Real Estate Glossary
Our glossary is the largest dictionary of real estate and construction terms on the Internet with almost 10,000 definitions.
- Co-sign
- see cosign.
- Cosign
- To sign a note for the benefit of another, therefore assuming liability for the debt.
- Co-signer
- see co-maker.
- Cost
- The amount of money asked and paid for an item.
- Cost of Capital
- The rate of return that is necessary to maintain market value of a real estate project and is also used for project evaluation purposes.
- Cost of Development
- Expenditures incurred to develop real estate.
- Cost of Living
- Cost to buy goods and services encompassed in an accepted standard level of consumption.
- Cost-plus Percentage Contract
- A contract that determines the builder's profit based on a percentage of the labor and materials used in the construction of the building.
- Cotenancy
- When two or more individuals have simultaneous rights in a property unit and have legal privileges and responsibilities to each other.
- Cottage
- A one-story house, small in size.
- Cotter
- A bolt that is placed through a slot to hold something together.
- Cotter Pin
- A looped wire split pin, which holds objects together by having the ends opposite the loop spread apart, after insertion through a hole.
- Coulisse
- A grooved piece of wood that guides a sliding door or panel in a piece of furniture.
- Counter
-
- The top surface of a long table, cabinet, board, or top of anything that is used as an eating area, a place for preparing food, display of goods, etc.
- In a contrary manner or direction; in opposition.
- Counteract
- To undo the effect of something with opposing action. To neutralize.
- Counterbalance
- Weight used to balance another weight. A force or influence that offsets another.
- Counterbore
- The increase of the diameter of an opening for only part of the length. Holes though a material may have a one-inch sized diameter of half of the length with only a ¾ inch diameter for the balance of the hole, making it counterbored to a diameter of one inch to a depth of ½ inch.
- Counterclaim
- Counter action by a defendant against a plaintiff in a legal action.
- Counterclockwise
- Movement in the direction opposite of the hands of a clock.
- Counter Electromotive Force
- Force that occurs due to the voltage produced by a magnetic field that is in opposition to the magnetic field that is around a coil. The voltage is induced in the coil when the magnetic field cuts the coil. Current moving through the coil forms a magnetic field around the coil. This magnetic field moves across the turns of the coil, which induces a second voltage, which builds a magnetic field opposing the course current. The induced voltage is counter electromotive force.
- Counterflashing
- Substance or material used at the top of a chimney at the roof to inhibit the development of moisture and to protect the metal with one end embedded in the masonry and the other edge overlapping the roof flashing.
- Counteroffer
- A response to an offer with a revised offer.
- Counterpoise
- A state of equality between opposing forces.
- Counterrotating
- Rotating in opposite directions.
- Countershaft
- Also called a jackshaft, this solid, short round shaft is used for the transmission of power from a motor to a working part.
- Countersink
- To enlarge a hole in the wood, metal, etc. so that the head of the screw or bolt will fit flush with the surface or below it; to sink the head of a bolt or screw into that hole.
- Countersink Bit
- Conical-shaped cutting edge designed to fit into the adjustable end of a drill (called a Chuck). This bit is used to cut countersinks.
- Counterthrust
- Opposing thrust.
- Countertop
- Top mounted surface of a cabinet, which is usually ceramic tile or synthetic marble or non-laminated plastic, depending on usage and cost. Certain countertops are more durable than others.
- Countertorque
- Braking a motor by the development of torque opposition to the direction of rotation through the reversal of power to the motor.
- Counterweight
- Weight equal to another; a counter balance.
- Coupling
- A type of fitting with two female ends that receive the smaller ends of piping or tubing, making a connection. A mechanical device or part for joining parts together to make a joint. A type of fitting used to join plumbing pipes.
- Coupling, Bandage Type
- Wrap-around clamp consisting of an elastomer seal to encircle the pipe and a long split metal sleeve to fit around the elastomer, which is then tightened with band clamps, providing strength and repair.
- Coupon
- Sampling of material, which was involved in destructive testing as specified by ASTM, covering such types of testing as tensile testing, such as the dimensions of the sample used as a coupon.
- Course
- A continuous horizontal line of installed material such as brick, block, siding, etc.
- Courier Fee
- Charges for the delivery of documents between lenders, escrow companies, and other parties of a real estate transaction.
- Court
-
- Enclosed place. An uncovered space, wholly or partially surrounded by buildings or walls is a courtyard.
- Special section or area of a building, somewhat like a courtyard, but roofed with skylights.
- A specially prepared quadrangular shaped space used for playing any of several ballgames.
- Cove
- Concave or cratered corner. Interior corners. A hollow cornice. Recessed area.
- Cove Lighting
- Indirect lighting, which is created by installing it close to the joint of the ceiling and the wall so that it is shielded.
- Cove Molding
- Molding with a concave face, which is used to finish interior corners.
- Covenant
- A binding agreement made by two or more parties to either do or keep from doing a specified thing.
- Covenants Running With The Land
- Written agreement or guarantee annexed to the land, between two or more parties to do or not do something and is transferred to successive title holders.
- Coverage
- Square footage of surface area that can be covered by a particular material.
- Covered Electrode
- Consumable metal arc welding rod, which has a covering of a flux or other materials to enhance the weld quality.
- Cover Plate
- Removable cover of metal or other materials.
- Cowl
- Vent pipe hood, which protects it from the elements.
- CPI
- see Consumer Price Index.
- CPVC
- Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride; plastic pipe which is used to carry hot water.
Treena Rinaldi
703-927-3863
Mostafa Shah
Mostafa Shah
703-217-6519
Korte Realty
Korte Realty
