Welcome to the Petaluma real estate and homes for sale real estate and mortgage glossary for Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Petaluma, Sonoma and Sonoma County, CA areas. Understanding real estate terminology can be of great assistance in buying or selling a home, commercial property, or investment property. In order to help you understand words commonly used in a real estate transaction, I have prepared a list of real estate terms you should become familiar with. Thanks again and be sure to contact me for any of your Santa Rosa real estate needs or real estate needs for Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Petaluma, Sonoma here in Sonoma County, CA.

Terms:

Interest Rate
The monthly effective rate paid (or received if you are a creditor) on borrowed money. Expressed as a percentage of the sum borrowed.

MLS- IDX
IDX, or broker reciprocity, is a listing sharing arrangement between brokers within a Mulitple Listing Service.

Market Value
An asset's market value is the price it would fetch in the market, if it were sold in the current marketplace.

Title Insurance
A type of insurance which guarantees the ownership and quality of title to land.

Appraisal
An educated estimate of the value of a property on a certain date given by a person, usually after an inspection of the property.

As is
Implied in most Agreements of Purchase and Sale, suggests the buyer is accepting the property in it present state and relinquishes and responsibility from the buyer.

Bankruptcy
a) A person who has done any of the acts that by law entitle his creditors to have his estate administered for their benefit; b) a person judicially declared subject to having his estate administered under the bankrupt laws for the benefit of his creditors; c) a person who becomes insolvent.

Bid
To offer (a price) whether for payment or acceptance.

Property Tax
A tax levied on real or personal property

Interest Rate
The percentage usually on an annual basis that is paid for the use of money borrowed from another

Home Loan
a) Money lent at interest; b) something lent usually for the borrower's temporary use.

Credit Risk
An estimate of the amount of credit that can be extended to a company or person without undue risk.

Credit Union
A cooperative organization that makes loans to its members at low interest rates.

Prime Rate
The lowest rate of interest on bank loans at a given time and place, offered to preferred borrowers.

ARM
A mortgage whose interest rate is raised or lowered at periodic intervals according to the prevailing interest rates in the market.

Home Equity Loan
A loan or credit line that is secured by the equity the borrower has in a home.

Mortgage
A temporary, conditional pledge of property to a creditor as security for performance of an obligation or repayment of a debt.

If you are looking for Petaluma real estate and homes for sale or real estate and homes for sale in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Petaluma, Sonoma or any nearby Sonoma County, CA area, I am here to help. Please use this simple real estate request form that will help you when you are looking for a home for sale in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Petaluma, or Sonoma. Whether you are buying or selling Santa Rosa or Petaluma real estate and homes, you have come to the right place. Please note all of your information will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used to provide you with outstanding real estate services.