listing given to any number of brokerages without liability to compensate any except the one who first acquires a buyer ready, willing and able to meet the terms of the listing, or secures the acceptance by the seller of a satisfactory offer; the sale of the property automatically terminates the listing.

OPTION
A right given by the owner of property to another (for valuable consideration) to buy certain property within a limited time at an agreed price.

PERSONAL PROPERTY
All property, except land and the improvements thereon.

PROSPECT
A potential buyer or customer.

REAL ESTATE
"Real Estate" includes real property, leasehold and business whether with or without premises, fixtures, stock-in-trade, goods or chattels in connection with the operation of the business as defined in the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act of Ontario.

REAL ESTATE BROKER
A brokerage that represents a principal in a real estate trade. (See more formal definition in the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act.)

REAL PROPERTY
The combination of the tangible and intangible attributes of land and improvements. Value-wise, it is the sum of the value of the real estate, considered as land and structure and, for example, the tangible value arising by reason of a favourable lease. The real estate, plus the rights that go with it.

REALTOR
A registered word which may only be used by an active member of a real estate board affiliated with the Canadian Real Estate Association.

RENT
The compensation paid for the temporary use, and/or occupation of real estate.

RIGHT
The interest one has in a piece of property.

SALESPERSON
A licensee of a brokerage authorized to trade in Real Estate (as defined within the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act). Also can be referred to as a Sales Representative or an Associate Broker.

SET BACK
The distance from the curb or other established line within which no buildings may be erected.

SHINGLE
A relatively thin and small unit of roofing, partially laid in overlapping layers as a roof covering or as cladding on the sides of buildings.

SPECIAL ASSESSMENT
An assessment which is not customarily levied and which is made against only those specific parcels of property directly benefiting therefrom.

STUCCO
Any cement-like material used as an exterior covering for walls and the like, put on wet and drying hard and durable.

STUDDING
One of the series of wood structural members used as supporting elements in walls and partitions. (Plural: studs or studdings)

SUB-AGENT
An agent authorized by the listing agent to assist in transacting the affairs of the principal (with express or implied consent of principal).

5u5TOFBSURVEY
The accurate mathematical measurement of land and buildings thereon, made with the aid of instruments.

TENANT
One who occupies land or tenement under a landlord.

TENURE
A system of land holdings for a temporary time period.

VALUATION
Estimated worth or price. The act of ascertaining how much specific real property is worth.

VENDOR
A seller of real property.

ZONING BY-LAW
A by-law passed by a municipality and approved by the Ontario Municipal Board, prohibiting the use of land in certain areas for any purpose other than as set out in the by-law. In the Planning Act, it is called a Restricted Area By-law.

REAL

ESTATE

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FINANCIAL

ADVERSE POSSESSION
When an individual, not the owner, takes actual possession of the property, hostile to, and without the consent of the owner.

AGENCY
The relationship between principal and agent which arises out of a contract, written or oral wherein an agent is employed and authorized by the principal to represent him/her in business transactions with a third party.

AGENT
One who is authorized by a principal to represent him/her in business transactions with a third party, In the real estate profession it refers to a licensed brokerage.

AGREEMENT for SALE 
An agreement for the purchase of real property wherein the purchase price is paid in installments and title is not conveyed to the purchaser until the purchase price is paid in full.

AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE AND SALE
A contract by which one party agrees to sell and another agrees to purchase.

AGREEMENT TO LEASE
A contract by which one party agrees to rent real estate to another party for a rental fee or other compensation.

APPURTENANCE
Something which is outside the real property itself, but belongs to the land and is joined thereto. It adds to greater enjoyment of the land. A right-of-way is an appurtenance.

AUTHORITY
The legal power or right given by a principal and accepted by the agent to act on the principal's behalf in business transactions with a third party.

BREACH OF CONTRACT
Failure to fulfill an obligation under a contract. Breach confers a right of action on the offended party.

BUNDLE OF RIGHTS
A concept in which rights of possession, use, enjoyment, and disposition comprise the rights of ownership.

BUSINESS
Any undertaking for the purpose of profit, including any interest in any such undertaking.

CAVEAT EMPTOR
"Let the buyer beware." The buyer must examine the goods or property he/she is buying and he/she, therefore, buys at his/her own risk.

CHARGE
The name given to a mortgage document when title is registered under the Land Titles Act.

CHATTEL
Personal property which is tangible and moveable.

CLOUD ON TITLE
Any encumbrance or claim that affects title to real property.

COMMON LAW
That part of the law formulated, developed and administered by the old common law courts, based originally on common customs and mostly unwritten.

COMPENSATION
Payment or reward for performance of service.

