Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Glossary

Glossary - R

Radon

A radioactive gas found in some homes that in sufficient concentrations can cause health problems.

Rate-improvement mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage that includes a provision that gives the borrower a one-time option to reduce the interest rate (without refinancing) during the early years of the mortgage term.

Rate lock

A commitment issued by a lender to a borrower or other mortgage originator guaranteeing a specified interest rate for a specified period of time. See lock-in.

Real Estate Agent

A person licensed to negotiate and transact the sale of real estate on behalf of the property owner.

Real Estate Board

An organization whose members consist primarily of real estate professionals such as brokers.

An investment vehicle in which investors purchase certificates of ownership in the trust, which in turn invests the money in real property and then distributes any profits to the investors. The trust is not subject to corporate income tax as long as it complies with the tax requirements for a REIT. Shareholders must include their share of the REIT’s income in their personal tax returns. (Barron’s Dictionary of Real Estate Terms and Encyclopedia of Real Estate Terms 2nd Edition, Damien Abbott)

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)

A consumer protection law that requires lenders to give borrowers advance notice of closing costs.

Real Estate Syndicate

When partners (either with or without unlimited liability) form a partnership to participate in a real estate venture.

Real property

Land and appurtenances, including anything of a permanent nature such as structures, trees, minerals and the interest, benefits and inherent rights thereof.

REALTOR®

A real estate broker or an associate who holds active membership in a local real estate board that is affiliated with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS®.

Recission

The cancellation or annulment of a transaction or contract by the operation of a law or by mutual consent. Borrowers usually have the option to cancel a refinance transaction within three business days after it has closed.

Recorder

The public official who keeps records of transactions that affect real property in the area. Sometimes known as a "Registrar of Deeds" or "County Clerk."

Recording

The noting in the registrar’s office of the details of a properly executed legal document, such as a deed, a mortgage note, a satisfaction of mortgage or an extension of mortgage, thereby making it a part of the public record.

Refinance transaction

The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from a new loan using the same property as security.

Regional center

This center type provides general merchandise (a large percentage of which is apparel) and services in full depth and variety. Its main attractions are its anchors: traditional, mass merchant, discount department stores, or fashion specialty stores. A typical regional center is usually enclosed with an inward orientation of the stores connected by a common walkway and parking surrounds the outside perimeter.

Rehabilitation mortgage

A mortgage created to cover the costs of repairing, improving and sometimes acquiring an existing property.

Remaining balance

The amount of principal that has not yet been repaid. See principal balance.

Remaining term

The original amortization term minus the number of payments that have been applied.

Rent

Compensation from tenant to landlord for the use of real estate.

Rent concession

A period of free rent given to the tenant by the lessor.

Rent loss insurance

Insurance that protects a landlord against loss of rent or rental value due to fire or other casualty that renders the leased premises unavailable for use and as a result of which the tenant is excused from paying rent.

An arrangement made to repay delinquent installments or advances. Lenders' formal repayment plans are called "relief provisions."

Replacement reserve fund

A fund set aside for replacement of common property in a condominium, PUD, or cooperative project -- particularly that which has a short life expectancy, such as carpeting, furniture, etc.

Restriction

A restriction, often specified in the deed, on the use of property.

Retail property

Properties used exclusively to market and sell consumer goods and services.

Retail trade area

Also referred to as service area, is generally defined as the geographic or formal area from which a sustained patronage is attracted to support a retail center or establishment; the extent to which is determined by numerous factors including the site characteristics of the center or establishment, its accessibility, the presence or absence of physical barriers to movement, and general limitations imposed by driving time, congestion, and distance/separation.

Reversion value

A lump-sum cash benefit that an investor receives or expects to receive upon the sale of an investment.

Revocation

An act of rescinding power previously authorized.

Revolving liability

A credit arrangement, such as a credit card, that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved line of credit when purchasing goods and services. The borrower is billed for the amount that is actually borrowed plus any interest due.

Right of first refusal

A provision in an agreement that requires the owner of a property to give another party the first opportunity to purchase or lease the property before he or she offers it for sale or lease to others.

Right of ingress or egress

The right to enter or leave designated premises.

Right of survivorship

In joint tenancy, the right of survivors to acquire the interest of a deceased joint tenant.

Risk

The probability that actual cash flows from an investment will vary from the forecasted cash flows.

Rule of Thumb

A common or ubiquitous benchmark. For example, it is often assumed that each worker in an office will need approximately 250 square feet of space.

Rural Housing Service (RHS)

An agency within the Department of Agriculture, which operates principally under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1921 and Title V of the Housing Act of 1949. This agency provides financing to farmers and other qualified borrowers buying property in rural areas who are unable to obtain loans elsewhere. Funds are borrowed from the U.S. Treasury.