Restraint on Alienation
Restraints on alienation refer to conditions placed on property ownership that limit the owner's ability to transfer or sell the property. Such restraints are generally scrutinized under laws governing property rights and public policy considerations.
Restricted Appraisal Report
A Restricted Appraisal Report is a type of valuation report containing minimal detail, intended solely for the client's use, and not for any other party. It stands in contrast to a more comprehensive Appraisal Report.
Restricted License
A restricted license allows a real estate licensee to continue to practice in a limited capacity while on probation, following a violation of state real estate laws or regulations.
Restriction
Restrictions are limitations placed upon the use of property, typically contained in the deed, other written instruments in the chain of title, or in local ordinances pertaining to land use.
Restrictive Covenant
A restrictive covenant is a binding legal obligation written into the deed of a property by the seller that restricts the way the property can be used by the buyer. It usually aims to uphold specific standards or maintain the character of a community.
Retail Gravitation
Retail gravitation refers to the ability of a shopping center to attract customers from distant areas, with larger centers having a greater drawing power.
Retail Property
A retail property is a classification designated through zoning ordinances, allowing for various types of businesses such as stores or shopping centers, enhancing the commercial use of an area.
Retainage
In a construction contract, retainage is money earned by a contractor but not paid until the completion of the construction or another agreed-upon date.
Retaining Wall
A retaining wall is a structure designed to restrain soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to (typically a steep, near-vertical, or vertical slope). They are frequently used in landscaping, construction, and flood prevention to prevent the erosion of soil and manage water runoff.
Retaliatory Eviction
Retaliatory eviction occurs when a landlord seeks to evict a tenant as a response to the tenant exercising their legal rights, commonly in relation to complaints about housing conditions. Such actions are prohibited in many jurisdictions to protect tenants from unfair and punitive treatment.
Retention Pond
A retention pond is a reservoir designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely. Typically, the pond will drain to another location when the water level exceeds the desired level. This term is often used in contrast to a detention pond.
Retire (a Debt)
To retire a debt means to pay off the principal on a loan, thereby fulfilling the obligation under the loan contract, which can be done through regular payments or a lump sum. It is a significant financial milestone indicating that the borrower has met the terms laid out by the lender.
Retrospective Appraisal
A retrospective appraisal estimates the value of a property at a specific point in the past, often for purposes such as tax assessments, legal disputes, or historical analysis.
Return on Equity (ROE)
Return on Equity (ROE) is a measure of the profitability and financial performance of a business, indicating how much net income is generated as a percentage of shareholders' equity.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment (ROI) measures the gain or loss generated on an investment relative to the amount of money invested. ROI is often expressed as a percentage and is commonly used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment (ROI) measures the financial return on an investment as a percentage of the investment's cost, providing an indicator of profitability.
Revaluation Clause
A revaluation clause, often seen in reappraisal leases, allows for periodic reassessment of a property’s value during the lease term, enabling adjustments to rent reflective of current market conditions.
Revaluation or Re-evaluation: Understanding the Real Estate Concept
Revaluation or re-evaluation, also known as reassessment, is an updated appraisal process conducted to determine the current value of property for taxation and other purposes.
Revenue
Revenue refers to the total income generated from normal business operations and includes discounts and deductions for returned merchandise. It is a crucial metric indicating the financial performance of an organization.
Revenue Stamps in Real Estate
Revenue stamps are affixed to deeds and other real estate documents to indicate the payment of a state’s deed transfer tax or other applicable transfer taxes.
Reverse (Annuity) Mortgage
A Reverse (Annuity) Mortgage is a type of mortgage designed primarily for elderly homeowners with substantial equity in their homes. The lender periodically pays an amount to the borrower, with the loan balance increasing over time due to interest and periodic payments, ultimately resulting in negative amortization. The nonrecourse loan is repaid from the proceeds of a future sale of the home.
Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM)
A Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) is a type of home equity loan that allows homeowners, typically retirees, to convert part of the equity in their homes into cash without having to sell the property or make monthly mortgage payments.
Reverse Exchange
A reverse exchange is a strategic real estate transaction where the buyer acquires a new property before relinquishing their old property, often to meet IRS Section 1031 requirements.
Reverse Leverage
A situation in real estate where financial benefits from ownership accrue at a lower rate than the mortgage interest rate, leading to negative financial implications for the property owner.
Reverse Radius Clause
A reverse radius clause in a shopping center tenant’s lease prevents the shopping center owner from buying or developing a competing mall nearby, ensuring exclusive market access for the tenant.
