Word | Definition |
Early occupancy | The condition in which buyers can occupy the property before the sale is completed.
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Early occupancy | The condition in which buyers can occupy the property before the sale is completed.
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Earnest Money | An amount of money given as part of the purchase price of the property to bind the agreement between the buyer and seller. (Initial Deposit)
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Earnest Money | An amount of money given as part of the purchase price of the property to bind the agreement between the buyer and seller. (Initial Deposit)
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Earthquake insurance | A policy that provides coverage against damage to a home from an earthquake.
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Earthquake insurance | A policy that provides coverage against damage to a home from an earthquake.
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Earthquake Strap | A metal strap used to secure gas hot water heaters to the framing or foundation of a house. Intended to reduce the chances of having the water heater fall over in an earthquake and causing a gas leak. |
Easement | A right or interest in the property of another entitling the easement holder to some use, privilege or benefit, such as the right to cross over another person’s property to reach yours.
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Easement | A right or interest in the property of another entitling the easement holder to some use, privilege or benefit, such as the right to cross over another person’s property to reach yours.
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Eaves | The projecting overhang at the lower edge of a roof.
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Eaves | The horizontal exterior roof overhang. |
Edge Clearance | Nominal spacing between the edge of the glass product and the bottom of the glazing pocket (channel). |
Edge Metal | term relating to brake or extruded metal around the perimeter of a roof. |
EER | Energy Efficiency Ratio; is figured by dividing BTU hours by watts. |
Effective age | The age of a structure estimated by its condition rather than its actual age.
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Effective age | The age of a structure estimated by its condition rather than its actual age.
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Effective gross income | Additional income that a lender considers when assessing the loan application of a potential borrower.
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Effective gross income | Additional income that a lender considers when assessing the loan application of a potential borrower.
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Effloresence | The process by which water leeches soluble salts out of concrete or mortar and deposits them on the surface. Also used as the name for these deposits. |
Egress | A means of exiting the home. An egress window is required in every bedroom and basement. Normally a 4' X 4' window is the minimum size required |
EIFS | Exterior Insulating Finish System; exterior wall cladding system consisting primarily of polystyrene foam board with a textured acrylic finish that resembles plaster or stucco |
Elbow (ell) | A plumbing or electrical fitting that lets you change directions in runs of pipe or conduit. |
Electric lateral | The trench or area in the yard where the electric service line (from a transformer or pedestal) is located, or the work of installing the electric service to a home. |
Electric resistance coils | Metal wires that heat up when electric current passes through them and are used in baseboard heaters and electric water heaters. |
Electric service panel | A panel that transfers power from the utility line into a house to be distributed through fuses or circuit breakers.
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Electrical entrance package | - The entry point of the electrical power including: (1) the 'strike' or location where the overhead or underground electrical lines connect to the house, (2) The meter which measures how much power is used and (3) The 'panel' or 'circuit breaker box ' (or 'fuse box') where the power can be shut off and where overload devices such a fuses or circuit breakers and located. |
Electrical Rough | Work performed by the Electrical Contractor after the plumber and heating contractor are complete with their phase of work. Normally all electrical wires, and outlet, switch, and fixture boxes are installed (before insulation). |
Electrical Trim | Work performed by the electrical contractor when the house is nearing completion. The electrician installs all plugs, switches, light fixtures, smoke detectors, appliance "pig tails", bath ventilation fans, wires the furnace, and "makes up" the electric house panel. The electrician does all work necessary to get the home ready for and to pass the municipal electrical final inspection |
Elevation sheet | The page on the blue prints that depicts the house or room as if a vertical plane were passed through the structure. |
Elevations | The exterior view of a home design that shows the position of the house relative to the grade of the land.
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Ell | An extension or wing of a house that is at right angles to the main structure.
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Eminent domain | The government's right to condemn private land for public use, such as the routing of a public highway.
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Eminent domain | The government's right to condemn private land for public use, such as the routing of a public highway.
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Employer-assisted housing | Programs which help employees purchase homes through special plans developed with lenders.
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Employer-assisted housing | Programs which help employees purchase homes through special plans developed with lenders.
