Back fill
Soil used to solidify the foundation of a structure.

Back title letter
A letter that a title insurance company gives to an attorney who then examines the title for insurance purposes.

Back-to-back escrow
Arrangements that an owner makes to oversee the sale of one property and the purchase of another at the same time.

Backup offer
A secondary bid for a property that the seller will accept if the first offer fails.

Backwater valve
A valve in a sewer line that prevents sewage from flowing back into a house.

Balance sheet
A statement that shows the assets, liabilities and net worth of an individual.

Balloon loan
A mortgage in which monthly installments are not large enough to repay the loan by the end of the term. As a result, the final payment due is the lump sum of the remaining principal.

Balloon payment
The final lump sum payment due at the end of a balloon mortgage.

Balloon-frame construction
A type of framing used in two-story homes in which studs extend from the ground to the ceiling of the second floor.

Balustrade
Railing held up by a set of posts on a porch or stairway.

Bargain sale
The sale of a piece of property for less than market value.

Baseboard
Any board or molding found at the bottom of an interior wall.

Baseboard electric heat
Heating units installed in the floor that can be controlled by a central thermostat.

Basement
The area of a home below ground level.

Basis Point
A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percentage point. For example, the difference between a loan at 8.25 percent and a mortgage at 8.37 percent is 12 basis points.

Bay
The opening between two columns or walls that forms a space.

Bay window
A window that projects outward in a curve.

Bearing wall
A wall that supports its own weight in addition to other parts of a structure.

Before-tax income
Total income before taxes are deducted.

Beneficiary
The lender who makes a loan, also called a mortgagee. The person borrowing money is the mortgagor.

Bequest
Personal property given to a person through a will.

Bidding war
Offers from multiple buyers for a piece of property. Agents also sometimes compete to list a house for sale.

Bilateral contract
A contract in which the parties involved give mutual promises. Also called "reciprocal" contracts.

Bill of sale A document that transfers ownership of personal property.


Biweekly mortgage
A mortgage that requires payments every two weeks and helps repay the loan over a shorter term.

Blanket insurance policy
A policy that covers more than one person or piece of property.

Blanket mortgage
A mortgage that covers more than one property owned by the same borrower.

Blighted area
A neighborhood that has deteriorated.

Blind nailing
Nails driven into a wall and concealed with putty.

Blue sky laws
Regulations on the sale of securities to prevent consumers from investing in fraudulent or high-risk companies without being informed of the risks.

Blue-ribbon condition
A house maintained close to its original condition. Also called mint condition.

Blueprint


Board foot
Measurement of lumber that is the equivalent of 144 cubic inches.

Board of Equalization
A state board charged with ensuring that local property taxes are assessed in a uniform manner.

Board-and-batten siding
Siding is composed of 8- to 12-inch wide wooden boards nailed vertically to create a barn-like exterior.

Boilerplate
Form language used in deeds, mortgages and other documents. Details can be added by individual parties.

Bona fide
A legal term that refers to actions or persons that are honest and in good faith.

Bond
An agreement that insures one party against loss by acts or defaults of another party.

Book value
The value of a property as a capital asset based on its cost plus any additions, minus depreciation.

Boring test
An analysis of soil in which holes are bored into the ground and samples are removed.

Borough
A section of a city that has authority over local matters.

Borrow
Sand, gravel or other material used for grading.

Borrow pit
The hole at a site that has been excavated.

Boulevard
A street lined with trees or constructed with a landscaped median.

Boundary
The dividing line between two adjacent properties.

Braced framing
A construction method in two-story homes in which the frame is reinforced with posts and braces.

Breach of contract
The failure to perform provisions of a contractwithout a legal excuse.

Breach of covenant
The failure to obey a legal agreement.

Breast height
The height at which the diameter of a tree is measured: four feet, six inches above the ground.

Breezeway
A roofed passageway with open sides.

Brick
Building material made from clay molded into oblong blocks and fired in a kiln.

Bridge loan
A short-term loan for borrowers who need more time to find permanent financing.

Broker
A person licensed by the state to deal in real estate.

Brokerage
The act of bringing together two or more parties in exchange for a fee or commission.

Broom clean
The ideal condition of a building when it is turned over to an owner or tenant.

Brownstone
A vintage row house constructed of red sandstone.

Buffer strip
A parcel of land that separates two or more properties.

Builder upgrades
Extra house features or better finishing materials that a builder offers.

Building and loan association
An organization that raises money to helps its members purchase real estate or construct a building.

Building code
A comprehensive set of laws that controls the construction or remodeling of a home or other structure.

Building inspector
A city or county employee who enforces the building code and ensures that work is correctly performed.

Building line or setback
Guidelines that limit how close an owner can build to the street or an adjacent property.

Building moratorium
A halt on home construction to slow the rate of development.

Building paper
A thick, water-resistant paper that serves as insulation.

Building permit
A permit issued by a local government agency that allows the construction of home or renovation of a house.

Building restrictions
Regulations that limit the manner in which property can be used.

Built-ins
Appliances or other items that are framed into a home or permanently attached.

Bulkhead
A retaining wall designed to hold back water from the ocean or another body of water.

Bundle of rights
The various interests or rights an owner has in a property.

Bungalow
A small one-story house or cottage.

Buy-down mortgage
A home loan in which the lender receives a premium as an inducement to reduce the interest rate during the early years of the mortgage.

Bylaws
The rules and regulations that a homeowners association or corporation adopts to govern activities.