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Real Estate Abbreviations & Terminology

Real Estate Abbreviations & Terminology

44 Common Real Estate Abbreviations and Acronyms

Are you confused about real estate abbreviations or listing terminology? Do you feel like real estate agents are trying to confuse you with real estate terms and real estate acronyms?

Confusing real estate abbreviations
Are real estate acronyms and abbreviations confusing you?

If you’re working with real estate brokers in the search of a new home, most likely you are receiving MLS® real estate listings via the new Keystone Matrix® system. My buyers are always asking me to explain what some of the real estate abbreviations or real estate terminology stands for, so I thought I might create this post to help everyone out.

Generally from the top of the listing sheet on down, here is the list of abbreviations

Real Estate Abbreviations List

DOM: Days On Market reflects how many days since the home has been listed by the agent

Townhome style of housing

TYPE: This refers to one of the 4 different types of homes the listing service is displaying. They are:

RD = Residential Detached. This is the most common type of house, the one most people think of when looking at homes.

SA = Single Attached (Side by Side). These are two residences which share one common wall. They are cheaper to build, and therefor less expensive to purchase as well

TH = Townhouse. Usually found in rows of 4, 6 or even more. One long building which has a number of separate homes. The end units share one wall, while all interior units actually share 2 common walls.

MH = Mobile Home. Generally means a home which is located in a mobile home park. Careful here, as a ‘mobile home’ might actually be firmly attached to a foundation, and thus become real property.

TAX AMOUNT: This is supposed to be the TOTAL GROSS property taxes, including all Education Taxes, Local Improvements etc. As an owner-occupant, you would qualify for a $700 Provincial Rebate

RMA: Means Rooms Above Ground level. This indicates the total number of rooms such as any formal dining room, kitchen and living room, but NOT bathrooms or powder room, etc.

Real Estate Abbreviations & Terminology

BDA: Bedrooms Above Ground. Includes the master bedroom and all secondary bedrooms located above ground level

TBD: Total Bedrooms (including basement bedrooms). This is how you can tell how many bedrooms are in the basement. Simply subtract the BDA from the TBD and see that the basement has 2 bedrooms, for example. Careful here: Just because a property sellers are listing it as a bedroom, does not necessarily mean it fits the legal description of a bedroom.

FB: Number of full Bathrooms (a “FULL” bathroom has at least 3 pieces, so for example: toilet, sink and shower, or toilet, sink and tub)

HB: Number of half Bathrooms (a half bath might have only 1 piece, such as a toilet, or just a sink, but most often has 2 pieces)

EN: Ensuite, which refers to a bathroom that is accessible from a bedroom directly

Exterior: Refers to the exterior surface of the home’s walls. Most common in Winnipeg is stucco, but could also include brick, siding (including vinyl and aluminum siding) and wood.

Foundation: Most common is concrete, but older homes often feature STONE or sometimes Cinderblock or even brick. In the 1980s there was a fad for ‘Preserved Wood’ foundations.

Home heating radiator

Heating: Most common is ‘forced air’ which indicates central heat (preferred). Other options might be Hot Water (radiators) or electric (baseboard heaters).

Heating Fuel: Indicates whether it is gas or electricity. Some new home builders are making the switch to electric furnaces. Careful as even in our province, producing heat with electricity is substantially more expensive than producing it with natural gas.

Basement: Full. This means that the area size of the foundation is the same as the main floor. It does not mean the basement is finished, as this is indicated in another section.

Unfinished basement
Unfinished basement

Other options for the basement category are: crawl, slab, half and 3/4. Real estate professionals should be able to point out the differences, benefits and shortcomings, of each type of basement construction.

Square Feet: I’ve had clients try to add up all the room measurements of a listing, and come to the conclusion that the 1,200 ft home is really just 850 square feet. While they are correct, this is not how buildings are measured and advertised.

The proclaimed total square footage of a house is the OUTSIDE measurements which includes all 4-season living space, excluding the garage. It includes ONLY the areas above ground, so for example the main floor, second floor and third floor if there is one. It does NOT include the basement, UNLESS there is a crawl space under that part of the basement.

For further explanation, see this article on how homes are measured. and remember that different provinces and states might have different rules.

Garage

Garage – AT or DT. This refers to the car garage which can be either attached or detached. Confusion here sometimes as an ‘attached garage’ might be physically attached, but not have a direct door leading into the house.

S/S: Showings Start date. NO showings can occur BEFORE that date

OTP: Offer To Purchase date. That the is FIRST date when offers can be considered.

In addition to the above listing terms, you will probably come across many of the next acronyms used by the listing agent in their advertisements

Real Estate Acronyms

A/C or C/Air: Central Air Conditioning

APPL: Appliances (personal property)

ATT or DT: Attached or Detached also refers to single-family home vs. attached home.

CLG: Ceiling

C/Vac: Central Vacuum

CC: Clothes Closet or possibly “WICC” as in Walk-In Clothes Closet

AT/2 or DT/2: Attached double or detached double (as in garage)

EE and HE: Energy Efficient and High Efficient

F/Fin: Fully Finished

HWFS and HWDS: Hardwood floors and simply Hardwoods

S/S or SS indicating stainless steel (as in appliances)

WDW: Windows

WDWK: Woodwork (as referring to baseboards and window casings)

Im hoping that this list of most common terms is of great value to you.

If you’re thinking of buying a house or a condo in Winnipeg, call me for a free buyer consultation. There is a lot of information which is difficult to convey in a blog post but I’d be happy to discuss in person.

