Essential Real Estate Vocabulary Guide for English Learners

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

1

Appraisal

/əˈpreɪzəl/

Professional assessment of property value

2

Closing

/ˈkloʊzɪŋ/

Final step in property purchase transaction

3

Commission

/kəˈmɪʃən/

Fee paid to real estate agent

4

Contract

/ˈkɒntrækt/

Legal agreement between buyer and seller

5

Down payment

/daʊn ˈpeɪmənt/

Initial payment toward property purchase

6

Equity

/ˈekwɪti/

Ownership value in property after debts

7

Escrow

/ˈeskroʊ/

Third-party holding of funds during transaction

8

Foreclosure

/fɔːrˈkloʊʒər/

Legal process of repossessing property

9

Inspection

/ɪnˈspekʃən/

Professional examination of property condition

10

Listing

/ˈlɪstɪŋ/

Property advertisement for sale

11

Mortgage

/ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ/

Loan secured by property

12

Offer

/ˈɔːfər/

Proposal to purchase property

13

Pre-approval

/priː əˈpruːvəl/

Lender's preliminary agreement to loan

14

Refinancing

/riːˈfaɪnænsɪŋ/

Replacing existing mortgage with new terms

15

Title

/ˈtaɪtəl/

Legal ownership document

16

Valuation

/ˌvæljuˈeɪʃən/

Determination of property worth

17

Warranty

/ˈwɔːrənti/

Guarantee covering property defects

18

Broker

/ˈbroʊkər/

Licensed professional facilitating transactions

19

Agent

/ˈeɪdʒənt/

Representative helping with property deals

20

MLS

/ɛm ɛl ɛs/

Multiple Listing Service database

21

Comparative market analysis

/kəmˈpærətɪv ˈmɑrkɪt əˈnæləsɪs/

Property value comparison study

22

Contingency

/kənˈtɪndʒənsi/

Condition that must be met

23

Due diligence

/du ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/

Thorough investigation before purchase

24

Earnest money

/ˈɜrnɪst ˈmʌni/

Good faith deposit from buyer

25

Fair market value

/fɛr ˈmɑrkɪt ˈvælju/

Price property would sell for

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

26

Deposit

/dɪˈpɒzɪt/

Money held as security for rental

27

Eviction

/ɪˈvɪkʃən/

Legal removal of tenant from property

28

Landlord

/ˈlændlɔːrd/

Property owner who rents to tenants

29

Lease

/liːs/

Rental agreement for specific period

30

Rent

/rent/

Monthly payment for property use

31

Security deposit

/sɪˈkjʊrəti dɪˈpɒzɪt/

Refundable payment protecting landlord

32

Subletting

/ˈsʌbletɪŋ/

Renting property from existing tenant

33

Tenant

/ˈtenənt/

Person who rents property

34

Utilities

/juːˈtɪlətiz/

Services like electricity, water, gas

35

Vacancy rate

/ˈveɪkənsi reɪt/

Percentage of unoccupied rental units

36

Furnished

/ˈfɜːrnɪʃt/

Property including furniture and appliances

37

Unfurnished

/ʌnˈfɜːrnɪʃt/

Property without furniture or appliances

38

Notice period

/ˈnoʊtɪs ˈpɪriəd/

Required time before ending tenancy

39

Reference

/ˈrefərəns/

Recommendation from previous landlord

40

Inventory

/ˈɪnvəntɔːri/

List of items included in rental

41

Property manager

/ˈprɒpərti ˈmænɪdʒər/

Professional overseeing rental operations

42

Rental agreement

/ˈrentəl əˈɡrimənt/

Contract between landlord and tenant

43

Move-in inspection

/muv ɪn ɪnˈspekʃən/

Property condition check before occupancy

44

Move-out inspection

/muv aʊt ɪnˈspekʃən/

Property condition check after tenancy

45

Rental application

/ˈrentəl ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən/

Form requesting tenancy consideration

46

Credit check

/ˈkredɪt tʃek/

Review of tenant's financial history

47

Background check

/ˈbækɡraʊnd tʃek/

Investigation of tenant's personal history

48

Lease renewal

/lis rɪˈnuəl/

Extension of existing rental agreement

49

Rent control

/rent kənˈtroʊl/

Government regulation of rental prices

50

Habitability

/ˌhæbɪtəˈbɪləti/

Property's fitness for human occupation

