Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gave consumers the right of access to, and correction of, credit reports.

Fair Housing Act
Pursuant to the federal Fair Housing Act, any offer to sell, rent, buy, or exchange property shall not contain any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, familial status, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.

Fair Housing Amendment Act of 1988
Extends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to cover handicapped persons and families with children.

fair market value
The price which a property would sell for if were offered for sale for a reasonable period of time in a competitive market, where both the buyer and seller were free to act under no undue pressure.

familial status
Familial status is defined as one or more individuals who have not obtained the age of eighteen (18) years, being domiciled with a parent or other person having custody, or anyone who is pregnant. It is therefore unlawful to refuse housing to anyone with children under the age of 18 or anyone who is pregnant, except when such housing meets the definition of housing for older persons.

Fannie Mae
See: Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
  Fannie Mae Online

farming
Prospecting an area for buyers or sellers.

Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Formerly the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (FAMC or Farmer MAC), the FSA is a federal agency of the Department of Agriculture. FSA offers programs to help families purchase or operate family farms. It also provides loans to help families purchase and improve single-family homes in rural areas. The FSA provides assistance to rural and agricultural businesses and industry through the Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service. Loan programs fall into two categories: guaranteed loans, made and serviced by private lenders and guaranteed for a specific percentage by FSA, and loans made directly by the FSA.
  Farm Service Agency Website

federal fair housing law
In 1968, Congress enacted Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, called the Federal Fair Housing Act, which declared a national policy of providing fair housing throughout the United States (reference Sections 3601-3631 of Title 42, United States Code). This law makes discrimination based on race, color, sex, familial status, handicap, religion or national origin illegal in connection with the sale or rental of most dwellings and any vacant land offered for residential construction or use. The law does not prohibit discrimination in other types of real estate transactions, such as those involving commercial or industrial properties. The law is administered by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) under the direction of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
A federal agency established in 1934 under the National Housing Act to encourage improvement in housing standards and conditions, to provide an adequate home-financing system through the insurance of housing mortgages and credit and to exert a stabilizing influence on the mortgage market. FHA was the government's response to a lack of quality housing, excessive foreclosures and a building industry that collapsed during the depression.
  Federal Housing Administration Website

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)
Commonly known as "Freddie Mac," a federally chartered corporation established in 1970 for the purpose of purchasing mortgages in the secondary market. Freddie Mac was created as a part of the savings association system and, while it is not so limited, its loan purchase policies are designed to accommodate savings association needs. It functions with an independent board of directors but is subject to oversight by HUD.
  Freddie Mac Online

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
Popularly known as "Fannie Mae," an active participant in the secondary mortgage market. Fannie Mae was established as a federal agency in 1938 for the purpose of purchasing FHA loans from loan originators to provide some liquidity for government-insured loans in a depression-wracked economy when few lending institutions would undertake this type of loan.
  Fannie Mae Online

Federal Reserve System ("the Fed")
The nation's central bank created by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. Its purpose is to help stabilize the economy through the judicious handling of the money supply and credit available in this country. The system functions through a seven-member Board of Governors (appointed by the President) and 12 Federal Reserve District Banks, each with its own president. The system sets policies and works with the privately owned commercial banks.
  Federal Reserve Website

Federal Water Pollution Control Act
Enacted by Congress in 1972, this federal law administered by the EPA regulates the release of pollutants into navigable waters.

fee simple
The maximum possible estate one can possess in real property. A fee simple estate is the least limited interest and the most complete and absolute ownership in land; it is of indefinite duration, freely transferable and inheritable. Fee simple title is sometimes referred to as "the fee."

fee simple absolute
The maximum possible estate or right of ownership of real property, continuing forever.

fee simple defeasible
An estate in land in which the holder has a fee simple title subject to being divested upon the happening of a specified condition; also called a qualified fee or a defeasible fee. There are two categories of fee defeasible estates--fee simple determinable and fee simple subject to a condition subsequent. The term fee simple determinable implies that the duration of the estate can be determined from the deed itself. This is not true of a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent, in which case the estate's duration depends on the grantor's independent choice of whether to terminate the estate.

fee simple determinable
A fee simple determinable is an estate in real property that exists "so long as," "while" or "during the period" that a certain prescribed use continues. Such use is described in the grant of conveyance. For example, a conveyance to the University of Know-it-all "so long as" the real estate is used for educational purposes would give the university title, provided the granted land is used as prescribed. If, at some future time, the university were to stop using the property for educational purposes, title would revert to the original grantor, if living, or to his or her heirs if the grantor is deceased. A fee simple determinable automatically ends when the purpose for which it has been prescribed terminates. Upon the grant of a fee simple determinable, there remains in the grantor a possibility of reverter.

fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
A fee simple subject to a condition subsequent is an estate conveyed "provided that," "on the condition that" or "if" it is used for a specific purpose. If it is no longer used for that purpose, it reverts to the original grantor or his heirs. This type of estate is much the same as a fee determinable, except that in a fee determinable conveyance, the words are of duration while a fee condition subsequent refers strictly to a specific condition. In addition, unlike a fee determinable, when fee condition subsequent property is no longer used for its prescribed purpose, the original grantor (or heirs) must physically retake possession of the property within a reasonable period of time after the breach (i.e., the grantor must exercise his or her right of reentry). Any transaction involving a fee simple defeasible estate should be referred to an attorney for a professional opinion.

fee title
The maximum possible estate one can possess in real property. A fee title estate is the least limited interest and the most complete and absolute ownership in land; it is of indefinite duration, freely transferable and inheritable. A "fee title" is sometimes referred to as "the fee."

feudal system
A system of ownership usually associated with pre-colonial England, in which the king or other sovereign is the source of all rights. The right to possess real property was granted by the sovereign to an individual as a life estate only. Upon the death of the individual title passed back to the sovereign, not to the decedent's heirs.

