The Real Estate
Encyclopedia: K-O

In real estate and contract law, an oral contract is a verbal agreement between parties that has not been reduced to writing. It is formed through spoken words rather than a written document. While oral contracts may be legally valid in some circumstances, many real...

In real estate, an option is a contractual right granted for consideration that allows a person to purchase or lease a property on specified terms within a defined period of time. The party receiving the option has the exclusive right to decide whether to exercise it....

In real estate and land use regulation, the open space ratio is a measurement that compares the amount of land area devoted to open space to the total floor area of an apartment building. It is commonly expressed as a ratio and used to evaluate development density....

In real estate finance, an open mortgage is a mortgage loan that allows the borrower to prepay the debt in whole or in part without incurring a prepayment penalty. This feature gives the borrower flexibility to refinance or pay off the loan early. Open mortgages are...

In real estate brokerage, an open listing is a written authorization given by a property owner to a real estate broker agreeing to pay a commission if the broker procures an offer that meets the specified price and terms. The agreement does not grant the broker an...

In real estate marketing, an open house is a property that is made available for inspection by prospective buyers or tenants without the need for an appointment. It is typically held during specified hours on designated days. Open houses are commonly used as a...

In real estate finance, an open end mortgage is a mortgage that allows the mortgagor to borrow additional funds under the same mortgage instrument after the initial loan has been made. The additional advances are secured by the same property, subject to the conditions...

In real estate and contract law, offer and acceptance are the essential elements required to form a binding contract for the sale of real property. An offer is a definite proposal made by one party, and acceptance is the unqualified agreement to those terms by the...

In real estate and contract law, an offer is a presentation or proposal made by one party to another for the purpose of forming a contract. It expresses the offeror’s intent to enter into a binding agreement if the stated terms are accepted. To be legally binding, an...

In real estate appraisal, obsolescence refers to a loss in value resulting from reduced desirability or usefulness of a structure as its design, layout, or features become outdated. This decline in value occurs when a property no longer meets current market...