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

51

Apartment

/əˈpɑːrtmənt/

Self-contained housing unit in building

52

Condominium

/ˌkɒndəˈmɪniəm/

Individually owned unit in shared building

53

Duplex

/ˈduːpleks/

Building divided into two separate units

54

Studio

/ˈstuːdioʊ/

Single-room living space

55

Townhouse

/ˈtaʊnhaʊs/

Multi-story home sharing walls

56

Villa

/ˈvɪlə/

Large, luxurious house with grounds

57

Penthouse

/ˈpenthaʊs/

Luxury apartment on building's top floor

58

Loft

/lɔːft/

Open-plan living space, often converted

59

Bungalow

/ˈbʌŋɡəloʊ/

Single-story house

60

Mansion

/ˈmænʃən/

Very large, impressive house

61

Cottage

/ˈkɒtɪdʒ/

Small house, typically in rural area

62

Ranch

/ræntʃ/

Single-story house with long, low profile

63

Colonial

/kəˈloʊniəl/

Traditional American architectural style

64

Victorian

/vɪkˈtɔːriən/

19th-century architectural style

65

Contemporary

/kənˈtempəreri/

Modern architectural design

66

High-rise

/haɪ raɪz/

Tall building with many floors

67

Low-rise

/loʊ raɪz/

Building with few floors

68

Mid-rise

/mɪd raɪz/

Building of moderate height

69

Garden apartment

/ˈɡɑrdən əˈpɑrtmənt/

Ground-level unit with outdoor access

70

Walk-up

/wɔk ʌp/

Building without elevator

71

Efficiency

/ɪˈfɪʃənsi/

Small apartment with combined living spaces

72

One-bedroom

/wʌn ˈbedrum/

Apartment with separate sleeping area

73

Two-bedroom

/tu ˈbedrum/

Apartment with two separate bedrooms

74

Three-bedroom

/θri ˈbedrum/

Apartment with three separate bedrooms

75

Master bedroom

/ˈmæstər ˈbedrum/

Largest bedroom, often with private bathroom

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

76

Asset

/ˈæset/

Valuable property or resource

77

Capital gains

/ˈkæpɪtəl ɡeɪnz/

Profit from selling property

78

Depreciation

/dɪˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃən/

Decrease in property value

79

Interest rate

/ˈɪntrəst reɪt/

Percentage charged on borrowed money

80

Investment

/ɪnˈvestmənt/

Money put into property for profit

81

Liability

/ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/

Legal responsibility or debt

82

Portfolio

/pɔːrtˈfoʊlioʊ/

Collection of investment properties

83

Property tax

/ˈprɒpərti tæks/

Annual tax on property ownership

84

Return on investment

/rɪˈtɜːrn ɒn ɪnˈvestmənt/

Profit percentage from investment

85

Zoning

/ˈzoʊnɪŋ/

Legal designation of land use

86

Easement

/ˈiːzmənt/

Right to use another's property

87

Lien

/liːn/

Legal claim against property

88

Deed

/diːd/

Legal document transferring ownership

89

Assessment

/əˈsesmənt/

Official valuation for tax purposes

90

Conveyancing

/kənˈveɪənsɪŋ/

Legal process of transferring property

91

Amortization

/ˌæmɔrtəˈzeɪʃən/

Gradual repayment of loan

92

Principal

/ˈprɪnsəpəl/

Original loan amount

93

Collateral

/kəˈlætərəl/

Property securing a loan

94

Default

/dɪˈfɔlt/

Failure to repay loan

95

Refinance

/riˈfaɪnæns/

Replace existing loan with new terms

96

Equity loan

/ˈekwɪti loʊn/

Borrowing against property value

97

Second mortgage

/ˈsekənd ˈmɔrɡɪdʒ/

Additional loan on same property

98

Fixed rate

/fɪkst reɪt/

Unchanging interest rate

99

Variable rate

/ˈvɛriəbəl reɪt/

Changing interest rate

100

Closing costs

/ˈkloʊzɪŋ kɔsts/

Fees paid at property transfer

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

101

Single-family

/ˈsɪŋɡəl ˈfæməli/

Detached house for one family

102

Multi-family

/ˈmʌlti ˈfæməli/

Building housing multiple families

103

Cooperative

/koʊˈɒpərətɪv/

Resident-owned building shares

104

Homeowners association

/ˈhoʊmoʊnərz əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/

Community management organization

105

