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Real Estate Fundamentals Textbook

A free, self-paced textbook in 8 chapters. Read a chapter, then drill it with the 228 companion flashcards using spaced repetition.

8 chapters · 228 cards · Updated

Chapters

  1. 1Foundations of Real Estate

    Real estate refers to property consisting of land and any permanent improvements attached to it, such as buildings, roads, and utility systems. When the legal rights of ownership a...

  2. 2Legal Framework and Property Rights

    The transfer of real property is accomplished through a deed, a legal document that conveys ownership from one party to another. Several deed types offer different levels of protec...

  3. 3The Buying and Selling Process

    The closing process is the final step in transferring property ownership, during which the buyer and seller sign documents, funds are exchanged, and the new deed is recorded. Buyer...

  4. 4Financing and Mortgages

    A mortgage is a loan used to purchase property, secured by the property itself. The principal is the amount borrowed, while mortgage interest is the cost of borrowing, expressed as...

  5. 5Valuation and Appraisal

    An appraisal is a professional estimate of a property's market value, conducted by a licensed appraiser. The resulting figure is the appraised value. Market value is the most proba...

  6. 6Real Estate Professionals and Commissions

    Real estate transactions are typically facilitated by licensed professionals. A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property. A Realto...

  7. 7Investment, Leasing, and Property Management

    Real estate can serve as both a personal home and an investment vehicle. A rental property is purchased primarily to generate rental income, and a vacation rental is a short-term r...

  8. 8Markets, Taxes, Insurance, and Trends

    Real estate markets move through cycles that broadly include recovery, expansion, hyper-supply, and recession phases. The absorption rate measures how quickly available properties...

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