Confused our stumped by other real estate listings abbreviations?  Ask me in the comments, or email me anytime

Bo Kauffmann of Remax performance realty.

 

Below is the audio version of my popular post : Closing Costs When Buying A House Or Condo In Winnipeg.

Let’s see some real listings

 

If you’re thinking of buying a home, please be sure to check out “Buying a house or condo in Winnipeg; 6 important steps”

 



Real Estate Abbreviations & TerminologyAbout the Publisher

Bo Kauffmann is a residential real estate agent with over 18 yrs experience in helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals.  Inducted into the REMAX Hall of Fame in 2010 and receiving the REMAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Bo has sold over 500 houses and condos in the Greater Winnipeg market.  He is an accredited buyer representative (A.B.R.) and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.   Bo provides exceptional service to First-Time Home-Buyers, Seniors looking to downsize and Home Sellers of all ages.   He can be reached easily   By E-Mail or call/text him   Call/Text Here

    Our Latest Web-Stories
Never miss an episode of our real estate podcast. Install our FREE Podcast App available on iOS and Android. For your Apple Devices, click here to install our iOS App. For your Android Devices, click here to install our Android App. Check my videos on Youtube

Check out our Podcast

55 Plus Condos - 685 St. Anne's Rd

55-plus Condos in Winnipeg

55-plus condos: Perfect for you?

It’s an often-reported fact that Winnipeg‘s population is aging, and as such, 55-plus condos were becoming quite popular.  In fact, there are numerous advantages to owning a condoHowever, the recent changes to the Condominium Act have made bylaws, which restrict ownership based on age, obsolete.

These were units with bylaws which state that the owner/occupant of the unit must be at least 55 years of age.  (Some 55-plus condos have dropped this age requirement down to 50 yrs, in an effort to attract more buyers).  Even though they are no longer technically allowed to discriminate based on age, there are still a number of condos where ownership is mostly the mature, even elderly persons.  See the list at the bottom of this post.

For the right person, there are a number of advantages to these (formerly called) 55-plus condos.  Here are a few:

1) Security

Many of these 55-plus condos are built with security in mind, sometimes with security cameras but almost always with good secure locks on well-lit entry ways.

2) Handicap accessible

Many buildings feature wider-than-normal hallways, doors and bathrooms, to allow access via wheelchair or walker.

3) “Community Spirit”

Quite often, the residents organize weekly pot-luck dinners, shopping trips, card-games and other outings.

4) “Birds of a Feather”

Since everyone in the building is 55 yrs or older, and most often retired, residents tend to have a lot in common, and friendships are made easily….  if you WANT to do so.

5) Conveniences

Local grocery stores often arrange weekly bus-trip to their shops.  Some condos arrange for a local nurse to attend monthly, or bi-monthly for a general visit.

Amenities in 55-plus condos
Amenities in 55-plus condos often include common rooms

6) Amenities

55-plus condominiums often feature amenities not found in regular condos.  Things such as a library, a meeting room, a lounge with kitchen, a fitness room and more.

 

List of former 55-plus condos in Winnipeg

Although not officially able to maintain a 55-plus restriction, these condo communities should have a majority of elderly owners.

  • Bell Cove (Headingley South)
  • Country Villas Blvd.  (E.St Paul)
  • 3420 Grant Ave.
  • 4314 Grant Ave.
  • 380 John Forsyth Rd.
  • 1460 Portage Ave
  • 1976 Portage Ave.
  • 3200 Portage Ave.
  • Rockmaple Rd.  (E. St. Paul)
  • 4025 Roblin Blvd.
  • 679, 681,685, 687, 697, 785, 795, 805, 815  St. Anne’s Rd.
  • 500 Tache Ave.
  • 208, 212 Watson St.
  • 687 Warde Ave.
  • 20 Wynstone Cir.  (E. St. Paul)
  • 403 Regent Ave W.  (Madeline Estates)

 

 

https://blog.winnipeghomefinder.com/55-plus-condos-in-winnipeg-right-choice-for-you/ Are 55+ condos the right option for you? Here are the details of what age restricted condos are all about

Home-owners who are thinking of selling their houses for a variety of reasons (want to travel, no more yardwork, security issues), but don’t feel they are ready for a retirement community, might well consider checking out a 55-plus Condominium.  There are a growing number of such communities in Winnipeg.  For a sample list of addresses which feature “age-restricted’ condos, click on 55 plus condominiums.

Bo Kauffmann at Remax Performance Realty  204-333-2202.  If you’re thinking of selling your current home, or thinking about 55 plus condominiums and wish to discuss your options, please call me anytime.

 

 



55-plus Condos in WinnipegAbout the Publisher

Bo Kauffmann is a residential real estate agent with over 18 yrs experience in helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals.  Inducted into the REMAX Hall of Fame in 2010 and receiving the REMAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Bo has sold over 500 houses and condos in the Greater Winnipeg market.  He is an accredited buyer representative (A.B.R.) and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.   Bo provides exceptional service to First-Time Home-Buyers, Seniors looking to downsize and Home Sellers of all ages.   He can be reached easily   By E-Mail or call/text him   Call/Text Here

    Our Latest Web-Stories
Never miss an episode of our real estate podcast. Install our FREE Podcast App available on iOS and Android. For your Apple Devices, click here to install our iOS App. For your Android Devices, click here to install our Android App. Check my videos on Youtube

Check out our Podcast

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