Landlord & real estate investing glossary

A

Guide · 3 min read
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
What an ADU is, a worked yield example, and why zoning and a certificate of occupancy decide whether it pays.
Guide · 2 min read
After-Repair Value (ARV)
A property's estimated value after renovations, and the number your rehab budget, refinance, and BRRRR plan all depend on.
Guide · 3 min read
Amortization
The schedule that splits each mortgage payment between interest and principal, and why the mix matters to a landlord.
Guide · 3 min read
Appraisal
A licensed opinion of market value the lender orders. It sets your loan size and can make or break a purchase or a refinance.
Guide · 3 min read
Assessed Value
The value your assessor assigns for property taxes, how it differs from market value, and when it is worth appealing.

B

Guide · 3 min read
Balloon Payment
A balloon payment is a large lump sum due at the end of a loan that was never fully amortized. The math, and why it bites landlords.

C

D

E

F

Guide · 3 min read
Fair Housing Act
The federal law barring housing discrimination, the seven protected classes, and the uniform screening test that keeps a small landlord clear.

G

Guide · 3 min read
Guarantor (Co-Signer)
A guarantor signs the lease and pays if your tenant defaults. Here is how the liability works and when to ask for one.

H

I

Guide · 3 min read
Implied Warranty of Habitability
A landlord's baseline duty to keep a rental safe and livable, with a worked rent-offset example and why speed protects you.

J

Guide · 2 min read
Joint and Several Liability
A lease clause that puts each co-tenant on the hook for the full rent and damages, so you can collect the whole balance from any one signer.

L

M

N

P

Q

R

S

T

U

W

Guide · 3 min read
Warranty Deed
A deed where the seller guarantees clear title against all prior claims, with a worked example of what that promise is worth.

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A

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

After-Repair Value (ARV)

Amortization

Appraisal

Assessed Value

B

Balloon Payment

C

Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate)

Capital Expenditure (CapEx)

Capital Gains (on Rental Sale)

Capital Improvement (Repairs vs. Improvements)

Certificate of Occupancy

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

Constructive Eviction

Contingency

Cost Basis

D

De Minimis Safe Harbor

Due Diligence

Due-on-Sale Clause

E

Earnest Money

Effective Gross Income

Equity

Escrow

Estoppel Certificate

F

Fair Housing Act

G

Guarantor (Co-Signer)

H

Hard Money Loan

Holdover Tenant

Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)

I

Implied Warranty of Habitability

J

Joint and Several Liability

L

Lien

Loan-to-Value (LTV)

M

MACRS

Make-Ready

Month-to-Month Tenancy

Move-In / Move-Out Inspection

N

Net Operating Income (NOI)

Notice of Entry

Notice to Vacate

P

Pay or Quit Notice

Pet Rent

PITI

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Prorated Rent

Q

Quiet Enjoyment

Quitclaim Deed

R

Reasonable Accommodation

Rent Control

Rent Roll

S

Subject-To

Sublease

T

Tenant Abandonment

Tenant Screening

Title Insurance

U

Umbrella Policy

Unlawful Detainer

W

Warranty Deed