FICO
Acronym for "Fair, Isaac & Company." FICO is the most commonly used scoring system used by lenders to derive credit scores for borrowers.

fiduciary
A relationship that implies a position of trust or confidence wherein one person is usually entrusted to hold or manage property or money for another. The term fiduciary describes the faithful relationship owed by an attorney to a client or by a broker (and salesperson) to a principal. The fiduciary owes complete allegiance to the client. Among the obligations that a fiduciary owes to his or her principal and the duties of loyalty, obedience and full disclosure; the duty to use skill, care and diligence; and the duty to account for all monies.

filled land
An area of a property where the grade has been raised by depositing dirt, gravel or rock. Under most circumstances a seller (broker) has a duty to disclose to a buyer the fact that a property is on filled land.

financial statement:
A brief summary of a person's assets, liabilities and earnings records.

finder's fee
A fee paid to someone for "finding" either the buyer to purchase or the seller to list a property.

fire rating
A rating of the length of time it takes a fire to penetrate a barrier. Designates the ability of a material to contain a fire in a carefully controlled test setting for a specified period of time. A material tested in a laboratory that adequately contains a fire for two hours and meets other requirements during the laboratory fire test, is given a two-hour fire resistance rating. Fire-resistance ratings are based on full-scale tests under controlled conditions and are generally recognized by building code authorities and fire insurance rating bureaus. Requirements for fire-resistance ratings are usually set by local building code officials based on the expected occupancy of the building.

fixed expenses
Those recurring expenses that have to be paid regardless of whether the property is occupied; for example, real property taxes, hazard insurance and debt service. These expenses contrast with operating expenses necessary to maintain the production of income from the operation of a property.

fixed-fee
A contractor submits a bid proposing a fixed amount to do a job. Most construction bids are made on this basis.

fixed-rate loan
A loan with the same rate of interest for the life of the loan.

fixtures
An article that was once personal property but has been so affixed to real estate that it has become real property. Whether an article is a fixture depends on the intention of the parties and may be determined by the manner in which the item is attached, its type and adaptability to the real property, the purpose it serves, and the relationship of the parties.

flood hazard areas
Locations specified on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps indicating areas that are subject to flooding. The seller's agent is required to inform potential buyers if the agent has knowledge that a property is located in such an area.

forbearance
The act of refraining from taking legal action despite the fact that payment of a promissory note in a mortgage or deed of trust is in arrears. It is usually granted only when a borrower makes a satisfactory arrangement by which the arrears will be paid at a future date.

formaldehyde
A colorless, pungent, and irritating gas, used chiefly as a disinfectant and preservative and in synthesizing other compounds like resins.
  National Safety Council on Formaldehyde

For Sale By Owner (FSBO)
Some owners choose to sell their own property without the aid of a real estate broker. "For Sale By Owner" properties are often a source of listings when the owner is unsuccessful finding qualified buyers.

Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA)
Enacted by the United States Congress in 1985, the act requires buyers to withhold estimated taxes equal to 10% of the sale price of a property sold or exchanged by a foreign person. The withholdings must be reported and paid to the Internal Revenue Service within 10 days of closing. The act applies to sales of personal residences with prices of $300,000 or more.

foreclosure
A legal procedure whereby property used as security for a debt is sold to satisfy the debt in the event of default in payment of the mortgage note or default of other terms in the mortgage document. The foreclosure procedure brings the rights of all parties to a conclusion and passes the title in the mortgage property to either the holder of the mortgage or a third party who may purchase the realty at the foreclosure sale, free of all encumbrances affecting the property subsequent to the mortgage. There are three general types of foreclosure proceedings: judicial foreclosure, non-judicial foreclosure and strict foreclosure.

fractional section
A parcel of land less than 160 acres, usually found at the edge of a rectangular survey. Undersized or oversized sections are classified as fractional sections. Fractional sections may occur for a number of reasons. In some areas, for instance, the rectangular survey may have been made by separate crews and gaps less than a section wide remained when the surveys met. Other errors may have resulted from the physical difficulties encountered in the actual survey. For example, part of a section may be submerged in water.

fraud
Any form of deceit, trickery, breach of confidence or misrepresentation by which one party attempts to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage over another. Unlike negligence, fraud is a deceitful practice or material misstatement of a material fact, known to be false, and done with intent to deceive, or with reckless indifference as to its truth, and relied on by the injured party to his or her damage

Freddie Mac
See Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)
   Freddie Mac Online
 
freehold estate
An estate in land in which ownership is for an indeterminate length of time, in contrast to a leasehold estate.

friable
The breaking down of a substance into tiny filaments and particles. Asbestos is harmful only if it is disturbed or exposed, as often occurs during renovation or remodeling. Asbestos is highly friable. This means that as it ages, asbestos fibers break down easily into tiny filaments and particles. When these particles become airborne, they pose a risk to humans.

friable asbestos
Any material containing more than one-percent asbestos, and that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

frivolous
Void of significance or reason; of little or no worth, or importance; not worthy of serious notice; trivial; unimportant.

front footage
The measurement of a parcel of land by the number of feet of street or road frontage.

functional obsolescence
A loss of value to an improvement to real estate arising from functional problems, often caused by age or poor design.

funding fee
A percentage of the loan amount charged on VA loans to provide for administrative costs. The fee has increased over time and is higher for subsequent use by veterans, reservists and National Guard

funding letter
Cover letter prepared by the escrow agent to the lender detailing the documents being forwarded to the lender to complete the borrower's loan and release the loan proceeds to escrow.
 person holds or occupies real estate with the permission of the owner, for a term of unspecified or uncertain duration; i.e., there is no fixed term to the tenancy.