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Glossary of Real Estate Terms
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| Half-bath |
| Also called powder rooms, half-baths contain a toilet and a sink but no bathtub or shower stall. |
| Hazard insurance |
| This provision of homeowners insurancecovers damage by fire, wind or other disaster. It is required by all lenders before a loan is approved |
| Header |
| Crossbeams above windows and doors. |
| Heat pump |
| An electric cooling and heating system. |
| Hectare |
| The equivalent of 2.471 acres. |
| High density |
| The concentration of housing units in a specific area or on a specific property. |
| High-rise |
| Any building higher than six stories. |
| Hip roof |
| A pitched roof with sloping sides. |
| Historic preservation |
| The physical rehabilitation of a historic home or building and the movement begun in the 1960s in the U.S. to preserve and protect landmarks and urban neighborhoods. |
| Historic structure |
| A home or building listed in the National Register of Historic Places and certified as historic by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. |
| Home equity conversion mortgage |
| Loans made to older owners who want to convert equity into money. Because borrowers are qualified on the basis of the value of their home, e, the loan is not the same as a home equity loan. Also known as reverse mortgages. |
| Home equity loan |
| A loan that allows owners to borrow against the equity in their homes. |
| Home inspection |
| An examination of a home's construction, condition and internal systems by an inspector or contractorprior to purchase. |
| Home rule |
| The power of a local government to adopt its own land-use regulations. |
| Home warranty |
| A type of insurance that covers repairs to certain parts of a house and some fixtures |
| Homeowners association |
| Groups that govern most modern subdivisions and planned communities. The associations collect monthly fees from all owners to pay for maintenance of common areas, handle legal and safety issues, and enforce the covenants, conditions and restrictions set by the developer. |
| Homeowners insurance |
| This insurance includes hazard coverage for any damages that may affect the value of a house, in addition to personal liability and theft coverage. |
| Homeowners warranty |
| Special insurance policies that cover certain home repairs for a specified amount of time. |
| Homesteading |
| A document that to protects some of a home's equity from lawsuits. |
| Hopper window |
| A window that contains a single sash that tilts inward. |
| Hose bibb |
| A threaded faucet connection for devices such as a washing machine. |
| House wrap |
| A polyethylene barrier wrapped around a house to save energy. |
| Housing discrimination |
| The illegal practice of denying an individual or group the right to buy or rent a home based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or family status. |
| Housing expense ratio |
| The percent of gross monthly income devoted to housing costs. |
| HUD-1 Uniform Settlement Statement |
| A closing statement or settlement sheet that outlines all closing costs on a real estate transaction or refinancing. |