Common areas

/ˈkɒmən ˈɛriəz/

Shared spaces in residential complex

106

Private ownership

/ˈpraɪvət ˈoʊnərʃɪp/

Individual property ownership rights

107

Shared facilities

/ʃɛrd fəˈsɪlətiz/

Community amenities for residents

108

Maintenance fees

/ˈmeɪntənəns fiz/

Regular payments for upkeep

109

Property management

/ˈprɒpərti ˈmænɪdʒmənt/

Professional building administration

110

Community amenities

/kəˈmjunəti əˈminətiz/

Recreational facilities for residents

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

111

Net lease

/nɛt lis/

Tenant pays property expenses

112

Gross lease

/ɡroʊs lis/

Landlord pays property expenses

113

Tenant improvements

/ˈtɛnənt ɪmˈpruvmənts/

Customizations for business use

114

Operating expenses

/ˈɒpəreɪtɪŋ ɪkˈspɛnsəz/

Costs of running property

115

Capitalization rate

/ˌkæpətəlaɪˈzeɪʃən reɪt/

Investment return percentage

116

Cash flow

/kæʃ floʊ/

Net income from property

117

Vacancy rates

/ˈveɪkənsi reɪts/

Percentage of unoccupied space

118

Commercial mortgage

/kəˈmɜrʃəl ˈmɔrɡɪdʒ/

Business property loan

119

Zoning compliance

/ˈzoʊnɪŋ kəmˈplaɪəns/

Following land use regulations

120

Square footage

/skwɛr ˈfʊtɪdʒ/

Area measurement for pricing

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

121

Subdivision

/ˈsʌbdɪˌvɪʒən/

Divided land for development

122

Plot

/plɒt/

Individual piece of land

123

Parcel

/ˈpɑrsəl/

Defined area of land

124

Development rights

/dɪˈvɛləpmənt raɪts/

Permission to build on land

125

Building permits

/ˈbɪldɪŋ ˈpɜrmɪts/

Official construction authorization

126

Infrastructure

/ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/

Basic facilities and systems

127

Utilities connection

/juˈtɪlətiz kəˈnɛkʃən/

Access to essential services

128

Environmental impact

/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəl ˈɪmpækt/

Effect on natural surroundings

129

Soil conditions

/sɔɪl kənˈdɪʃənz/

Ground quality for construction

130

Topography

/təˈpɒɡrəfi/

Surface features of land

No.

Term

Pronunciation

Definition

131

Cash flow

/kæʃ floʊ/

Money generated by investment

132

Appreciation

/əˌpriʃiˈeɪʃən/

Increase in property value

133

Leverage

/ˈlɛvərɪdʒ/

Using borrowed money for investment

134

Financing options

/faɪˈnænsɪŋ ˈɒpʃənz/

Available loan arrangements

135

Market analysis

/ˈmɑrkɪt əˈnæləsɪs/

Study of property trends

136

Risk assessment

/rɪsk əˈsɛsmənt/

Evaluation of investment dangers

137

Diversification

/daɪˌvɜrsəfəˈkeɪʃən/

Spreading investment across properties

138

Passive income

/ˈpæsɪv ˈɪnkʌm/

Earnings requiring minimal effort

139

Active management

/ˈæktɪv ˈmænɪdʒmənt/

Hands-on property involvement

140

Exit strategies

/ˈɛɡzɪt ˈstrætədʒiz/

Plans for selling investments

141

Real estate investment trust

/ril ɪˈsteɪt ɪnˈvɛstmənt trʌst/

Company owning income-producing properties

142

Flip

/flɪp/

Buy, renovate, and sell quickly

143

Buy and hold

/baɪ ænd hoʊld/

Long-term investment strategy

144

Rental yield

/ˈrɛntəl yild/

Annual rental income percentage

145

Property appreciation

/ˈprɒpərti əˌpriʃiˈeɪʃən/

Increase in property value over time

146

Market value

/ˈmɑrkɪt ˈvælju/

Current worth in marketplace

147

Investment property

/ɪnˈvɛstmənt ˈprɒpərti/

Real estate purchased for income

148

Capital investment

/ˈkæpɪtəl ɪnˈvɛstmənt/

Money invested in property acquisition

149

Property portfolio

/ˈprɒpərti pɔːrtˈfoʊlioʊ/

Collection of investment properties

150

Real estate market

/ril ɪˈsteɪt ˈmɑrkɪt/

System of property buying and selling

151

Property valuation

/ˈprɒpərti ˌvæljuˈeɪʃən/

Professional assessment of property worth

152

Investment return

/ɪnˈvɛstmənt rɪˈtɜrn/

Profit gained from property investment