The world of real estate is full of acronyms describing nearly every aspect of your home buying and selling transaction. Some of the terms are more blatant than others, for example “Map Coord” is short for “Map Coordinate” but “MRCHTIM” for example is short for “Merchantable Timber”

Listed below you’ll find a collection of some terms you may find, as well as what it refers to – lot description, financial, view, etc. Keep in mind this isn’t a full list but thankfully what’s included in the list is very standardized so it’s unlikely to change for quite some time.

General Information:

Dir: Street Direction – this is the directional portion of the address (NE, SE, SW, etc.)
Quad: Quadrant – Same as Direction but appears after the street suffix – rarely used in the Portland area
Map Coord: Map Coordinates – the page, column and row on the locally accepted map for the property

Lot Description:

AIRSTRP: Airstrip
BCH: Ocean Beach – typically less than .25 miles away
CULDSAC: Cul-de-sac
FLOODZN: Flood Zone
GEN-SLP: Gently Sloped
GOLFCSE: Golf Course
GRNBELT: Green Belt
LSD-LND: Leased Land
LT-RAIL: Within .5 Mile of Light Rail
MRCHTIM: Merchantable Timber
RPROTIM: Reproduced Timber
SECLDED: Secluded
SHP: Shopping usually within .25 mile
STRTCAR: Street Car

View

GOLFCSE: Golf Course
MNTAIN: Mountain
SEASONL: Seasonal
TERRITR: Territorial

Style:

COLONIL: Colonial
COMNWAL: Commonwall
CONT-FR: Country French
CONTEMP: Contemporary
CRAFTSM: Craftsman
DAYRNCH: Daylight Ranch
DETCNDO: Free-Standing
DBL-WDE: Double Wide Manufactured Home
DOME: Dome
DTCHCOL: Dutch Colonial
FARMHSE: Farmhouse
GEORGIN: Georgian
LIV-WRK: Live Work Unit
MANUFHS: Manufactured Home
MEDIT: Mediterranean
OLD-PDX: Old Portland
PREFAB: Pre-Fabricated Home
SIN-WDE: Single Wide Manufactured Home
TOWNHSE: Townhouse
TRAD: Traditional
TRI: Tri Level
TRI-WDE: Triple Wide Manufactured Home
VICT: Victorian

Exterior:

ALUM: Aluminum
BRD&BTN: Board & Batten Siding
CULSTNE: Cultured Stone
EIFS: Exterior Insulated Foam System
FIBRCEM: Fiber Cement
HCSTUCC: Hard Concrete Stucco
OSB: Oriented Strand Board
T-111: T-111 Siding
TNG/GRV: Tongue and Groove
WOODCOM: Wood Composite

Basement-Foundation:

CONCRET: Concrete
CRAWLSP: Crawlspace
DAYLITE: Daylight
FULLBAS: Full Basement
NO-BAS: No Basement
NO-FND: No Foundation
OS-ENTR: Outside Entrance
PARTBAS: Partial Basement
PARTFIN: Partially Finished
PERIMTR: Perimeter
PIR&PST: Pier and Post
SEPLVQT: Apartment or Auxiliary Living Unit
SKIRTNG: Skirting
STEMWLL: Stem Wall
UNFIN: Unfinished

Kitchen Features

APP-GAR: Appliance Garage
BI-DOVN: Built-in Double Oven
BI-GRILL: Built-in Grill
BI-MICO: Built-in Microwave
BI-OVEN: Built-in Oven
BI-RANG: Built-in Range
BI-REFR: Built-in Refrigerator
BTL-PAN: Butler’s Pantry
COMPCTR: Compactor
CONVECT: Convection Oven
COOK-IS: Cook Island
COOKTOP: Cook Top
D-DRAFT: Down Draft
DISHWAS: Built-in Dishwasher
DISPOSL: Disposal
ESTARAP: Energy Star Appliances
FS-RANG: Free-Standing Range
FS-REFR: Free-Standing Refrigerator
GASAPPL: Gas Appliances
GRANITE: Granite
INST-HW: Instant Hot Water
PLB-ICE: Plumbed for Icemaker
SSAPPL: Stainless Steel Appliance(s)
WAT-PUR: Water Purifier
WINECLR: Wine Cooler

