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Real Estate Terms I Needed Just as Much as You Do 😂
Let's be honest, when I started in real estate, half these acronyms sounded like alphabet soup. The other half? Straight-up intimidating. I'd nod along in meetings pretending I knew what DSCR meant, then frantically Google it in my car afterward. So if you're feeling lost, welcome to the club. I needed this crash course just as much as you do, and I'm thrilled we can learn together. Think of this as your no-BS guide to sounding like you know what you're talking about because soon, you actually will.
East Coast Keys · Christine Côté, Home Matchmaker & REALTOR® · 506-863-3855 · christine@theccrealty.com · Service Bilingue · Proudly eXp Realty
Money & Investing Terms That Actually Matter
These are the money metrics that separate dreamers from doers. Whether you're analyzing your first rental property or your tenth, these terms are your financial compass. Master them, and you'll speak investor fluently which means better deals, smarter decisions, and way more confidence at closing tables.
NOI — Net Operating Income
How much a property actually makes after paying the bills; taxes, insurance, repairs, management. No mortgage included. This number tells you if the property can stand on its own two feet or if it's bleeding money.
ROI — Return on Investment
How much profit you made compared to what you spent. If you dropped $20k into a property and made $5k back? That's a 25% ROI. Simple math, massive implications for your wealth-building strategy.
COC — Cash-on-Cash Return
The real world investor metric. "How much cash did I put in, and how much cash did I get out in year one?" Invested $50k and got $6k cash flow? Your COC is 12%. This is where rubber meets road.
Advanced Money Metrics
Once you've got the basics down, these are the terms that'll make seasoned investors take you seriously. They're not just impressive jargon, they're the tools pros use to evaluate deals worth serious cash.
1
IRR — Internal Rate of Return
The long-term "true return" of a property over time. Investors love it because it includes everything: cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits, and time value of money. It's complex but comprehensive.
2
CAP — Capitalization Rate
NOI divided by purchase price. It's a snapshot of return if you bought all cash. Super useful for comparing properties across different markets and price points. Think of it as the property's earning power percentage.
3
DSCR — Debt Service Coverage Ratio
NOI divided by annual mortgage cost. Lenders use this to see if the building can pay its own mortgage. Over 1.2 is deemed healthy. Under 1.0 is trouble, you're subsidizing every payment.
PS- HI! I'm Christine Côté, a Home Matchmaker with a mix of heart and hustle. I help people step into new chapters with clarity, confidence, and a little bit of magic.
Real estate is how I serve, connect, and make life feel a little lighter for the people who cross my path. It’s strategy, yes, but it’s also intuition, timing, and understanding what “home” really means.
Maybe that’s because my own home is full of heart.
Five cats. One tiny dwarf bunny. A whole universe of fur, chaos, and love. They ground me. They soften me. They remind me why I care so deeply about creating safe, meaningful spaces for others.
At the end of the day, I’m here to make real estate feel human again.
Real conversations. Real connection. Real guidance.
And always, a little warmth from the girl whose life is happily run by her animals.
Deal Structure & Strategy Terms
LTV — Loan-to-Value Ratio
How much you're borrowing compared to property value. Higher LTV means less money down, but also higher risk in the lender's eyes. Understanding this helps you strategize your down payment and financing options.
ARV — After Repair Value
What the property should be worth after renovations. Critical for flips, BRRR strategy, and refinance planning. Get this wrong and your entire profit margin evaporates—or worse, you lose money.
BRRR Strategy
Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat. The investor strategy to recycle the same money over and over again. Master this and you're building a real estate empire with limited capital.
FMV — Fair Market Value
The amount a normal buyer would reasonably pay today. Not emotional. Not speculative. Just reality. This is your baseline for negotiations and the number that keeps you grounded.
Lead Generation & Client Systems
Your business doesn't run on hope, it runs on systems. These are the frameworks and tools that turn chaos into consistency, and leads into loyal clients. Whether you're solo or building a team, these acronyms are your operational backbone.
01
SOI — Sphere of Influence
Your people. Everyone who knows you, trusts you, or would send you business. Your most profitable marketing pillar and often the most overlooked. These folks already like you—don't forget them.
02
SOP — Standard Operating Procedure
Your checklist of exactly how you do things. Consistency builds confidence and eliminates mistakes. Write down your process once, execute it a thousand times flawlessly.
03
CRM — Customer Relationship Management
Where leads, clients, tasks, notes, and follow-ups live. This is your business brain. Without it, you're relying on memory and sticky notes, a recipe for dropped balls and lost deals.
FTHB — First-Time Home Buyer
Excited, overwhelmed, and full of questions. They lean on you the most and remember you forever. Handle them well and you've got a client for life, plus referrals.
FSBO — For Sale By Owner
A seller trying to do it alone, usually underestimating the work involved. Often becomes a listing later when reality sets in. Approach with empathy, not judgment.
Offer & Contract Terms You'll Use Daily
CO — Conditional Offer
An accepted offer with conditions like inspection, financing, or sale of buyer's home. Not fully done yet—still room for things to fall apart if conditions aren't met.
WA — Without Conditions
The "no backing out" offer. Firm. Final. Done. Both parties are fully committed. This is when champagne gets popped and signatures mean business.
