Real Estate Abbreviations

There are many abbreviations but the following list includes the more common ones in use. If needed, an explanation is given.

3B/2B: This means there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. “Bedroom” is usually defined as an area that has a window, a closet, and room for a bed. A “full bathroom” has a toilet, a sink, and a bathtub. A bathroom that has a shower in place of a tub is a “three-quarter bathroom.” A “half bath” has a toilet and a sink.
ac, a/c This is the air conditioning.
aek The house has an all electric kitchen.
appls This is short for appliances.
ba This is a bathroom.
br That would stand for a bedroom.
ca, cac The house has central air conditioning.
cath ceil There is a cathedral ceiling.
c-d-s The house is located in a cul de sac.
ch That stands for central heat.
c/vac The house has a central vacuum.
cp There is a carport.
d/d This means there is a dishwasher and a garbage disposal.
dk This stands for a deck.
det This is mostly used for a detached garage.
dr/fdr This means there is a dining room or a formal dining room.
fag There is forced air gas.
f/fin bsmt The house has a fully finished basement.
fp, fplc, or frplc These are abbreviations for a fireplace.
fsbo This means the house is for sale by owner.
gar This is short for garage.
gard The grounds have a garden.
grmet kit This stands for a gourmet kitchen
grt rm There is a great room.
hdw, hwf, hdwd All these are hardwood floors.
hi ceils This lets you know there are high ceilings in the house.
kit That would stand for kitchen
la There is a living area.
lr The house has a living room.
ofc The house has an office.
osp Off-street parking is available.
pl, sp or s/p There is a swimming pool.
pvt This is the abbreviation for private.
pwdr rm This is a powder room or half bath.
q pos It is avaiable for quick possession.
smart This means a computer controls some electronic devices like heating and cooling, alarms, and lights.
spac This means spacious.
upr This designates the upper floor.
vw, vws, vu, vus All of these represent a view or views.
w/d, wd The house has a washer and dryer.
wic This is a walk-in closet.

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Acronyms

Two other important things to know are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Fannie Mae stands for Federal National Mortgage Association. It purchases mortgages from private lenders or banks, allowing these lenders to recoup their money more quickly than if they had to wait 15-30 years for homeowners to pay back mortgages.
Freddie Mac stands for Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. It performs a similar function to Fannie Mae.

Knowing what these two organizations do is important because they help to make the residential mortgage market more liquid and help banks make more home loans to the average buyer.

Buyer Beware

There are a few real estate abbreviations that may stand for something you do not want. For instance:

Close to or convenient to may mean these things are too close.
Compact, cottage or modest probably means it is very small.
DIY or fixer-upper could mean a lot of work needs to be done.
Efficiency kitchen can mean there is barely room for one person.
Intimate is sometimes a word for itty bitty.
Interesting, unique or retro means “watch out”. This could mean big bucks to remodel or at least repaint unless you like shag carpet or avocado green appliances.
Mature garden may mean it was never pruned or weeded.
Manageable yard probably means the owners did not spend much time on it.
Private or secluded may be miles from another house.

When looking at a house, go over it very carefully. On the outside, look for cracks, warping, and water damage. Check for rotting wood and cement with cracks. Inspect the heating and air conditioning system for worn-out parts. Inside, open and shut the doors and look at the walls and ceilings for unusual stains or signs of water damage. Turn on all the faucets and watch for slow drains, water pressure that is too low or too high, and see if any of them leak or drip. You may opt for professional inspections for radon, structural integrity, mold, termites, and water purity.

Real Estate Abbreviations