Common words and phrases every home buyer should know
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As a homebuyer, knowing the most common words and phrases used in real estate is essential. These are some of the most important words to know when you do that. It will help you understand what you might find during the buying process and make negotiating a purchase more accessible.
- “Acceptance Date” is the date that the buyer agrees to take ownership of the property.
- “Closing Date” is the day on which all monies owed for the purchase of a property are transferred from one person to the other, and the title is transferred from seller to buyer.
- “Deposit” – a seller often requires a deposit as part of the deal, so each party knows that the deal will happen.
There will be many things that need your attention when looking to buy a house. One of those critical aspects is understanding the terminology and its meaning, so let’s take some time now to discuss each term in-depth.
Phrases every home buyer should know
Escrow
This type of third-party payment plan allows buyers and sellers to exchange funds without directly interacting with each other. For example, if you make your deposit on the offer for the home in question – it will go into this separate fund before being transferred over once finalization has taken place. You can also use maps and language learning apps for translation while looking at properties near where you live locally and using language learning apps for translations of the conversations. Some people have used theirs when buying new construction sites because they wanted peace assurance that there was plenty more than just labor involved during building processes.
Read more: Escrow holder
FHA Loan

The federal government offers an insurance program that helps cover some of your mortgage payments if you can’t make them. However, this means paying higher upfront premiums and subjecting yourself to much tighter credit requirements than usual for these types of financing options – ideal if less-than-stellar ratings keep you out of qualifying based upon conventional standards.
VA Loan
The Department of Veterans Affairs mortgage offers an excellent option for qualified military personnel. These mortgages typically offer more favorable interest rates and require low down payments, making them an attractive alternative to the standard loan process offered by banks or other lenders. The VA also backs these loans with its guarantee so you can sleep easy knowing your house is safe in case anything goes wrong.
Private Mortgage Insurance
It is the kind of insurance that can lessen your lender’s risk when buying a home. It typically comes with monthly payments and must be paid off once equity reaches 20%. You may cancel this type if certain conditions are met, such as having more than 5% saved up for repairs or improving homes already owned by someone else who doesn’t need it anymore because their family won’t be living there anymore.
Principal
That depends on why you want to borrow money and the risks you might encounter. If it’s for something safe, then less may be better because of the interest rates that banks offer borrowers nowadays, getting as high as 16%.
Interest
Interest rates are the price you pay for borrowing money. Your APR or annual percentage rate will depend on your credit history and how much you can afford to put down as a down payment. 4% is an example of what people might experience when purchasing goods with cash, so they have low scores.
Adjustable-rate Mortgage
Interest rates on mortgages are often low at first and then may adjust up or down based upon market conditions. The interest rate cannot exceed a set limit, so you should always be aware of your options before signing any agreements with banks regarding repayment plans.
Closing Costs

The closing costs for buying a house can vary substantially depending on the lender, but they usually include 3%-6%. These charges are negotiable though some may not require an inspection or other service as well-known names in this industry do.
Down Payment
There are many different ways to buy a home, but when you go through the process with your lender, they will want an upfront payment of at least 5% to cover what’s leftover after putting down their share.
To Sum It Up
We hope that this blog post has helped educate you about the most common words and phrases used in home purchases. It will be easier for you to understand what’s happening on both the legal and other sides of your potential purchase armed with these words.
Please let us know if we didn’t cover any terms or phrases here, but it seems essential to understand a particular situation! We want all our readers to feel confident when they read through their paperwork or discuss an offer with their lawyer, so if there’s anything else needed, ask.
Read more: Proprietary lease
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The title is wrong, it should say -phrases your son should know to help you with real estate…