Real Estate English: Vocabulary for Property Transactions

Learning English for real estate can help you buy, sell, or rent property.

I will teach you the most important words and phrases. We use simple language so everyone can understand.

Table of Contents

What is Real Estate?

Real estate means land and buildings. When people buy, sell, or rent homes and offices, they are doing real estate transactions. A transaction is when money changes hands for something.

Basic Property Types

Houses

A house is a building where one family lives. Houses have different types:

Single-family house: One family lives here
Townhouse: Houses connected in a row
Duplex: A house with two separate homes inside

Apartments

An apartment is a home inside a bigger building. Many families live in the same building but in different apartments.

Studio apartment: One big room for everything
One-bedroom: Has a separate bedroom
Penthouse: Expensive apartment on the top floor

Commercial Properties

These are buildings for business:

Office building: Where people work
Shopping mall: Where people buy things
Warehouse: Big building to store things

Important People in Real Estate

Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent helps people buy and sell property. They know the market well. The market means all the properties for sale in an area.

Broker

A broker is like an agent but with more training. Brokers can own real estate companies.

Landlord

A landlord owns property and rents it to others. The people who pay rent are called tenants.

Inspector

An inspector checks if a building is safe and in good condition.

Money Words in Real Estate

Price and Value

Price: How much money someone wants for a property
Market value: What experts think a property is worth
Appraisal: When an expert decides the value of a property

Payment Terms

Down payment: Money you pay first when buying a house
Mortgage: A loan from a bank to buy a house
Monthly payment: Money you pay every month for your mortgage
Interest rate: Extra money you pay to borrow money

Costs

Closing costs: Extra fees when you buy a house
Property taxes: Money you pay to the government every year
Insurance: Protection you buy in case something bad happens
Commission: Money paid to real estate agents

Renting Vocabulary

Basic Rental Terms

Rent: Money paid every month to live somewhere
Lease: A contract that says how long you can rent a place
Security deposit: Extra money paid at the start (you get it back later)
Utilities: Water, electricity, gas, and internet services

Rental Process

Application: Forms you fill out to rent a place
Credit check: When landlords look at your money history
References: People who say good things about you
Move-in date: The day you can start living there

Buying and Selling Words

The Buying Process

Pre-approval: When a bank says they will lend you money
House hunting: Looking for a house to buy
Showing: When an agent shows you a house
Open house: When anyone can visit and see a house

Making an Offer

Offer: How much money you want to pay for a house
Negotiation: Talking about the price to reach an agreement
Contract: Legal paper that says you will buy the house
Contingency: Special conditions that must happen first

Closing the Deal

Closing: The final meeting where you buy the house
Title: Legal paper that proves you own the house
Deed: Another legal paper about ownership
Escrow: A safe place where money waits during the sale

Property Features and Descriptions

Size and Layout

Square feet: How big a place is
Bedroom: Room where you sleep
Bathroom: Room with toilet and shower
Living room: Room where family spends time together
Kitchen: Room where you cook food
Basement: Room under the ground floor
Attic: Room under the roof

Property Condition

Move-in ready: The house is perfect and clean
Fixer-upper: A house that needs work
Renovated: Fixed and made new again
As-is: Sold exactly how it is now

Location Words

Neighborhood: The area around a house
School district: The area served by local schools
Commute: Travel time to work
Walkable: Easy to walk to stores and services

Legal and Contract Terms

Important Documents

Purchase agreement: Contract to buy a house
Disclosure: Information the seller must tell you
Warranty: Promise that something will work
Addendum: Extra information added to a contract

Property Rights

Ownership: Having legal control of property
Property line: The edge of your land
Easement: Right for others to use part of your land
HOA: Home Owners Association (group that makes rules)

Common Phrases in Real Estate

Questions Buyers Ask

“What is the asking price?” (How much does it cost?)
“When was it built?” (How old is the house?)
“What are the property taxes?” (How much tax per year?)
“Is it move-in ready?” (Can I live there now?)

Things Agents Say

“The market is hot” (Houses sell quickly)
“It’s priced to sell” (The price is good)
“Location, location, location” (Where it is matters most)
“The house shows well” (It looks good to buyers)

Rental Conversations

“When is it available?” (When can I move in?)
“Are pets allowed?” (Can I have a dog or cat?)
“What utilities are included?” (What do I not pay extra for?)
“Can I see the lease?” (Can I read the contract?)

Tips for English Learners

Before You Start

Learn basic numbers and money words
Practice asking questions politely
Understand legal terms slowly
Ask people to speak slowly if needed

During Property Visits

Write down new words you hear
Ask “What does that mean?” when confused
Take notes about important information
Don’t be afraid to ask questions twice

Working with Professionals

Tell them English is your second language
Ask for written information
Bring a translator if needed
Take time to think before signing anything

Practice Exercises

Try using these words in sentences:

Make a sentence with “mortgage” and “down payment”
Describe your dream house using five new words
Write questions you would ask a real estate agent
Practice saying big numbers (house prices)

Conclusion

Learning real estate English takes time, but it is very useful. Start with basic words like “house,” “rent,” and “buy.” Then learn about money terms like “mortgage” and “down payment.”

Remember that real estate agents want to help you. Don’t be shy about asking questions. If you don’t understand something, ask them to explain it again.

The most important thing is to understand before you sign any papers. Take your time, ask questions, and learn new words every day. Soon, you will feel comfortable talking about real estate in English.

Real estate is about finding the right home for you. With good English skills, you can find exactly what you want and understand all the details. Keep practicing these words, and you will become confident in any property transaction.

Whether you want to buy your first home, rent an apartment, or invest in property, these words will help you succeed. Good luck with your real estate journey!