Understanding Real Estate Acronyms

So you have decided that you want to sell your home and are now in the stage of placing your home in the listings of homes for sale. You pick up a popular real estate listings guide in your area and flip through only to find descriptions of homes like: dk or pvt or FDR. Sometimes reading a real estate listings guide can feel like an exercise in code breaking, however understanding all of these terms is actually simple.

To those individuals who want to know, "What do all those real estate acronyms in the ads mean?," you're about to find out.

Through this abbreviated guide, you will be able to decipher these miniature real estate terms:

Assum. fin ; assumable financing

dk ; deck

gar ; garage

gard ; garden

expansion pot'l ; potential for housing expansion either through extra space on the lot or through a vertical potential to add a top floor

fab pentrm ; fabulous pentroom, which a room on top underneath the roof

FDR ; formal dining room

frplc, fplc, FP ; fireplace

grmet kit ; gourmet kitchen

HDW, HWF, Hdwd ; hardwood floors

hi ceils ; high ceilings

In-law potential ; there is potential to convert property into a separate apartment, however, contingent on local zoning laws large E-2 plan 

this is just one of several floor plans available in a specific building lo dues-find out just how low these homeowner's dues are, and in comparison to what?

lsd pkg. ; leased parking area, may or may involve an additional cost

nr bst schls ; property is located near the best schools

pvt ; private

pwdr rm ; powder room (half-bath)

upr ; upper floor

vw, vu, vws, vus ; view (s)