Glossary — US Real Estate in Plain Terms
Every term you'll meet in a US real-estate deal — cap rate, escrow, syndication, IRR, and more — explained plainly so you never feel lost in the jargon.
Cap rate
A measure of net operating income compared with purchase price.
Cash-on-cash return
Annual cash flow compared with the investor capital actually invested.
DSCR
A test of whether property income can support the debt payment.
LLC
A common ownership structure that should be coordinated with tax advisors.
NOI
Property income after operating expenses and before financing and tax.
Escrow
A neutral holding process for funds or documents until closing conditions are met.
Syndication
A structure where multiple investors participate in one managed deal.
Property management
The local function responsible for tenants, rent, repairs, and reporting.
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