New York City Real Estate Terms to Know

Here's a list of important words and phrases that you may come across in your property or rental search. 

Alcove Studio

1 or 2 room apartment with a separate alcove, which can be used as a sleeping or dining area. Alcoves usually adjoin the living room space of the apartment, are generally less than 100 square feet, and can sometimes be walled off to create an additional bedroom.

Balcony

An outdoor space that protrudes from a building. Most balconies are private, but some are shared between neighbors.

Classic-six, seven, or eight

The term “Classic” followed by a number refers to the number of rooms in an apartment. It is most often used with pre-war apartments. For example, a classic-six would be normally be configured as a two-bedroom with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and maid’s room or office.

Co-broke

When brokers are working on a “co-broke” basis, it means they are sharing a listing with each other. In a co-broke transaction, one broker will represent the buyer or renter, while the other will represent the seller or landlord of the property. The commission is usually split between the co-broking agents 50/50.

Convertible-two, three, four, etc.

An apartment designated as “convertible” is one that has the potential space or layout for creating additional rooms by erecting a wall to separate the spaces. For example, a one-bedroom apartment with an L-shaped dining area that could be easily transformed into an additional room would be referred to as a “convertible-two”. However this area must contain a window in order to satisfy legal criteria for its use as a bedroom.

Concierge

A lobby-stationed staff member of an apartment complex who assists guests or residents by accepting packages, taking and delivering messages, announcing guests, etc.

Duplex

An apartment with two levels.

EIK

An acronym used to indicate “Eat In Kitchen.”

Elevator Buildings

This term refers to a building, which has elevator service but no doorman. Usually these buildings have some type of intercom security system.

Exclusive Agency Listing

Listing contract under which the owner appoints a real estate broker as exclusive agent for a designated period of time to sell the property, on the owner's stated terms, for a commission. Under this type of listing, the owner has reserved the right to sell the property on his own without paying anyone a commission.

Exclusive Right to Sell

A listing contract under which the owner appoints a real estate broker as exclusive agent for a designated period of time to sell the property, on the owner's stated terms, and agrees to pay the broker a commission when the property is sold, whether by the broker, the owner, or another broker.

Executor

Person or corporate entity designated in a will to carry out its provisions.

Facade

The face of a building often consisting of limestone, brownstone, cement, glass, granite, or marble.

Floor-Thru

An apartment that runs from the front of a building to the rear, often occupying an entire floor. This type of apartment is often found in brownstones and townhouses. It is desirable as it often will have windows on both sides of the unit.

FSBO

An acronym for “For Sale By Owner.”

Full Service Building

A term used to describe a building that employs both a full time doorman and concierge.

Guarantor (or co-signer)

A guarantor is a person who assumes financial responsibility of a lease for a tenant or tenants who otherwise would not meet the Landlord’s financial qualifications. For example, a student who may not have an income may need a guarantor. This person is often a family member but does not need to be. The guarantor guarantees payment of the rent in the event of non-payment by the tenants. Guarantors generally need to make 80 times the monthly rent in annual income to qualify.

Junior Four

A one-bedroom apartment with a separate alcove area. The separate alcove can be used as a dining area, or, if the building allows, as a walled off sleeping area.

Keyed Elevator

An elevator that opens directly into an apartment. One must use a key to operate the elevator. This feature is found in lofts and penthouses.

Loft Apartments

Generally former commercial or industrial buildings that have been converted into apartments. These buildings rarely provide a doorman and usually consist of vast, open spaces with high ceilings. Many lofts are found in Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribeca, Chelsea, or the Flatiron District.

Loft Area

This is an additional space created in apartments with very high ceilings. The loft area is constructed above the living area, accessed via a staircase or ladder and used for extra storage, sleeping, or living space (e.g. an office).

Luxury High Rise

Buildings over twenty stories tall that have been built in the 1980s or later. They typically have a doorman and many feature concierge services. Amenities might include health clubs, media rooms, and swimming pools.

Managing Agent

Most cooperative and condominium buildings will hire an independent company to manage the property. These firms are responsible for managing the daily maintenance, rent rolls, collection of rents, monthly or maintenance charges, and enforcing overall building policies.

Net Listing

A type of listing agreement in which the commission to be paid to the broker is the remainder of the purchase price above a certain amount, referred to as the net price. Net listings are illegal in New York State.

