How to Translate Residential Real Estate Listing Descriptions

When searching for a home, you tend to scroll through listing after listing and photo after photo until you finally find a home that catches your eye. Then, when you decide you want to learn more about the property, you move on and read the description. Often times, when there are so many amenities to list, the description is nothing more than a jumbled mess of letters. For example, we’re sure you have seen residential real estate listing descriptions that look like this:

Standout amenities: impressive master bath, paneled doors, hardwood flrs, LL walk-out, decks with pond views, eye-catching stacked stone FPLC, open floor plan, four beds on UL, MF office, heated garage, updated tile & ctrs, and beautiful kit with large CI.

While this listing description starts out easy to understand, once the abbreviations are introduced, things can get a bit confusing. We’re here to help you decipher not only what LL and UL mean, but also how to comprehend other abbreviations in the real estate world like SS, TH, CI and more.

So we asked our office managers for some help in putting together a list of common terms and abbreviations that appear in MLS real estate listings. Here’s a quick reference to help you understand the shorthand.

  • AC – acre or air conditioning
  • APPL – appliance
  • BA – bathroom
  • BDRM or BR – bedroom
  • BKYD – backyard
  • BLT – built
  • BSMT – basement
  • CA – central air
  • CI – center island
  • CTR or CNTR – counter
  • DR – dining room
  • FLR PLN – floor plan
  • FLRS – floors
  • FMLY RM or FR – family room
  • FRPLC – fireplace
  • HDWD – hardwood floors
  • KIT – kitchen
  • LDRY – laundry
  • LG – large
  • LL – lower level
  • LR – living room
  • MF – main floor
  • MN LVL – main level
  • MSTR – master
  • MSTR STE – master suite
  • N’HOOD – neighborhood
  • RM – room
  • SEP – separate
  • SF or SQFT – square foot
  • SS – stainless steel
  • TLC – tender loving care
  • UL – upper level
  • W/I – walk-in
  • W/O – walkout
  • YD – yard

Courtesy of our friends at NorthstarMLS, we have some additional abbreviations to share that describe the type of homes that you would come across on the market today:

Single Family Residential Definitions

  • One Story (ONEST) – One story single-family house
  • One 1/2 Stories (ONEHF) – One 1/2 story single-family house. Second floor only has adequate ceiling height in a portion of it.
  • Two Stories (TWOST) – Two story single-family house. Has adequate ceiling height throughout upper story.
  • More Than Two Stories (MRTTS) – Single-family house with more than two stories.
  • Modified Two Story (MODTS) – Two story single-family house where the second story has full ceiling height throughout but has less square feet of finished space than the first level, leaving a portion of the structure without the second story. However, there is a full
    set of stair risers to the second story. (Does not include multi-level homes with a half set of risers but not a shorter full set).
  • Three Level Split (THRLS) – Three level split home
  • Four or More Level Split (FOURM) – Built like a three level split, except it has a basement level and/or additional levels.
  • Split Entry (Bi-Level) (SPEBI) – Upon entering, go up or down a set of stairs. May be front-back or side split.
  • Other (OTHER) – Any single family dwelling that does not fit into the preceding categories.

Townhouse Listing Definitions

  • Quad/4 Corners (QUAD4) – Usually split entry design. Each unit in one corner.
  • Side x Side (TWNSS) – Commonly has two to six units connected with common walls side by side. Also called rowhouse.
  • Detached (TWNDE) – Single family stand-alone unit with a townhouse-type homeowner association (building exterior maintenance, snow removal, sanitation, etc.).

Condo/Coop Listing Definitions

  • High Rise (4+ Levels) (HGHRS) – Four or more levels. Has common entrance and hallways. Includes converted apartment buildings.
  • Low Rise (3- Levels) (LOWRS) – Three or fewer levels. Common entrance and hallways. Includes converted apartment buildings.
  • Manor/Village (MANVI) – A manor has one entry hall for four units, two units on first floor and two units on second floor. The village is similar to the manor style plus added units on each end with private entrances. Other village designs have two or three stories
    with stairways and shared hallways, or two stories with outside entrances for each unit and no shared hallways.
  • Two Unit (2UNIT) – May be side x side or up and down. Often a duplex converted to a condominium or coop.
  • Converted Mansion (CNVMN) – Converted single-family home with three or more units.

 

Hopefully this glossary of residential real estate listing descriptions and terms has helped to decipher some abbreviations for you. If you’re in the market for your new space, feel free to connect with one of our agents on results.net.

 

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