What Do All of Those Abbreviations
in Real Estate Ads Mean?
by Jeanne Rizzotto, Owner/Broker, Century 21-The Summit, Inc.
If you find yourself stumbling over weird abbreviations in a real estate ad, don’t be alarmed. There is method to the madness of this shorthand (which is mostly adopted by sellers to save money in advertising charges). 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 for a top floor or room addition. Verify actual potential by checking local zoning restrictions prior to purchase
- fab pentrm — fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof, that sometimes has views
- FDR — formal dining room (not the former president
- 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 one of several 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 homeowner’s dues are, and in comparison to what?
- nr bst schls — near the best schools
- pvt —
- pwdr rm — powder room, or half-bath
- upr- upper floor
- vw, vu, vws, vus — view(s)
- Wow! — better check this one out.
Copyright Jeanne Rizzotto is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Owner of Century 21-The Summit, Inc., in Red Lodge, Montana, and author of “How To Make Your Realtor Get You The Best Deal (Montana Edition)”. For more about Jeanne, please visit eRedLodge.com or GoGetRealEstate.com/Get/eRedLodge.