CONDITION PRECEDENT
A condition in a contract which calls for the happening of some event, or performance of some act, before the agreement become binding on the parties.

CONDITION SUBSEQUENT
A condition referring to a future event upon the happening of which the contract becomes no longer binding on the parties.

CONSIDERATION
Something of value given by a promisee to a promisor to make the promise binding.

CONSTRUCTION LIEN
See Mechanics Lien

CONTRACT
A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more capable persons for consideration or value, to do or not to do some lawful and genuinely intended act. If affecting real estate it must be in writing.

CONVEYANCE
The transfer of an interest in property from one person to another.

COVENANT
An agreement contained in a deed and creating an obligation. It may be positive, stipulating the performance of some act. It may be negative or restictive, forbidding the commission of some act.

DAMAGES
Compensation or indemnity for loss owing for breach of contract, or a tort (civil wrong.)

DEED
An instrument in writing, duly executed and delivered, that conveys title or an interest in real property.

DEED RESTRICTION
An imposed restriction in a deed for the purpose of limiting the use of the land.

DEFAULT
Failure to fulfill an obligation.

DESCRIPTION 
A legal identification of land or premises.

DOR 
See Notice DOR

DOMINANT TENEMENT 
The estate (i.e. property) which derives benefit from an easement over a servient tenement, as in a Right-of-way.

EASEMENT
A right enjoyed by one landowner over the land of another.

ENCROACHMENT
The unauthorized extension of the boundaries of land.

ENCUMBRANCE
Outstanding claim or lien recorded against property or any legal right to the use of the property by another person who is not the owner.

ESCHEAT
The reversion of property to the state in the event the owner thereof dies leaving no will and having no legally qualified heir to whom the property may pass by lawful descent.

ESTATE
An interest in land.

ESTOPPEL
A bar to alleging or denying a fact because of one's own previous actions or words to the contrary.

ETHICS
Rules of behaviour made and accepted by business to provide fair and moral practice.

EXPRESS AUTHORITY
Authority delegated by the principal which clearly sets forth in exact, plain, direct and well-defined limits those acts and duties which the agent is empowered to perform on behalf of the principal, e.g. an exclusive listing.

EXPROPRIATION
Taking of private property by the state for public use, with fair compensation to the owner, through the exercise of the right of eminent domain.

FORECLOSURE
Remedial court action taken by a mortgagee, when default occurs on a mortgage, to cause forfeiture of the equity of redemption of the mortgagor.

GRANT
A technical term used in deeds of conveyance to indicate a transfer of an interest or estate in land.

GRANTEE
The party to whom an interest in real property is conveyed.

GRANTOR
The party who conveys an interest in real property by deed.

INDEMNIFY
To secure against hurt, loss or damage; to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss or damage.

INDENTURE
A document or deed, usually in duplicate, expressing certain objects between the parties.

INFANT
A person who is a minor, under the age of eighteen, and thus incapable of the independent judgment necessary to undertake a legal obligation.

INJUNCTION
A judicial process or order requiring the person to whom it is directed to do, or refrain from doing, a particular thing.

INSTRUMENT
A form of written legal document.

INTESTATE
A person who dies without a will, or leaves one which is defective in form, in which case his estate descends by operation of law to his heirs or next of kin.

IRREVOCABLE
Incapable of being recalled or revoked; unchangeable, unalterable.

JOINT TENANCY
Ownership of land by two or more persons whereby, on the death of one, the survivor or survivors take the whole estate.

JUDGEMENT
The decision of the Court.

LAND TRANSFER TAX , DEED TAX OR PROPERTY PURCHASE TAX
A fee paid to the municipal and/or provincial government for the transferring of property from seller to buyer.

LEASE
Contract between landlord (lessor) and tenant (lessee) for the occupation or use of the landlord's property by the tenant for a specified time and for a specified consideration (rental).

LEGAL DESCRIPTION
A written description by which property can be located, definitely.

LESSEE
Tenant under a lease.

LESSOR
The person who grants use of property under lease to a tenant.

LIS PENDENTS
A legal document giving notice that an action or proceeding is pending in the courts which affects the title to the designated property.

MARKETABLE TITLE
A title which a court of equity considers to be so free from defect that it will enforce its acceptance by a purchaser.

MECHANIC'S LIEN (CONSTRUCTION)
A claim filed in the land registry office by an individual, or company, for labour or material, or both, supplied for the improvement of the property.

MINOR
A person who is under the age of legal competence, which is eighteen years in Ontario.

MORE OR LESS
Term often found in a property description intended to cover slight, unimportant or unsubstantial inaccuracy.