Real Estate Terms
Real estate terminology can feel foreign and confusing. Between the acronyms, legalese, and fine print, sellers and buyers alike can end up feeling overwhelmed by the jargon. We provide information you can use on various real estate terms and help you make sense of it. Our goal is to help people feel more empowered when making decisions in real estate. We do our best to explain the language and explain how situations applicable to those terms can affect you when buying or selling real estate.
Common Contingencies in Residential Real Estate Contracts
Buying or selling a home can sometimes be a confusing process, especially when an offer contains contingencies. Below we’ll take a look at some of the more common contingencies in…
Common Inspections Performed in Texas Home Purchases
Unless you’re selling a house in as-is condition, offers you receive from buyers will almost always contain a contingency of an option period. The option period allows a buyer to…
What Is an Easement in Real Estate?
An easement is an arrangement granting one person or group—known as the easement holder—the right to access the property of another person or group. Whether or not the property owner…
A Guide to Understanding Texas Real Estate Liens
A lien is a notice attached to your property stating that a creditor claims you owe them money. A lien is typically a public record, and for real estate liens,…
What Is Title Insurance and Why Do You Need It?
Title insurance is not just another fee involved with closing costs. It can offer valuable protection for homeowners. As owner’s policies are optional in Texas, many buyers may not be…
What You Need to Know about Deeds in Texas
Texas is one of the few states that is a “deed of trust” state. While many people take out a mortgage to purchase real estate, which is a loan borrowed…
Real Estate Appraisal Types Explained
An appraisal is an expert valuation of what a property is worth, and there are two types of appraisals in real estate. There’s a property tax appraisal, which is used…
What Is Adverse Possession in Real Estate?
If a person spends a long enough time occupying someone else’s land, they may be able to claim that land for themselves through a principle known as adverse possession. Adverse…
What is an Earnest Money Deposit in Real Estate?
If you’re selling a home, you no doubt want to get it off the market in a timely manner. But, settling for the wrong buyer can cost you more time…
Everything You Need to Know about HOAs (Homeowner Associations)
If you live in or are moving into a residential area, your property may be part of a homeowner’s association (HOA). If so, it’s essential to know how HOAs operate…
What is a Deed in Real Estate?
The legalities of a home sale can often be a bit confusing for anyone who doesn’t work in real estate, but a little knowledge of the common terminology used can…
What Is Gentrification in Real Estate?
You may have heard the word ‘gentrification’ in both the media and casual conversation. While city residents and news reporters may complain that gentrification is a blight on urban communities,…