CENTURY 21: The Gold Standard

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What do the acronyms in the ads mean?

The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words certainly holds true when home buyers are trying to decipher the cryptic code used r home listings. "Finding the home of your dreams should be fun. But first-time buyers who already are struggling to understand financing, purchase contracts and contingency clauses should not be daunted when looking at listings in their local publications. While the writer of a recent newspaper classified advertisement was generous enough to describe their home as "impeccably maintained, others in the same paper save space (and advertising charges) by relying on the word "Clean, Rmdl" or Updates. Note that such terms do not convey the same meaning, so be sure to ask exactly what is meant by the seller.

Here are some abbreviations and the meaning of each, taken from a recent newspaper classified section:

• assum. fin. --- assumable financing
• dk --- deck
• gar --- garage garden is usually abbreviated gard.
• expansion pot'l --- may be extra space on the lot, or possibly vertical potential exists for a top floor or room addition. Verify actual potential by checking local zoning restrictions prior to purchase.
• fabPentrm --- fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof that sometimes has views
• FDR --- formal dining room
• frplc, fplc, FP --- fireplace
• grmet kit --- gourmet kitchen
• HDW, HWF, Hdwd --- hardwood floors
• hi ceils --- high ceilings
• In-law potential --- potential for a separate apartment. Sometimes, local zoning codes restrict rentals of such units so be sure the conversion is legal first.
• large E-2 plan --- this is floor plans available in a specific building
• lsd pkg. --- Leased parking area, may come with an additional cost
• lo dues --- find out just how low these one of several homeowner's dues are, and in comparison to what?
• nr bst schls --- near the best schools
• pvt --- private
• pwdr rm --- powder room, or hao,-bath
• upr--- upperfloor
• vw, vu, vws, vus --- view(s)
• Wow! --- better check this one out.

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