Ownership
Normal Ownership: You have absolute ownership
of a parcel of land.
Condo Ownership: You own the dwelling unit but share common
areas with the other unit owners of the complex. Maintenance fees
are paid.
Coop Ownership: A home which is owned by a corporation in which the
residents own shares.
Ground Rent: Portion of rent attributable to the land alone.
General
Description
Style of Home:
Bi-Level: A house with two levels, where the
main entrance to the house is between the two levels.
Bungalow: A one-story house or cottage, which often has
either an open or enclosed front porch.
Cape Cod: A style of wood-frame house with a front slanting,
steep roof and windows projecting outward from the second floor (with or
without dormer windows).
Colonial: Any two story home, traditional, contemporary,
tudor, cape cod or other.
Contemporary: Any home, one story or two usually designed with some
vaulted, cathedral ceilings, wooden trim and/or siding.
Rambler/Ranch: A one story home with all of the rooms on one
floor.
Split Foyer: Any home with a foyer entrance with steps leading up
and/or down.
Split Level: Any home with three or more levels with steps in the
center of the home.
Transitional: A variation of a colonial, above.
Type of Home:
Attached/Row: Two or more dwellings that are
attached physically but are owned and/or occupied by different people.
Common types are: duplex, triplex, row housing, or townhouses.
Detached: A free-standing dwelling that is designed to house one
family unit.
Duplex: Structure consisting of two separate family units, under
the same roof.
Patio: An improved recreation area outside of a home.
Garden: A unit that provides access to a lawn area to all tenants.
Commonly used to describe any low-rise complex.
High-Rise: A building usually taller than nine stories, serviced by
elevators. The designation as to high-rise is determine by local codes.
Mid-Rise: A building usually less than nines stories, usually
serviced by elevators.
Penthouse: A dwelling located at the top of a tall building, often
luxurious.
Semi-Detached: A dwelling
that shares one side wall with another dwelling.
Townhouse: A residence, often including two or three stories, that
is connected by a common wall to another residence.
Townhouse Types:
End: A townhouse located at the end of a group.
Interior: A townhouse located within a group.
Multiplex: A group of connected dwellings usually arranged by
separate entrances facing different directions.
Piggyback: A townhouse either above or below another townhouse,
each having separate entrances.
Quad: A building containing four dwelling units.
Interior
Details
Attic Finished: An improved area at the uppermost
point of the home, sometimes used for living area.
Attic Unfinished: An unimproved area at the uppermost point of the
home, normally used for storage.
Den/Study/Library: A separate room styled for entertainment or
leisure.
Enclosed Glass Porch: Exterior addition with glass facade.
Family Room: Room in a home designed for leisure time that often
includes a television and other entertainment amenities.
Florida/Sun Room: Glass enclosed porches at the rear or side
of a home, usually in warm weather areas.
Game/Exercise Room: A separate room styled for entertainment or leisure.
Great Room: Loosely defined as a large family room area which may
include access to an open kitchen.
In-Law Suite: A self-contained suite within a dwelling unit in a
building for single family residential use.
Separate Laundry Room: A separate room usually containing a washer,
dryer and sink.
Main Level Bedroom: A home with a bedroom located on the main
living level.
Master Bedroom with sitting room: A smaller separate area connected
to a master bedroom.
Rec Room: A family room usually located in the lower or basement
level of a home.
Storage Room: A separate room best suited for storage.
Two Master Bedrooms: Two bedrooms of similar size, each normally
having their own master bath.
Kitchen
Breakfast Room: Generally a small eating area off
the kitchen or dining room.
Dining "L": A dining area connected at an angle to the
living room. Normally enclosed with 3, not 4 walls.
Family Room off Kitchen: A family room immediately adjacent to the
kitchen.
Country Kitchen: Generally regarded as a roomy kitchen with space for
either a center island, a table or several people.
Table Space: A kitchen with space large enough for a table.
Separate Dining Room: A dining room that has the appearance of being
unassociated with another room. Usually enclosed with 4 walls, but may be
3 or less.
Ceilings
Cathedral: High, vaulted, open ceiling.
Tray: A decorative ceiling finish where the center is
recessed from the vertical plane of the outside sections (in the shape of
an upside-down tray).
9 Foot: A high ceiling generally measuring 9 feet or more from the
floor.
2 Story: A high ceiling generally 2 stories or more from the
floor.
Windows and Doors
Bay/Bow Window: Window, divided into three
sections, that curves outward in an arc, extending the window area out
from the wall, so that it gives a room a larger appearance.
Double Pane Window: A window with two pieces of glass
French Doors: Single or double doors in which the majority of the
door area is made up of one or more panes of glass surrounded by a frame.
One or both doors swing open on hinges.
Skylight: Roof window that allows natural light into a room.
Sliding Glass Door: Door with sections that slide back and forth
mounted on or suspended from a track
Storm Windows/Storm Doors: A window installed, for additional
protection in cold weather, over an ordinary window. A door that
provides insulation and weather protection and is usually installed
outside of a wooden exterior door.
Basement
Basement: Any area of a building which has its
floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
Full Basement: A basement that is fully excavated under
the majority of the home.
Fully Finished Basement: Generally regarded as an improved
lower level suitable for additional living space. Some unfinished
space is acceptable within the definition.
Partial Basement: A basement that is not fully excavated
under the majority of the home.
Partially Finished Basement: Generally regarded as missing some
improved conditions making it not suitable or less suitable for additional
living space. Conditions such as uninstalled carpet, drywall or ceiling is
considerable examples of partially finished.
Unfinished Basement: A basement without improvements rendering it
unacceptable as additional living space.
Walkout Level: Type of basement that allows a door to open
into the yard because the basement is at ground level.
Walkout Stairs: A basement with steps leading from a basement
door along the house to the ground level.
Roof
Composite: A type of roof shingle with one or more
different material components.
Hip: Slopes on the ends as well as the sides, so that the eave line
formed is constant on all walls.
Shingled/Asbestos: A type of roof shingle with asbestos as part of
its composition.
Shingled/Asphalt: A type of roof shingle with asphalt as part of
its composition.
Shingled/Wood: A type of roof shingle with wood being the main
component.
Slate: A type of roof shingle with slate being the main
component.