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Empty nesters | Potential buyers who have raised their families and want to move into a smaller home.
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EMT | Electrical Metallic Tubing- This electrical pipe, also called thin-wall conduit, may be used for both concealed and exposed areas. It is the most common type of raceway used in single family and low rise residential and commercial buildings. |
Emulsion | In roofing, a coating consisting of asphalt and fillers suspended in water. |
Encroachment | Fences or other structures that extend into the property of another owner.
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Encroachment | Fences or other structures that extend into the property of another owner.
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Encumbrance | A claim or lien on a property which complicates the title process.
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Encumbrance | A claim or lien on a property which complicates the title process.
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End Dams | Internal flashing (dam) that prevents water from moving laterally within a curtain wall or window wall system. |
End Lap | The amount or location of overlap at the end of a roll of roofing felts in the application. |
End loan | The conversion from a construction loan to permanent financing a condominium buyer secures after all units in a project have
been completed.
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End loan | The conversion from a construction loan to permanent financing a condominium buyer secures after all units in a project have
been completed.
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Endorser | A person who signs over ownership of property to another party.
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Endorser | A person who signs over ownership of property to another party.
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English Tudor style | An architectural design that features stone or brick exterior walls and exposed beams.
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Environmental impact statement | A government-mandated evaluation of all aspects and effects a development will have on the environment of a proposed site.
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Environmental impact statement | A government-mandated evaluation of all aspects and effects a development will have on the environment of a proposed site.
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Environmentally friendly home construction | A method of construction that utilizes recycled materials.
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Environmentally friendly home construction | A method of construction that utilizes recycled materials.
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Equal Credit Opportunity Act. | A federal law that prohibits a lender or other creditor from refusing to grant credit based on the applicant's sex, marital status, race, religion, national origin or age. The law also prohibits a creditor from refusing to grant credit because the applicant receives public assistance.
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Equal Credit Opportunity Act. | A federal law that prohibits a lender or other creditor from refusing to grant credit based on the applicant's sex, marital status, race, religion, national origin or age. The law also prohibits a creditor from refusing to grant credit because the applicant receives public assistance.
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Equifax | Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc., is one of the "Big Three" credit-reporting bureaus that operate nationwide. Address:
P.O. Box 740249, Atlanta, GA 30374.
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Equifax | Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc., is one of the "Big Three" credit-reporting bureaus that operate nationwide. Address:
P.O. Box 740249, Atlanta, GA 30374.
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Equity | Market value of property actually owned by the property owner. This is often figured by a purchase price less the amount of all loan or others liens on the property.
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Equity | Market value of property actually owned by the property owner. This is often figured by a purchase price less the amount of all loan or others liens on the property.
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Errors and omissions insurance | A policy that pays for any mistakes a builder or architect makes in a project.
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Errors and omissions insurance | A policy that pays for any mistakes a builder or architect makes in a project.
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Escrow | A transaction in which an impartial third party acts as an agent for the buyer and the seller, or the borrower and the lender, in carrying out instructions, delivering papers and documents and dispersing funds.
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Escrow | A transaction in which an impartial third party acts as an agent for the buyer and the seller, or the borrower and the lender, in carrying out instructions, delivering papers and documents and dispersing funds.
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Escrow account | An account that a lender or mortgage servicer establishes to hold funds for the payment of expenses such as homeowners insurance and property taxes. Also known as an impound account.
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Escrow account | An account that a lender or mortgage servicer establishes to hold funds for the payment of expenses such as homeowners insurance and property taxes. Also known as an impound account.
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Escrow agent | A neutral third party who ensures that all conditions of a real estate transaction are met.
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Escrow agent | A neutral third party who ensures that all conditions of a real estate transaction are met.
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Escrow analysis | A lender's periodic examination of an escrow account to determine if the lender is withholding enough funds from a borrower's monthly mortgage payment to pay for expenses such as property taxes and insurance.
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Escrow analysis | A lender's periodic examination of an escrow account to determine if the lender is withholding enough funds from a borrower's monthly mortgage payment to pay for expenses such as property taxes and insurance.