LOI — Letter of Intent
A non-binding "I'm serious" document used in commercial, land, and multi-family deals before the actual offer. Sets the stage and shows good faith without legal commitment yet.

Pro tip: Always explain to clients the difference between conditional and firm offers. Managing expectations here prevents panic and confusion down the road. And maybe throw in a cat meme to lighten the mood… works every time! 🐱
Listing & Marketing Essentials
CMA — Comparative Market Analysis
Your pricing story. Shows what similar homes sold for, not guesswork, strategy. This is how you justify your listing price to sellers and build trust through data.
DOM — Days on Market
How long a listing has been active. Signals demand and momentum. Low DOM? Hot property. High DOM? Time to reassess pricing or marketing strategy.
BTS — Behind The Scenes
Your teaser content. Warm, human, connection-based marketing that shows the real you. People buy from people they trust, BTS content builds that trust authentically.
CDOM — Cumulative Days on Market
DOM even if the property was re-listed or expired. Shows the true time on market, which matters for pricing negotiations and buyer psychology. Can't hide from CDOM, it tells the whole story.
PTP — Priced To Sell
Strategic, competitive pricing designed to trigger activity fast. Not a desperate move, a calculated one. Price it right and you create urgency and competition among buyers.
Legal, Land & New Brunswick Specifics
If you're operating in Moncton or anywhere in NB, these terms aren't optional, they're essential. From land registry quirks to local planning requirements, understanding these keeps you compliant, credible, and ahead of the competition.
APS (or PSA)— Agreement of Purchase & Sale
The contract. The bible of the deal. Every promise, every obligation, every date lives here. Mess this up and you're in legal hot water, or worse, losing trust from clients you are meant to protect. Always triple check your work, and BUYERS.. no matter how much you trust your Real Estate Professional, PLEASE proof check EVERYTHING, and ask ALL the questions before signing your "life" away.
PDS (or RPDS)— Residential Property Disclosure Statement
Seller answers questions about the home's condition. Honesty is critical, legal exposure awaits those who lie. Encourage transparency; it protects everyone involved. (The Buyers can actually sue the Seller if intent to hide the truth, for up to 15 years!)
POA — Power of Attorney
Someone legally allowed to sign for someone else. Common with elderly sellers or out-of-province owners. Verify POA documents carefully, legitimacy matters.
PID — Property Identification Number
NB's unique number for every piece of land. The digital "address" in the land registry. You'll reference this constantly, it's how properties are officially tracked and recorded.
1
ROW — Right of Way
Someone is legally allowed to cross or access part of the land. Driveways, shared paths, utility access, always disclose and explain this to buyers.
2
ETA — Easement / Trespass / Access
Rights or restrictions tied to the land. Think drainage, utility corridors, access rights. These can limit what buyers can do with their property.
3
SLA — Subdivision Layout Approval
Planning step in land development. No approval means no lots. Critical for anyone looking to subdivide land or invest in development projects.
Construction, Condition & Home Systems
Buyers ask about these constantly. Being fluent in home systems terminology makes you more than an agent, it makes you a trusted advisor who actually understands what they're buying.
HVAC — Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
The heart and lungs of the home. Clients always ask about age and condition. Knowing whether it's gas, electric, or oil matters, so does whether it's on its last legs or recently replaced.
HWT — Hot Water Tank
Electric or oil. Bought out or rented. (In New Brunswick most are rented which add's an approximate 8$ charge on their NB Power Bills).
GFCI — Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
The "reset button" outlet. Required in kitchens, bathrooms, and wet areas for safety. If they're missing, that's a code issue and potential negotiation point during inspections.
GFA — Gross Floor Area
Total usable space across all floors. Important for valuation, financing, and municipal rules. Square footage sells homes, make sure you're measuring and reporting it correctly.
EIFS — Exterior Insulation & Finish System
Type of cladding that can look like stucco. Known for insulation benefits and potential moisture issues if not installed correctly. Buyers often have concerns, address them proactively.
CMHC — Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
Provides mortgage insurance and publishes market stats. Any buyer with under 20% down involves CMHC. Their insurance makes deals possible but adds cost to monthly payments.
Let's Build Your Real Estate Future Together
About Me
I'm based right here in Moncton, NB, working with eXp Realty, and I'm on a mission to help people thrive in real estate; whether you're buying your first home, building a portfolio, or thinking about becoming an agent yourself.
I believe in doing business with a client focused, results driven mindset, mixed with genuine ethics and hard work. No shortcuts, no BS, just strategic moves and honest advice. Real estate can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be, I'm here to mentor, guide, and help you become an absolute badass in this industry.
If you've made it this far, you clearly care about learning and leveling up. Let's connect and make things happen. And yes, I promise to keep the cat jokes coming. 😺
150+
Clients Served
Happy homeowners and investors across Moncton and surrounding areas
3+
Years Combined Experience
Deep local market knowledge and proven strategies that work
22/7
Availability
Real estate doesn't sleep, and when you need me, I'm here. (I do need some sleep though and cat snuggles, let's be real)

FOIPOP reminder: Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy governs access to public records and privacy rules. It comes up in municipal requests and matters for compliance. Stay informed, stay protected. 🐾