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A

ad valorem tax

a tax levied according to value, generally used to refer to real estate tax.

Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARMs)

Mortgages originate at one rate then can change over the course of loan based upon different factors.


adverse possession

is a statutory means of acquiring title to the land of another by occupying the property. A claimant under adverse possession must actually be in possession of the property in such a manner as to satisfy the statutory requirements. Possession must be open, notorious, hostile, exclusive, and continuous.

The precise period required for a claim of adverse possession varies depending on the state.

agency

is the relationship between a licensee and the person he/she is representing.


agency coupled with an interest

an agency relationship in which the agent is given an estate or interest in the subject of the agency (the property).

agent

the person who acts on behalf of another person under a contractual relationship


air lots

is a desgnated airspace over a piece of land. An air lot, like surface property, meay be transferred.

air rights

the right to use the open space above a property, usually allowing the surface to be used for another purpose.

alienation clause

also known as a resale clause, due-on-sale clause, or call clause, this provides that when the property is sold, the lender may either declare the entire debt due immediately or permit the buyer to assume the loan at an interest rate acceptable to the lender.


allocation method

is the process of identifying how the market allocates value between the land and the improvements made to the land. This method is based on the economic principle of balance, which states that maximum values are achieved when the agents of production (land, labor, capital management) are in balance. Simply put, there is an identifiable relationship or ratio between the value of the improvements and the value of the land.


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