Reversion in Real Estate
Reversion refers to the right of a lessor to possess leased property upon the termination of a lease. It is a critical concept in real estate, as it dictates the future interest in rental properties and land transactions.
Reversionary Factor
Reversionary Factor is the mathematical factor that indicates the present worth of one dollar to be received in the future. It is often used in financial calculations related to real estate investments and valuations.
Reversionary Interest
Reversionary Interest is the interest a person retains in property after the termination of the preceding estate. Typically, it applies when the original owner grants an estate but retains a future interest.
Reversionary Value
Reversionary value is the estimated value of a property at the end of a specific time period, often related to the expiry of a lease or a pre-determined holding period. It directly impacts investment decisions and property valuation models.
Review Appraiser
A Review Appraiser is a professional who specializes in conducting thorough assessments of appraisal reports to ensure accuracy, adherence to standards, and quality compliance. They play a crucial role in the real estate appraisal process by validating the work of the original appraiser.
Revocation
Revocation is the act of recalling or withdrawing a power of authority previously conferred, such as a power of attorney, license, agency, or other similar agreements. It is a fundamental legal concept that has considerable implications in real estate transactions and credentials.
Rezoning
Rezoning is the legal process of changing the designated use of a specific parcel or group of parcels on a zoning map, altering the previous permitted activities to suit new needs or goals. This can involve changing residential areas to commercial, industrial to residential, and more.
Rider
A rider is an amendment or attachment to an existing contract, often used to customize and modify the original terms of agreements in various domains, including insurance and real estate.
Right of First Refusal
The Right of First Refusal (ROFR) grants a party the opportunity to match the terms of a proposed contract before it is executed with an outside party.
Right of Redemption
The right of redemption is a legal provision allowing a mortgagor to reclaim their property once they've satisfied debts before foreclosure is completed, thereby preventing loss of property ownership.
Right of Survivorship
The Right of Survivorship is a legal provision whereby property co-owners hold the right to automatically inherit the interest of a deceased co-owner. This provision is prominently featured in Joint Tenancy and Tenancy by the Entirety arrangements, facilitating smoother transfer of property ownership upon death without the need for probate.
Right-of-Way
The right-of-way is a legal right granting passage over another person's property. This term is often associated with easements and is crucial in the context of property development, infrastructure projects, and urban planning.
Right-of-Way (R/W)
The right-of-way (R/W) in real estate terms refers to the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another.
Riparian Owner
A riparian owner is an individual or entity that holds ownership of land that is adjacent to a river, stream, or other body of water. Riparian rights are often a significant aspect of property ownership and can influence land use, access, and water resources.
Riparian Rights
Riparian rights pertain to the use of water on, under, or adjacent to one's land. These rights may be qualified to avoid nuisance and pollution and are typically recognized in most eastern states, unlike in western regions, which often acknowledge usufructuary rights.
RISK
In real estate, risk refers to the potential for an investment to achieve lower or higher returns than expected. Effective risk management strategies, such as diversification and insurance, can mitigate associated uncertainties.
Risk Analysis
Risk Analysis is a critical evaluation designed to indicate how sensitive an investment is to changes in underlying future conditions. This process may include assessing the volatility of the investment and simulating potential outcomes based on different economic scenarios.
Risk Premium
The risk premium is the difference between the required interest rate on an investment and the rate on risk-free investments such as U.S. Treasury securities. It compensates investors for taking on higher risk compared to risk-free assets.
Risk vs. Reward
Risk vs. Reward is a financial concept that attempts to compare the potential fluctuations, especially the downside, with potential benefits of an investment or financial decision.
Risk-Based Capital Requirement
The Risk-Based Capital Requirement is a regulatory standard that determines the minimum amount of capital that federally chartered lending institutions must hold, based on the risk profile of their employed assets. The requirement ensures that institutions maintain sufficient capital to manage potential losses and maintain financial stability.
Risk-Free Rate
The risk-free rate is the interest rate on the safest investments, typically represented by short-term government securities like U.S. Treasury bills. It is a crucial component in finance for calculating other metrics and making investment decisions.
Robo-Signer
A Robo-Signer is an individual employed by financial institutions to sign hundreds of foreclosure documents daily without verifying the information, often leading to wrongful foreclosures.
ROD (Real Estate)
A 'rod' is a linear unit of measurement in real estate that is equal to 16½ feet. It is often used for describing land dimensions and road frontage.
Rollback
Rollback refers to the retroactive claim by a taxing authority of a higher tax rate when property is sold after being taxed at a special use rate or when the land is put to a more valuable use.
