Real Estate Abbreviations

There are many abbreviations used in real estate, but the following list includes the more common ones you’ve probably heard before. In the abbreviations, you may see differences in which letters get capitalized and which don’t depending on the realtor/publication.

• 3B/2B - three bedrooms and two bathrooms
• 2C - two-car garage
• A/C - air conditioning
• Appls - appliances
• Apt - apartment
• Ba - bathroom
• Br - bedroom
• CAC - central air conditioning
• Ch - central heat
• D/D - dishwasher and a garbage disposal
• Dk - deck
• Det - detached garage
• Dr/Fdr - dining room/formal dining room
• Fag - forced air gas
• F/Fin Bsmt - fully finished basement
• FMV - fair market value
• Fp - fireplace
• FSBO - for sale by owner
• Gar - garage
• Hdw - hardwood floors
• HOA - homeowners association
• Kit - kitchen
• La - living area
• Lr - living room
• MLS - Multiple Listing Service; database of real estate for sale
• Ofc - office
• Pl - swimming pool
• Pvt - private
• Pwdr Rm - powder room or half bath
• RTO - rent to own
• Sfh - single family home
• Spac - spacious
• Upr - upper floor
• W/D - washer and dryer

All of these abbreviations are commonly used to describe the features of a house or commercial property. Abbreviations on the list may have capitalization variations.

• Ac - acre
• Aek - all electric kitchen
• Att - attached garage
• Brk - brick
• Cath ceil - cathedral ceiling
• Cldsc - cul-de-sac
• C/Vac - central vacuum
• Cp - carport
• Elv - elevator
• Feat - features
• Flr - floor
• Gard - garden
• Gdo - garage door opener
• Grmet Kit - gourmet kitchen
• Grt Rm - great room
• Hi Ceils - high ceilings
• Mba - master bedroom with bathroom
• Osp - off-street parking is available
• Smart -a computer controls some electronic devices like heating, alarms, and lights
• Str - on-street parking
• Vw - view or views
• Wic - walk-in closet

This list of real estate investing abbreviations is useful for real estate brokers. These abbreviations are typically written in all capital letters.

• ARV – after-repaired value
• CCIM – Certified Commercial Investment Member
• COO or C of O – certificate of occupancy
• CMA – comparative market analysis
• COCR or CCR – cash on cash return
• COF – cost of funds
• CRE – commercial real estate
• DTI – debt to income ratio
• FMR – fair market rent
• FMV – fair market value
• GRM – gross rent multiplier
• HML –hard money lender
• IRA – individual retirement account
• IRR – internal rate of return
• JV – joint venture
• L/O – lease option
• LLC – Limited Liability Company
• LLP – Limited Liability Partnership
• LTV – loan to value
• MAO – maximum allowable offer
• MLA - market leasing assumption
• NNN – triple net lease
• NOI – net operating income
• NOO – non-owner occupied
• OO – owner occupied
• O/F – owner finance
• P&S – purchase and sale
• PCF – price to cash flow (ratio)
• PITI – principal, interest, taxes and insurance
• PUD – planned unit development
• Q Pos - available for quick possession
• REI – real estate investing
• REO – real estate owned
• ROI – return on investment
• TT - transfer tax

If you need help understanding your mortgage or contract, these are some of the more common real estate, legal, and financial abbreviations you’ll see. All abbreviations on this list are typically written in all capital letters.

• AMORT – amortization
• APR – annual percentage rate
• ARM – adjustable rate mortgage
• CCR – conditions, covenants, and restrictions
• CFD – contract for deed
• CLTV – combined loan to value
• CAP – capitalization
• DOS – due on sale clause
• DOT – deed of trust
• EMC – earnest money contract
• FCRA – Fair Credit Reporting Act
• I/O– interest only (loan)
• LOC – line of credit
• LOI – letter of intent
• LPOA – limited power of attorney
• MOS - memorandum of sale
• PCOA - post closing occupancy agreement
• PMI – private mortgage insurance
• POA – power of attorney
• POF – proof of funds
• Sub2 – subject to existing financing
• TIL – Truth In Lending

Real estate agents and other real estate professionals often need to have specific certifications and may work with or belong to different associations or groups. These abbreviations are typically written in all capital letters.

• ABR – Accredited Buyer Representative
• ACRP - Association of Commercial Real Estate Professionals
• AMO – Accredited Management Organization
• CBR – Certified Buyer Representative
• CHMS – Certified Home Marketing Specialist
• CLHMS – Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
• CNS – Certified Negotiation Specialist
• CPM – Certified Property Manager
• CRB – Certified Real Estate Broker
• CRS – Certified Residential Specialist
• FDIC – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
• FHA – Federal Housing Administration
• FHLMC – Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation)
• GNMA – Ginnie Mae (Government National Mortgage Association)
• GRES – Graduate Real Estate Society
• GRI – Graduate REALTOR® Institute
• HUD – Housing and Urban Development
• NAA - National Association of Appraisers
• NAR – National Association of Realtors
• REALTOR® – Member of the National Association of Realtors
• REBNY – Real Estate Board of New York
• REIA – Real Estate Investors Association
• SRES – Senior Real Estate Specialist

Whether you are looking at abbreviations or acronyms for real estate terms, be sure you clearly understand what they mean when referring to a specific piece of real estate. When dealing with real estate, you might also need to know things like the abbreviations for all 50 states or even common measurement abbreviations.