RE Abbv. (Real Estate Abbreviations) Impact the Home Buying Process
It’s not news that the internet has forever changed some industries, enabling members of the general public to do many things they previously had to contact agents or call centers to do, such as booking travel, ordering from catalogs – or buying new homes! Like other new home builders, Soundbuilt Homes is working to make it as easy as possible for Puget Sound area home buyers to discover why our homes provide great value.
Even though a lot of information about homes for sale in your area is now readily available online, we recommend that you work with real estate agents for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is navigating the paperwork that goes along with the home buying process. Real estate agents working on your behalf can also help you during the negotiation process, which can be stressful when you are emotionally invested in wanting to buy a specific home.
Real estate agents also have ready access to a lot of good data, sales records and other information that you can use to determine whether a home is a good value or how it compares to other homes currently for sale or which have recently sold.
But the fact remains that most Puget Sound area new home searches now start online, and home buyers have access to more information about existing homes and new homes for sale than ever before. Even so, many online listings still contain abbreviations and jargon that might be familiar to those within the real estate community, but may not be commonly understood outside of it.
We compiled this list of common real estate abbreviations, industry jargon and slang to help out Pacific Northwest home buyers in search of their dream home in King, Pierce or Thurston County:
| Real Estate Terms and Jargon | Descriptions and Definitions |
| 1/2 Bath | Toilet and sink, also referred to as a “powder room” |
| 1/4 Bath | Rare to find; it would mean only one of 4 bath fixtures present in a room (only the toilet, only a sink, only a tub, etc.) |
| 3/4 Bath | Usually Toilet, sink and shower, no tub |
| Full Bath | In one form or another, has all 4 components including toilet, sink, tub and shower |
| 5 pc Bath | 5 piece bath, meaning it has a toilet, 2 sinks (also referred to as dual sink/vanity) soaking tub and shower (tub and shower are separate) |
| A/C | Air Conditioning |
| BR | Bedroom (abbreviation) |
| CC&Rs | Some communities have covenants, or CC&Rs – Covenants, Codes and Restrictions that apply to home owners |
| CPT | Carpet |
| D/W | Dishwasher |
| Exr | Exercise room |
| F | Furnace (often shown on floor plans) |
| FDR | Formal dining room |
| FHA/VA | Qualifies for FHA or VA loans |
| FM RM or FR | Family room |
| FP | Fireplace |
| HOA | Home owners association |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning |
| HW | Hardwood flooring or hardwood floors |
| HW or WH | Water heater (often shown on floor plans) |
| LR | Living room |
| MBA | Master bedroom with Bath |
| MBR | Master bedroom |
| MBRFP | Master bedroom with fireplace |
| MLS | Multiple Listing Service (also known as NWMLS or Northwest Multiple Listing Service. The MLS is a database where licensed real estate agents list homes for sale |
| MWV | Microwave oven |
| Ofc | Office / study / den |
| PAR | Partially fenced |
| PAT | Patio |
| PRV | Privacy fence |
| REC | Recreation room (sometimes the same as family room, sometimes in addition to family room) |
| REF | Refrigerator |
| UTIL or UTRM | Utility room |
| VYL | Vinyl |
| W/D | Washer / Dryer (location often shown on floor plans) |
| W/O | Walkout (usually referring to walkout basement) |
| WAR | Warranty |
| WF | Waterfront |
| WIC | Walk in Closet |
There are hundreds (probably thousands) of real estate abbreviations commonly used in listings, especially in those listing services where fields with descriptions are limited, forcing agents to rely on abbreviations in order to include more information that you – the home buyer – would be most curious about. Knowing the jargon can help as you decide which homes you most want to see when you are out looking at new homes for sale in the Puget Sound area.
Soundbuilt Homes also opens up model homes at most of our new home communities in the south Puget Sound region every weekend (and multiple days during the week as well). You’re also welcome to contact our site agents to set up an appointment to see our model homes and available community inventory outside of open hours, or with your own realtor. You can find new homes for sale in King, Pierce and Thurston county to visit on our website or by calling the agents who serve as buyers agents in our new home communities.
Happy house hunting from all of us at Soundbuilt Homes!