Rolling Option
A Rolling Option provides the right to extend the term of a purchase option by offering some form of compensation. The option holder can delay purchasing the property under specified terms.
Rollover Home Sale
Rollover Home Sale refers to the tax-deferred sale of a principal residence before May 6, 1997, which allowed homeowners to defer gains if they purchased a replacement home. It is governed by Section 121 for principal residence sales after this date.
Rollover Loan
A type of mortgage loan commonly used in Canada, where the amortization term for principal repayment extends over a long period, but the interest rate is set for a much shorter term. The interest rate is renegotiated, or the loan 'rolls over,' at the end of this shorter term based on current market conditions.
Rough-In
Rough-In in construction refers to the initial phase of fitting the crucial systems of a building. This includes plumbing, electrical, and HVAC installations within the un-finished walls, flooring, and ceilings, setting the groundwork for the final installations. It prepares the building for final connections.
Row House
A row house is a type of residential structure featuring single-family dwelling units that are attached to one another by common walls and typically have a uniform appearance from the front. Row houses are often found in urban areas and offer economical use of land while maintaining some of the privacy and freedom of a detached house.
Royalty
Royalty refers to the payment made to a property owner for the extraction of valuable resources from their land. Common in resource extraction industries like mining, oil, and gas, these payments are typically a percentage of the revenue generated from the resource.
RRM Renegotiated Rate Mortgage
A Renegotiated Rate Mortgage (RRM) allows borrowers to renegotiate the interest rate of their existing mortgage, often providing an opportunity to lower monthly payments and overall interest costs.
Rule of 72
The Rule of 72 is a simple formula used to estimate the number of years required to double the principal amount of money invested at a given annual rate of compound interest. By dividing the number 72 by the annual interest rate, investors can quickly gauge the growth period needed for their investment to double without using complex calculations.
Rule of 78
The Rule of 78 is a method for calculating the amount of interest to be refunded if an installment loan with add-on interest is paid off early. It takes its name from the sum of the digits from 1 to 12, totaling 78.
Run with the Land
Run with the Land is a legal term referring to rights or restrictions that extend to all current and future owners of a piece of property. These rights or restrictions are usually referenced in the property's deed.
Rural
Rural areas pertain to regions outside of larger and moderate-sized cities, characterized by farms, ranches, small towns, and unpopulated regions. These areas often have lower population densities and are primarily focused on agriculture and natural resources.
Rural Housing Service
The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is a department within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers loans, loan guarantees, and grants to help provide housing in rural areas and small towns to those who need assistance. Many of the programs operated by the RHS previously fell under the Farmers Home Administration.
Rurban Areas
Rurban areas are located on the fringe of urban development, transitioning from rural characteristics to being developed for urban uses. These areas often showcase a mix of rural and urban features.

Real Estate Lexicon

With over 3,000 definitions (and 30,000 Quizes!), our Lexicon of Real Estate Terms equips buyers, sellers, and professionals with the knowledge needed to thrive in the real estate market. Empower your journey today!

Real Estate Real Estate Investment Real Estate Law Property Management Real Estate Transactions Real Estate Financing Real Estate Development Mortgage Property Valuation Commercial Real Estate Real Estate Appraisal Real Estate Valuation Property Rights Land Use Property Ownership Urban Planning Property Value Real Estate Finance Foreclosure Market Value Real Estate Contracts Depreciation Property Law Interest Rates Construction Estate Planning Lease Agreement Appraisal Investment Financing Mortgage Loans Financial Planning Real Estate Terms Legal Terms Zoning Real Estate Market Rental Income Market Analysis Lease Agreements Housing Market Property Sale Interest Rate Taxation Title Insurance Property Taxes Amortization Eminent Domain Investment Analysis Property Investment Property Tax Property Transfer Risk Management Tenant Rights Mortgages Residential Property Architecture Investments Contract Law Land Development Loans Property Development Default Condemnation Finance Income Tax Property Purchase Homeownership Leasing Operating Expenses Inheritance Legal Documents Real Estate Metrics Residential Real Estate Home Loans Real Estate Ownership Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Affordable Housing Cash Flow Closing Costs Collateral Net Operating Income Real Estate Loans Real Property Asset Management Infrastructure Mortgage Loan Property Appraisal Real Estate Investing Urban Development Building Codes Insurance Loan Repayment Mortgage Payments Real Estate Broker Shopping Centers Tax Deductions Creditworthiness Mortgage Insurance Property Assessment Real Estate Transaction