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Glossary > B
Frequently used terms
Balloon Loan
Balloon
Payment
Base Loan Amount
Basis Point
Betterment
Bill of Sale
Biweekly
Mortgage
Break-even point
Bridge Loan
Broker
Buyer's Market
Buyer's
Remorse
Back title letter
A letter that a title insurance company gives to an attorney
who then examines the title for insurance purposes.
Back-end ratio
A calculation used by lenders to compare a borrower's total
debt to their gross monthly income.
Back-to-back escrow
An arrangement by a property owner to oversee the sale of one
property and the purchase of another at the same time.
Backfill
Soil used to solidify the foundation of a structure.
Backsplash
The area behind and above a countertop. Widely used
in kitchens as these assist in preventing water from splashing
onto the wallboard.
Backup offer
A secondary bid for a property that the seller may accept if
the first offer fails.
Baffle
A device used as a heat shield to deflect the byproducts of
combustion.
Balance sheet
A statement providing the assets, liabilities and net worth
of an individual.
Ball cock
A type of inlet valve assembly inside a toilet tank that, when
opened automatically, fills the tank with water.
Ball cock assembly
The toilet tank mechanism that controls flushing.
Balloon loan
A mortgage loan where the monthly payments are not large enough
to repay the loan by the end of the term resulting in a lump
sum due on the final payment date.
Balloon payment
The final lump sum payment due at the end of a balloon mortgage.
Balloon-frame construction
Framing used in two-story homes where studs extend from the
ground to the ceiling of the second floor.
Baluster
Intermediate vertical support for a stair railing.
Balustrade
Railing held up by a set of posts on a porch or stairway.
Bankruptcy
A proceeding where an insolvent debtor (person or corporation)
can obtain relief from payment of certain obligations.
Bargain sale
The sale of property for less than market value.
Base loan amount
The loan amount upon which payments are based. If the
borrower chooses to finance closing costs or other fees these
costs will be added to the base loan amount and payments adjusted
to reflect the larger loan balance.
Baseboard
A board or molding found at the bottom of an interior wall.
Baseboard electric heat
Heating units installed in the floor controlled by a central
thermostat.
Basement
The area of a home below ground level.
Basis point
A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percentage point.
For example, the difference between a home loan at 5.25 percent
and one at 5.37 percent is 12 basis points.
Batten
A narrow piece of material used on the outside of a house
to cover joints in walls.
Bay
The opening between two columns or walls that forms a space.
Bay window
A window that projects outward in a curve.
Bearing wall
A wall that supports its own weight in addition to other parts
of a structure.
Before-tax income
Total income before any taxes are deducted.
Bequest
Personal property given to a person through a will.
Betterment
An improvement that increases property value as opposed to repairs
that maintain the value.
Bi-level
A home with two (2) levels.
Bi-metal coil
Part of a mechanical thermostat - consisting of two (2)
different types of metal which expand and contract at two
different rates according to changes in room temperature.
Bid out
The process that contractors use to estimate the cost of
construction.
Bidding war
Offers from multiple buyers for a piece of property.
Bill of sale
A legal document transferring ownership of personal property.
Binder
A report detailing the condition of a property's title.
Usually issued by a title insurance company to provide guidelines
for issuing a title insurance policy.
Binder
A preliminary agreement between buyer and seller.
Biweekly mortgage
A mortgage that requires payments every two weeks and helps
repay the loan over a shorter term.
Blanket insurance policy
An insurance policy covering more than one person or piece
of property.
Blanket mortgage
A mortgage that covers more than one property owned by the
same borrower. (very rare)
Blighted area
A neighborhood that has deteriorated.
Blind nailing
Nails driven into a wall and concealed with putty.
Blockbusting
The illegal practice of inducing homeowners to sell their
properties by making representations regarding the entry of
a particular race into the neighborhood.
Blue-ribbon condition
A house maintained close to its original condition. Also called
mint condition.
Blueprint
A very detailed plan for a home or other property structure.
