Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC

Glossary of Real Estate Terms

This glossary is for informational purposes only and should not be used without legal counsel for the purpose of reading/understanding a contract.

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Obligee

The one to whom a debt is owed.

Obligor

The one who owes a debt.

Offer

A presentation of a set of terms that is subject to another party's acceptance that is essential to arrive at a meeting of the minds needed to result a valid contract.

Offer to Purchase

A presentation of a set of terms made by a potential buyer to a property owner to purchase his or her property

Offeree

The one who receives an offer.

Offeror

The one who makes an offer.

Open House

A property that is being presented without the need for an appointment that is available for inspection by potential purchasers.

Open Listing

A nonexclusive authorization given to a licensee and which may be given to a number of licensees by a property owner, who retains the right to sell directly, to try to secure a purchaser without any liability to compensate anyone but the one who is the first to produce a ready, willing and able buyer who meets the terms of the listing or the one who gets the seller to accept an offer. Upon the sale of the property, the owner is under no obligation to notify anyone of the fact of the sale.

Option

A right, given for a consideration, to purchase or lease a property, upon specified terms and within a specified time period, and placing no obligation on the party receiving the option to purchase the property.

Option Listing

A listing that give the listing broker the right (option) to purchase the listed property.

Option to Purchase

A contract giving one party the right but not the obligation to buy the property of another party within a certain time, for a stated amount, and subject to specific conditions. Example: Marco needs two adjacent parcels of land for a project he wishes to build. He can obtain an option to purchase one of them; if he is able to buy the other, he can use his option to buy the first one. If he cannot buy the other, he can let the option expire.

Optionee

The one who receives an option who might be the potential purchaser of real property.

Optionor

The one who gives the option who is usually the owner of the real property.

Overall Interest Rate

A rate that includes interest on the land and the building and provides for a recapture of the capital invested.

Owner

The person who owns property and might be listing it and since he or she has not sold the property, so would not yet be considered to be a “seller.”

Owner Financing

See Seller financing.

Owner Occupant

A resident who also owns the property. Example: Homer lives in a home that he also owns. Landon owns a home but rents it to Renton- Homer is an owner occupant, Landon is an absentee owner, and Renton is a rental tenant.

Owner of Record

The owner who holds record title and whose name appears on the recorded deed.

Owners Policy

Title insurance for the owner of property, rather than a lien holder.

A policy of title insurance, which insures a named owner against loss by reason of defects, liens and encumbrances or lack of marketability of the title.

Ownership

The right of one or more parties to possess, use, enjoy and to dispose of property and to exclude all others.