Property investment is a complicated and dynamic industry which can often feel intimidating when you are first starting out. You will see numerous acronyms and property jargon that you won’t understand and they can be daunting to get to grips with.
Here is a beginner-friendly glossary to help guide you through some of the ever-confusing terms you may come across as you start your investment journey!
Read on for some unnecessary property jargon busting!
A
Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) – further tax due on the purchase of additional dwellings in Scotland, such as buy-to-let properties and second homes.
TIP: Find out more about how to get relief from ADS here!
B
Below Market Value (BMV) – When a property is offered at a price that is lower than a surveyor would value it at.
C
Conveyancing – The legal process of transferring ownership of a property.
D
Due Diligence – The process of properly evaluating an investment property before you buy.
E
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – A document measuring the energy efficiency of a property. These must be produced for every sale and last 10 years.
F
Fixed Rate – a mortgage option that means you won’t be affected if interest rates go up or down for a set number of years.
G
Gross Development Value (GDV) – The projected value of a property development once it is completed.
H
Home Report – This is a detailed report on the condition and value of the property. It is intended to provide both the seller and purchaser with detailed information about the property’s condition and value before offers are submitted.
I
Instruction – When a seller/vendor grants an agency the authority to put their house on the market.
J
Joint Venture (JV) – An arrangement between two or more parties under which they combine disparate contributions in order to derive value from the development, acquisition or management of the property.
K
Keyholding – A specialist security professional holding an extra pair of keys to your premises.
L
Listed Building – Buildings of special architectural or historic interest. A listed building may carry certain obligations and restrictions governing its use, repair, and maintenance.
M
Market Value – The estimated amount for which an asset or liability should be exchanged for between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion
N
Net Profit Income – The amount (per annum) of the total income of any property, less all expenses relating to the property.
O
Offers Over – An advertising strategy often used to deter low offers where the seller is inviting bids in excess of a stated amount.
P
Portfolio – the term used to describe the collection of investment properties that you own or are available for purchase.
TIP: You can find more information on how to sell a portfolio here!
Q
Quantity Surveyor – A specialist who can advise on financial and contractual matters relating to, and prepare bills of quantities for, construction projects and provide other support functions concerning the financing and materials required for building projects.
R
Return on Investment (ROI) – a measure of how much money, or profit, is made on an investment as a percentage of the cost of that investment.
S
Shared Ownership – An alternative home ownership scheme which gives first-time buyers/those who don’t own a home the chance to purchase a share in a property.
T
Tenure – The type of ownership of a property: for example freehold, leasehold, feuhold.
U
Under Offer – When a prospective buyer has made an offer on the property and the owner is considering the offer.
V
Value Adding – When there is an increase in the market value, rental income or cash flow of a property through renovations or asset management.
W
Warrant – A document providing permission for building work. This usually involves erecting, altering, extending, converting or demolishing a property.
X
Xystus – A garden walk or terrace embarked by trees (yes, I was getting desperate here!)
Y
Yield – The annual rental income expressed as a percentage of the total property value. Rental yield can be used as a benchmark figure when comparing buy-to-let properties.
TIP: You can find out more about the benefits of a high yield here!
Z
Zoopla – A property advertising portal for both sales and lettings.
TIP: Have a look at the Zoopla property portal here!
I hope this has helped give you some confidence and guidance in getting started in the ever-changing world of property investment and the property jargon that comes with it!
If you need any assistance or have any questions then please get in touch via the contact page on our website at www.theportfoliobrokers.com or check out our social media pages on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