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Escrow closing | Escrow closes when all conditions of a real estate transaction are met and the title of the property is transferred to the buyer.
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Escrow closing | Escrow closes when all conditions of a real estate transaction are met and the title of the property is transferred to the buyer.
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Escrow company | Firms that act as neutral third parties to ensure that all conditions that the buyer, seller and lender establish in a real estate transaction are met.
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Escrow company | Firms that act as neutral third parties to ensure that all conditions that the buyer, seller and lender establish in a real estate transaction are met.
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Escrow payment | Funds that a mortgage servicer withdraws from a borrower's escrow account to pay property taxes and insurance.
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Escrow payment | Funds that a mortgage servicer withdraws from a borrower's escrow account to pay property taxes and insurance.
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Escutcheon | An ornamental plate that fits around a pipe extending through a wall or floor to hide the cut out hole |
Estate | The total assets of a person, including real property, at the time of death.
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Estate | The total assets of a person, including real property, at the time of death.
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Estimate | The amount of labor, materials, and other costs that a contractor anticipates for a project as summarized in the contractor's bid proposal for the project. |
Estimating | The process of calculating the cost of a project. This can be a formal and exact process or a quick and imprecise process. |
Evaporator coil | The part of a cooling system that absorbs heat from air in your home. Also see condensing unit. |
Eviction | A legal procedure to remove a tenant for reasons including failure to pay rent.
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Eviction | A legal procedure to remove a tenant for reasons including failure to pay rent.
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Examination of title | An inspection by a title company of public records and other documents to determine the chain of ownership of a property.
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Examination of title | An inspection by a title company of public records and other documents to determine the chain of ownership of a property.
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Excavate | Dig the basement and or all areas that will need footings/foundations below ground. |
Excavation | The process of clearing trees, removing topsoil and grading land before the foundation is laid.
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Exception | An interest in real property which is excluded from the conveyance and remains with the grantor or which had been
excluded in a prior conveyance such as oil and mineral rights.
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Exception | An interest in real property which is excluded from the conveyance and remains with the grantor or which had been
excluded in a prior conveyance such as oil and mineral rights.
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Exclusive listing | A contract that gives an agent the exclusive right to market a property for a specific period of time.
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Exclusive listing | A contract that gives an agent the exclusive right to market a property for a specific period of time.
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Executor | A person appointed to carry out the instructions in a will. If there is no will, a probate court will appoint an executor.
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Executor | A person appointed to carry out the instructions in a will. If there is no will, a probate court will appoint an executor.
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Exhaust fan | Ventilating devices that remove water vapor, undesired smells or smoke.
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Expansion Coefficient | The amount that a specific material will vary in any one dimension with a change of temperature. |
Expansion joint | Fibrous material (@1/2" thick) installed in and around a concrete slab to permit it to move up and down (seasonally) along the non-moving foundation wall. |
Expansive soils | Earth that swells and contracts depending on the amount of water that is present. ("Betonite" is an expansive soil). |
Experian | Experian, formerly known as TRW Information Systems & Services, is one of the "Big Three" credit-reporting bureaus. Address: 505 City Parkway West, Orange, CA 92868.
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Experian | Experian, formerly known as TRW Information Systems & Services, is one of the "Big Three" credit-reporting bureaus. Address: 505 City Parkway West, Orange, CA 92868.
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Exposed aggregate finish | A method of finishing concrete which washes the cement/sand mixture off the top layer of the aggregate - usually gravel. Often used in driveways, patios and other exterior surfaces. |
Exterior Glazed | Glazing infills set from the exterior of the building. |
Exterior Stop | The molding or bead that holds the lite or panel in place when it is on the exterior side of the lite or panel |
Extras | Additional work requested of a contractor, not included in the original plan, which will be billed separately and will not alter the original contract amount, but increase the cost of building the home. |
Extrusion | An item formed by forcing a base metal (frequently aluminum) or plastic, at a malleable temperature, through a die to achieve a desired shape. |
Eyebrow | A flat, normally concrete, projection which protrudes horizontally from a building wall; Eyebrows are generally located above windows. |
