GAR to the 2B: Real Estate Lingo

Real estate is full of acronyms and terms that might be unfamiliar to first-time buyers. Her's a cheat sheet to let you in on the lingo.

4B/2B -- four bedrooms and two bathrooms. "Bedroom" usually means a sleeping area with a window and a closet, but the definition varies in different places. A "full bathroom" is a room with a toilet, a sink and a bathtub. A "three-quarter bathroom" has a toilet, a sink and a shower. A "half bathroom" or powder room has only a toilet and a sink.

CMA -- comparative market analysis or competitive market analysis. A CMA is a report that shows prices of homes that are comparable to a subject home and that were recently sold, are currently on the market or were on the market, but not sold within the listing period.

dk -- deck

fab pentrm -- fabulous pentroom, a room on top (but under the roof) that has great views

FDR -- formal dining room

fixture -- anything of value that is permanently attached to or a part of real property. (Real estate is legally called "real property," while movables are called "personal property.") Examples of fixtures include installed wall-to-wall carpeting, light fixtures, window coverings, landscaping and so on. Fixtures are a frequent subject of buyer and seller disputes. When in doubt, get it in writing.

frplc, fplc, FP -- fireplace

gar -- garage (garden is usually abbrevated as "gard.")

grmet kit -- gourmet kitchen

HDW, HWF, Hdwd -- hardwood floors

hi ceils -- high ceilings

in-law potential -- potential for a separate apartment, subject to local zoning restrictions

large E-2 plan -- this is one of several floorplans available in a specific building

lsd pkg. -- leased parking area. May come with additional cost.

MLS -- Multiple Listing Service. An MLS is an organization that collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its members, who are real estate brokers. Membership isn't open to the general public, although selected MLS data may be sold to real estate listings Web sites. MLSs are local or regional. There is no MLS covering the whole country.

nr bst schls -- near the best schools

pot'l -- potential

pvt -- private

pwdr rm -- half bathroom or powder room

upr -- upper floor

vw, vu, vws, vus -- view(s)