Board of equalization
A state board responsible for ensuring local property taxes
are assessed in a uniform manner.
Bona fide
A legal term referring to actions or persons that are honest
and in good faith.
Bond
An instrument that insures one party against loss by acts
or defaults of another party.
Bonus room
A room with no specifically designated function - unlike a living
room, bedroom, or kitchen.
Book value
The value of a property based on its cost plus any additions,
minus depreciation.
Boot
A piece of sheet metal that connects a heating or cooling duct
and a vent.
Boring test
An analysis of soil where holes are bored into the ground
and samples removed.
Borough
A section of a city that has authority over local matters.
Borrow
Sand, gravel, or other material used for grading.
Borrow pit
The hole at a construction site that has been excavated.
Boulevard
A street lined with trees or constructed with a landscaped
median.
Boundary
The dividing line between two adjacent properties.
Braced framing
A construction method in two-story homes where the frame is
reinforced with posts & braces.
Bracing
The technique used to reinforce a structure.
Branch circuit
An electrical circuit with its own circuit breaker in the
service panel.
Breach of contract
The failure to perform provisions of a contract without a legal
excuse.
Breach of covenant
The failure to obey a legal agreement.
Breach of warranty
A seller's inability to pass clear title to a buyer.
Break-even point
The point in which the owner's rental income matches expenses
and debt.
Breezeway
A roofed passageway with open sides.
Brick
Building material made from clay molded into oblong blocks
and fired in a kiln.
Brick veneer
A brick facade on a wall or fireplace.
Bridge loan
A short-term loan for borrowers who need more time to find
permanent financing.
Broker
Anyone who acts as a go-between between a buyer and seller.
For example, a real estate broker is licensed to handle property
transactions and negotiate between a buyer and seller.
A mortgage broker acts as a go-between with the lender and the
borrower.
Brokerage
The act of bringing together two or more parties in exchange
for a fee or commission. Common brokerage companies
include real estate brokerage and mortgage brokers.
Broom clean
The ideal condition of a building when it is turned over to
a new owner or tenant.
Brownstone
A vintage row house constructed of red sandstone.
Buffer strip
A parcel of land that separates two or more properties.
Buildability
The feasibility of constructing a home or other structure
on a piece of land.
Builder upgrades
Extra features or higher quality finishing materials offered
by home builders.
Building and loan association
An organization that raises money to helps its members purchase
real estate or construct a building.
Building code
A set of laws controlling the construction or remodeling of
property within a defined area.
Building inspector
A government employee who is responsible for enforcing the
local building codes and ensuring the work is correctly performed
by the builder.
Building line or setback
Guidelines that limit how close an owner can build to the street
or an adjacent property.
Building moratorium
A halt on home construction to slow the rate of development.
Building paper
A thick, water-resistant paper that serves as insulation.
Building permit
A permit issued by a local government agency that allows the
construction or renovation of a house.
Building restrictions
Regulations that limit the manner in which property can be used.
Built-ins
Appliances or other items that are framed into a home or permanently
attached.
Bulkhead
A retaining wall designed to hold back water from the ocean
or other body of water.
Bundle of rights
The various interests or rights an owner has in a property.
Bungalow
A small one-story house or cottage.
Butt
The way in which two boards meet so that the ends touch in
a continuous line.
Butterfly roof
A roof formed by two gables that dip in the middle to resemble
the wings of a butterfly.
Buydown mortgage
A home loan program where the lender receives a premium as
an enticement to reduce the interest rate during the early
years of the mortgage.
Buyer's agent
An agent representing a buyer in a home purchase, either as
a single agent or as an exclusive buyer's broker.
Buyer's broker
A real estate broker who exclusively represents the buyer's
interests in a transaction and whose commission is paid either
by the buyer or through the seller or listing broker at closing.
Buyer's market
A slow real estate market in which buyers have the advantage.
Buyer's remorse
An emotion felt by first-time homebuyers after signing a sales
contract or closing the purchase of a house.
Bylaws
Rules and regulations that a homeowners association or corporation
adopts to govern activities.
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