No Fee Apartment

This refers to a type of apartment listing that does not require any payment of the brokerage commission by the tenant since the owner is paying the brokerage fee.

Non-Stabilized Buildings

Also known as “market rate” apartments or buildings. In these buildings, a landlord, at his own discretion, determines how much monthly rent he will charge on any given apartment. Renewals are not guaranteed unless stated in the lease.

NYC Building Types Brownstones and Townhouses

Four to five-story buildings that were built in the late 1800s through the early 1900s as single family houses. Their architectural styles usually reflect early Dutch, French, and German influences. Many brownstones and townhouses were converted to multi-unit buildings (with seven to ten units) around World War II, but in recent years many have been restored and converted back to single-family homes. Generally, apartments in these types of buildings can have high ceilings, fireplaces, gardens, and hardwood floors. Virtually none have a doorman.

Open Kitchen

A kitchen that is not separated from the living space of an apartment.

Open Listing

A listing that is distributed throughout the brokerage community by an owner, landlord, or building management firm. These listings are not exclusive to any broker and are therefore “open” to all brokers for rental or sale. These listings may be either “Owner Paid” listings, in which the owner is offering to pay a certain amount of the broker fee, or “Tenant Paid” listings in which the tenant will have to pay the broker’s fee.

Owner Paid (also known as “OP”)

As an incentive to a prospective tenant or brokerage firm, an owner or landlord may offer to pay the brokerage commission on the rental of an apartment. These type of listings are also known to tenants as “No-Fee” apartments since the owner is paying the fee.

Pass-Through Kitchen

A kitchen with an opening to the living or dining space of the apartment.

Pied-a-Terre

A French expression; translated literally, it means "foot on the earth". It refers to an apartment that someone uses as a second home, usually because their business requires to them to travel and the commute is too far.

Post-war Buildings

Buildings built between the late 1940s and the late 1970s. They are generally hi-rise buildings and most have doormen.

Pre-War Buildings

Buildings built before World War II. These buildings are usually ten to twenty stories tall and are sought after for their larger rooms, fireplaces, hardwood floors, and higher ceilings. They may or may not provide a doorman.

Quadraplex

An apartment with four levels.

Rent Stabilization

Established in New York City in the late 1960s, its mandate was to set limits on the monthly rental increases building owners could charge for vacant apartments and renewal leases. It also set guidelines of performance for both landlord and tenant. In stabilized buildings, rent increases are set yearly by a NYC board but have historically ranged from 3%-7%. Tenants are guaranteed the automatic right to renew their leases provided they have fulfilled the terms and conditions of the lease.

Rental Sublet

In the event that a tenant may need to leave his/her apartment for a short period of time, they may opt to assign their current lease to another tenant. Most sublets are furnished and last anywhere from six months to a year.

Security Deposit

A deposit, usually one month's rent, that a rental tenant will give to the landlord at lease signing as security against damage to the apartment during the course of their tenancy. At the end of the lease term, the landlord will take the cost of any damages caused by the tenant out of the security deposit before returning it.

Studio

A one or two-room apartment with a combined living and sleeping area. The kitchen is either a separate room or set in a wall off the living area. This type of kitchen is usually referred to as a "Pullman" kitchen (after Pullman railroad cars). 

Terrace

A roof or part of a roof used as outdoor space for an apartment. Often confused with a balcony, the terms are used interchangeably.

Townhouse (AKA Brownstone)

A four to six-story building built in the 1800s to early 1900s. It can be a single-family house or may have been converted over the years into multiple apartments. They are prized for their charm and elegance. In almost all cases a townhouse does not have a doorman.

Triple-Mint

Refers to the condition of the apartment. An apartment is “triple-mint” if the apartment living areas, kitchen, and bathrooms are all in mint condition

Triplex

An apartment with three levels.

Walk-through Kitchen

A kitchen with two means of entrance. You can actually 'walk through' the kitchen from one room to another.

Walk-Up Buildings

A building without an elevator. This term usually refers to four to six story pre-war buildings that were built without an elevator. Today it is uncommon to see a newer construction building without an elevator. 

WBF

Stands for “Wood Burning Fireplace.”

WEIK

Stands for “Widowed Eat-In-Kitchen,” a very popular feature.