General Interior Features

3RDFLR: 3rd Floor
4THFLR: 4th Floor
AIRCLEN: Air Cleaner
BI-VACM: Built-in Vacuum
BIV-RDY: Plumbed for Built-in Vacuum
BAMB-FL: Bamboo Floor
CEILFAN: Ceiling Fan
CORK-FL: Cork Floor
DMBWAIT: Dumbwaiter
ELEVATR: Elevator
FURNSHD: Furnished
GAR-OPN: Garage Door Opener
GRANITE: Granite
HARDWOD: Hardwood Floors
HEATILA: Heatilator
HISPEED: Hi-Speed Connection
HOME-TH: Home Theater
HUMIDFR: Humidifier
INPOOL: Indoor Pool
INTRCOM: Intercom Entry
JET-TUB: Jetted Tub
LAM-FL: Laminate Flooring
LSSECUR: Leased Security System
MARBLE: Marble
MRML-FL: Marmoleum Floor
OWSECUR: Owned Security System
PAS-SOL: Passive Solar/ Passive Solar Heat
REC-MTR: Reclaimed Material
SEPLVQT: Apartment or Auxiliary Living Unit
SLATEFL: Slate Flooring
SOAKTUB: Soaking Tub
SOLTUBE: Solar Tube
SOUNSYS: Sound System
TILE-FL: Tile Floor
VNYL-FL: Vinyl Floor
WAINSCO: Wainscoting
WASHDRY: Washer/ Dryer
WATFILT: Water Filter
WATSOFT: Water Softener
WW-CARP: Wall to Wall Carpet
WOODFLR: Wood Floors

General Exterior Features

2ND-GAR: 2nd Garage
2ND-RES: 2nd Residence on Property
ADU: Auxiliary Dwelling Unit
ATHL-CT: Athletic Court
BARN: Barn
BBQ-PIT: Barbeque Pit
BI-HTUB: Built-in Hot Tub
BOAT-HS: Boat House
COVDECK: Covered Deck
COVPATI: Covered Patio
DIRTRD: Dirt Road
FS-HTUB: Free Standing Hot Tub
GASHKUP: Gas Hookup
GRAVLRD: Gravel Road
GRN-HSE: Greenhouse
GSTQTR: Guest Quarters
OUT-FPL: Outdoor Fireplace
OUTBULD: Outbuilding(s)
PAVEDRD: Paved Road
PRIVRD: Private Road
PUBLCRD: Public Road
RAINCOL: Rain Collector
RDSPLIT: Road Splits Property
RV-GAR: RV Garage
RV-HKUP: RV Hookup
SATDISH: Satellite Dish
SEC-LIT: Security Lighting
SPRNKLR: Sprinkler
STMDOOR: Storm Door
STMWIND: Storm Window
TL-SHED: Tool Shed
VYW-DBL: Vinyl Windows – Double Paned
VYW-TRP: Vinyl Windows – Triple Paned
WDW-DBL: Wood Windows – Double Paned
WDW-TRP: Wood Windows – Triple Paned
WTRFEAT: Water Feature
X-FENCE: Cross Fence

