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Real Estate Dictionary

Welcome > Resources > Real Estate Dictionary - A

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

P

Partial payment

A payment that is less than the agreed upon monthly payment on a loan

Partition

The forced dividing of real estate among parties who were previously its co-owners

Patent

A first in a series of documents by which the federal or state government transfers ownership of public lands to an individual

Pay-off amount

The total balance on an existing loan or mortgage

Percolation test

A testing of the soil on a property to evaluate if its absorption and drainage capacity will allow installation of a septic system

Personal property

Property that does not qualify as real property

PITI

Acronym for principal, interest, taxes and insurance, the four components of a monthly mortgage payment, which are taken into account when a lender is evaluating a borrower's financial qualifications for a loan

Plat, or Plot

A map showing a piece of land subdivided into lots, streets and common area, if applicable

P.M.I, or Private Mortgage Insurance

Acronym for Private Mortgage Insurance, see below

Point

A one-time fee charged by the lender for originating a loan, one point being equal to one percent of the amount of the mortgage

Power of attorney

A written legal document authorizing a person to act as agent for another, to the extent outlined in the document

Power of Sale

A provision in a will, mortgage or trust agreement authorizing the sale or transfer of land in accordance with the terms of the provision

Pre-Approval

A commitment from a lender to loan a certain amount of money to a buyer at a designated interest rate and for a specified period of time, which gives the buyer an advantage in competing to purchase real estate or a home

Preforeclosure sale

The sale of a property by a mortgagor for less than the amount owed to the lender of the mortgage for the property, thereby allowing the mortgagor to avoid foreclosure, and done with the approval of the lender

Prepayment penalty

A fee that is charged by the lender to a borrower who pays off a loan earlier than the due date, thereby costing the lender interest and other income from charges

Pre-qualification

The process by which the amount of loan a prospective buyer will be eligible to borrow is determined, based on his or her income and expenses, which can be used to demonstrate the buyer's financial capability to the seller

Prime rate

The most favorable interest rate that banks charge, usually to their preferred customers

Principal

The amount borrowed, not including interest or other charges

Principal balance

The portion of the original amount borrowed that is due on a loan or mortgage at any point in time

Private mortgage insurance, or P.M.I.

A policy that insures that the lender will recover a specific percentage of the loan amount from the insurance company in the event that the borrower defaults; is not backed by any government agency; is usually required when a down payment of less than 20% is put on real estate or a home purchased

Probate

The court proceedings to prove that a will is valid

Procuring cause

The action or person who brings about the desired result; e.g., under an open listing, the broker who brings in the buyer who actually purchases the property

Promissory note

A written promise to pay a specified amount of money in a designated period of time, which is also transferable to a third party

Prorate

To divide the proportionate share of existing expenses on a piece of property between the seller and buyer, e.g., taxes owed at the time of a transfer of title from the seller to the buyer

PUD (Planned Unit Development)

A multi-unit property or subdivision that includes common property that is owned and maintained by a homeowners' association, for the use of the individual owners

Purchase and sale agreement

A written contract signed by the buyer and seller that states the conditions under which a property will be transferred or sold

Purchase money mortgage

An agreement whereby financing provided by the seller is included in the purchase price

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



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Real Estate Tips

Tax Considerations >New 1031 Exchange Rules

One of the most popular "tax deferring" strategies for real estate owners who are selling one property and acquiring another is the use of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. It is an effective way to defer paying income tax on capital gain generated by the sale of a property when you intend to reinvest the proceeds in a similar, "like-kind" property. Almost any kind of real property is considered "like-kind" with any other real property.

A recently enacted law closes what was considered a loophole in the Section 1031 rules. In some cases, owners of investment real estate have used the 1031 Exchange to swap their investment property for real estate that could be readily converted to an owner-occupied residential property. After the exchange, they made the property into their principal residence, lived in it for a couple of years, then sold it. Now the American Job Creation Act of 2004 has ruled that properties converted from a 1031 exchange property into a residence must be held and used as a principal residence for at least five years to qualify for the tax exemption. Otherwise, the basic tax-deferring benefits of 1031 exchanges remain the same.

Consult your tax advisor for more detailed information.

See All Tips In The "Tax Considerations" Category >
See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Real Estate Trivia

Q 
What four states in the Southwest are noted for having boundaries that touch.

A 
New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, referred to as the "Four Corners", have adjoining boundaries.
See More Real Estate Trivia >

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