🐾 Home Buying Lingo: Real Estate Terms Explained by Becky the Goldendoodle

Hey there, future homeowners! 🐶 Becky here—your friendly neighborhood Barketing Manager at A Notch Above Group, and today I’m here to help you decode all that confusing home buying jargon humans throw around.

Buying a home shouldn’t feel like chasing your tail. That’s why I’m breaking down the big terms with some bark-worthy explanations so you can feel paw-sitively confident on your journey to homeownership. 🏡🐾

🦴 ESCROW

Think of escrow like a trusted pup holding the treats until everyone’s ready. It’s a neutral third paw-ty who keeps things safe and fair until the deal is done. No one gets nipped—and no one runs off with the goodies early.

💸 CLOSING COSTS

These are the treats (a.k.a. fees) that buyers and sellers pay when the keys finally change paws. They can include loan fees, title insurance, taxes, and more. Plan ahead so you’re not caught off guard at the finish line!

🐕 CONTINGENCY

A contingency is a “just in case” leash in your contract. It means the deal could change or be called off if something specific happens—or doesn’t (like if the inspection turns up fleas in the floorboards 🐜).

👃 APPRAISAL

An appraisal is like a professional sniff test. A licensed appraiser checks out the home and compares it to similar dens nearby to decide what it’s really worth. This helps your lender know they’re not overpaying for that cozy new doghouse.

🛏 FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE

Ahhh, the comfort of a predictable nap spot. A fixed-rate mortgage means your interest rate stays the same for the entire loan. No surprises. Just steady tail-waggin’ payments.

🎯 ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE

This one’s a little trickier. An ARM starts out with a lower rate than fixed—but that rate can go up (or down) over time. Be sure to sniff it out with your lender to see if it matches your long-term fetch plans.

☔ HAZARD INSURANCE

Hazard insurance protects your home from the big, bad stuff—like storms, fires, and other unexpected whoopsies. It’s part of your homeowners insurance and required by most lenders when you fetch a new place.

📜 TITLE

The title is the official way of saying:
“This den belongs to me!”
It shows who owns the property and confirms no other pup is hiding under the porch with a claim on it.

🐾 The Bottom Line:

Buying a home comes with lots of new words—but don’t worry! I’ve got your back (and maybe a few treats too). Knowing these key terms will help you feel more confident and less overwhelmed on your journey from “just looking” to “just closed!”

Have questions? My humans are paw-some at explaining everything without the fluff—and I’ll be right here wagging my tail in support.

📲 Ready to start your home search with a team that speaks your language (and mine)?
Let’s fetch your dream home together! Contact us today for a free, no-pressure buyer consultation.

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💬 Got questions about buying or selling? Slide into our DMs—I’ve got a whole team of humans ready to help you every step of the way (I supervise, of course). 🐶

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