Accessibility

1LEVEL: One Level – At least kitchen, one bedroom, one bath, and one sitting area are on a single level.
BATHCAB: Bathroom Cabinets – Most cabinets can be reached at less than 48″ from the floor. Cabinets Knee room requirements same as Kitchen Cabinets.
BATHSIZ: Bathroom Size – Minimum 60″ diameter floor area for turnaround or transfer to toilet or tub/shower.
BINLITE: Built-in Lighting – Home has built-in ceiling or wall lighting for more even distribution of light than permitted by plug-in lamps.
CAREQTR: Caregiver Quarters – Guest or caregiver space with bedroom and bath.
ELEVATR: Elevator – Elevator to upper floor(s) is installed in this home.
GRGMAIN: Garage on Main
GRNDLVL: Ground Level – At least kitchen, one bedroom, one bath, and one sitting area are on the ground floor.
KITCAB: Kitchen Cabinets – Most cabinets can be reached at less than 48″ from the floor. Knee room under sink is a minimum 19″ in depth and between 34-37″ from floor to bottom of sink or cabinet. If no knee room, there is room for a table workspace or pull out counters.
LANDING: Landing – Entry porch or landing a minimum of 60″ diameter for opening the door and turning to enter.
MINSTEP: Minimal Steps – No more than two steps/stairs at any one location in the home.
MNBDBTH: Main Floor Bedroom with Bath
NATLITE: Natural Lighting – Windows allow good natural lighting into major living areas of the house.
PARKING: Parking – Parking space is a minimum of 12′ wide, ideally 15′.
PASTACC: Past Accessibility – An already adapted or retrofitted home. Home has been Accessibility occupied by a person with accessibility needs or used as an Adult Foster Care Home, group home, etc.
PATHWAY: Pathway – Pathway from parking area to house entrance is a flat or gentle grade, ideally a 1:12 ratio (1″ rise for 12″ length)
RAMP: Ramp – Ramp from parking area to house entrance is a flat or gentle grade, ideally a 1:12 ratio (1″ rise for 12″ length).
ROLLSHR: Roll in Shower – No barrier/lip/rise to step over. Shower area is minimum 30″ deep and 60″ long. Drain in floor.
STAIRAS: Stair Assistance – Stair assistance device is installed in this home.
WALKSHR: Walk in Shower – Barrier/lip/rise is no higher than 6″ at entrance to shower.
WD-DOOR: Wide Door – Minimum 32″ width.
WD-HALL: Wide Hall – Ideally 36″ width with 60″ diameter turning area at corners.

Energy Efficient Features

WLINSU+: Added Wall Insulation
ESAC: Energy Star Air Conditioning
ESAPL1: 1 Energy Star Appliance
ESAPL2: 2 Energy Star Appliances
ESAPL3: 3 Energy Star Appliances
ESAPL4: 4 Energy Star Appliances
ESAPL5+: 5+ Energy Star Appliances
FOR-90: Forced Air-90%
FOR-95: Forced Air-95%
GEOTHRM: Geothermal
GRNCRTX: Greencert Envelope
HTEXNGR: Heat Exchanger
HT-PUMP: Heat Pump
INSU+CL: Insulation and Ceiling Insulation
MINISPT: Mini Split
PAS-SOL: Passive Solar
PRTWINS: Partial Wall Insulation
PRTCINS: Partial Ceiling Insulation
SOL-ATV: Solar Attic Vent
SOL-HW: Solar Hot Water
SOL-RAD: Solar Radiant
SOL-OFF: Solar Off Grid
SOL-SUP: Solar Supplemental
TNKLESS: Tankless
WDW-DBL: Wood Windows – Double Paned
WDW-TRP: Wood Windows – Triple Paned
VYW-DBL: Vinyl Windows – Double Paned
VYW-TRP: Vinyl Windows – Triple Paned

HOA Benefits

ATHL-CT: Athletic Court
CABLETV: Cable TV
CENTAIR: Central Air Conditioning
CNCIERG: Concierge
ELECT: Electric, Electricity
EXTMANT: Exterior Maintenance
INS: Insurance
LAP-PL: Lap Pool
LKESMNT: Lake Easement
LNDSCPG: Landscaping
MGMT: Management
MTGROOM: Meeting Room
PTYROOM: Party Room
REC-FAC: Recreational Facilities
RQT-BL: Racquetball
SAT-TV: Satellite TV
SAUNA: Sauna
SEWER: Sewer
SLIP: Boat Slip
SNO-REM: Snow Removal
TAN-BDS: Tanning Beds
WT-RM: Weight Room

Financing Options

ASSMP: Assumption
CONV: Conventional Loan
FCS: Farm Credit Service
FMHA: FMHA Loan
LEAS-OP: Lease Option
OWC2ND: Owner Will Carry 2nd
OWNCONT: Owner Carry Contract
SGI: State GI Loan

There are many more out there, but these are most of the more common. If you find something or need clarification on a term let me know – I’d be happy to help.

Cheers,

Aaron

About the Author | Aaron Majors

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Born and raised in Alaska, Aaron came to Portland after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Aaron enjoys the outdoors, volunteering, teaching, learning, and being active in the community. Always loving architecture and buildings, it seemed natural that Aaron's passion became Real Estate. He is a member of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and is always continuing his Real Estate education. He sells Real Estate in the Portland metro area and specializes in selling Homes and has an extensive background in foreclosures, Home Auctions, Short Sales, Bank Owned homes, and investments.