Purchase OfferA detailed, written document that makes an offer to purchase a property, and that may be amended several times in the process of negotiations.
Purchase priceThe amount of money paid for the property, including down payment and mortgage, but excluding closing costs and other fees.
PurchasesA purchase is the use of your card to buy or lease products or services. The purchase of cash or cash equivalents, like casino chips or lottery tickets…
Put optionBuying a put option gives you the right to sell the specific financial instrument underlying the option at a specific price, called the exercise or strike…
Put-call ratioSince investors buy put options when they expect the market to fall, and call options when they expect the market to rise, the relationship of puts to…
Quadruple witching dayOnce every quarter - on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December - stock options, stock index options, stock index futures contracts, and…
qualificationAs determined by a lender, the ability of the borrower to repay a mortgage loan based on the borrower's credit history, employment status, assets, debts…
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)A court order that recognizes or creates a spouse’s or a former spouse’s right to a portion of a member’s retirement annuity.
Qualified domestic trust (QDOT)If your spouse isn't a US citizen and your estate is large enough to risk being vulnerable to estate taxes, you can use a qualified domestic trust (QDOT)…
Qualified PlanThe South Carolina Retirement Systems’ retirement plans are qualified plans under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Qualified retirement planA qualified retirement plan is an employer sponsored plan that meets the requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the US…
Qualified TrustsBlind or diversified trusts authorized by the Ethics in Government Act as a means of avoiding conflicts of interest for employees with extensive financial…
qualifying childTo be a qualifying child, the dependent must meet eight tests: (1) relationship, (2) age, (3) residence, (4) support, (5) citizenship or residency, (6)…
Qualifying RatiosCalculations that are used in determining the loan amount that a borrower qualifies for, typically a comparison of the borrower's total monthly income to…
qualifying relativeThere are tests that must be met to be a qualifying relative, they are: (1) not a qualifying child, (2) member of household or relationship, (3)…
Qualifying Widow(er) filing statusIf your spouse died in 2010, you can use married filing jointly as your filing status for 2010 if you otherwise qualify to use that status.
Qualitative analysisWhen a securities analyst evaluates intangible factors, such as the integrity and experience of a company's management, the positioning of its products…
Quality ControlA system of safeguards to ensure that loans are originated, underwritten and serviced according to the lender's standards and, if applicable, the…
Quality EditsThe data in question do not agree with an expected standard (value). Review for correctness and change only if erroneous data has been reported.
Quantitative analysisWhen a securities analyst focuses on a corporation's financial data in order to project potential future performance, the process is called quantitative…
QuarterThe financial world splits up its calendar into four quarters, each three months long.
Quasi-public corporationIn the United States, quasi-public corporations have links to the federal government although they are technically in the private sector.
QubesThe NASDAQ Stock Market sells shares in a unit investment trust (UIT) that tracks the NASDAQ 100 Stock Index.
Quitclaim DeedA deed transferring ownership of a property but does not make any guarantee of clear title.
QuoinA structural form, usually of masonry, used at the corners of a building for the purpose of reinforcement, frequently imitated for decorative purposes.
Quotation (Quote)On a stock market, a quotation combines the highest bid to buy and the lowest offer to sell a stock.
Quotation or QuoteAn estimate of the cost of insurance based on the information supplied to the insurance producer (agent) or company.
QuoteAn estimate of the premium charge, based upon the information provided for the coverage(s) requested.
R-squaredR-squared is a statistical measurement that determines the proportion of a security's return, or the return on a specific portfolio of securities, that…
RadonA toxic gas found in the soil beneath a house that can contribute to cancer and other illnesses.
RallyA rally is a significant short-term recovery in the price of a stock or commodity, or of a market in general, after a period of decline or sluggishness.
Random walk theoryThe random walk theory holds that it is futile to try to predict changes in stock prices.
RankingRanking is a method of assigning a value to an investment in relation to comparable investments by using a scale.
Rate CapThe limit on the amount an interest rate on an ARM can increase or decrease during an adjustment period.
Rate LockThe period of time that a mortgage company will guarantee a loan's interest rate, usually 30 or 60 days.
Rate of returnRate of return is income you collect on an investment expressed as a percentage of the investment's purchase price.
Rate SpreadThe price data take the form of a "rate spread." Lenders must report the spread (difference) between the annual percentage rate (APR) on a loan and the…
Ratified Sales ContractA contract that shows both you and the seller of the house have agreed to your offer.
RatingRating means evaluating a company, security, or investment product to determine how well it meets a specific set of objective criteria.
Rating serviceA rating service, such as A.M. Best, Moody's Investors Service, or Standard & Poor's, evaluates bond issuers to determine the level of risk they pose to…
RatioDenotes the relationship of items within and between comparisons of balance sheet items with profit-and-loss items; operating ratios are those derived…
Real EstateTypically includes residential property (e.g., homes, apartment buildings, hotels), commercial property (e.g.
Real Estate AgentAn individual who is licensed to negotiate and arrange real estate sales; works for a real estate broker.
real estate fundA mutual fund that owns real estate, often commercial properties.
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)Managed diversified portfolios of real estate and mortgages. REITs are usually publicly traded like mutual funds and qualify as excepted investment funds…
Real Estate ProfessionalAn individual who provides services in buying and selling homes. The real estate professional is paid a percentage of the home sale price by the seller.
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)(RESPA)Federal law that, among other things, requires lenders to provide "good faith" estimates of settlement costs and make other disclosures regarding the…
Real estate taxSame or similar to "property tax." See also "property tax."
Real interest rateYour real interest rate is the interest rate you earn on an investment minus the rate of inflation. For example, if you're earning 6.
Real propertyA dwelling or home is often referred to as real property.
Real property taxA real property tax is a local tax on the value of real estate. The property may be assessed at full value, which is presumably the price that the owner…
Real rate of returnYou find the real rate of return on an investment by subtracting the rate of inflation from the nominal, or named, rate of return.
real returnReal Return is the net return of an investment, adjusted for inflation during the time you have held that investment but prior to tax considerations.
Real TimeWhen an event is reported as it happens - such as a quick jump in a stock's price or the constantly changing numbers on a market index - you are getting…
realized and unrealized gain/lossThe results of securities transactions are usually categorized into either realized gains or losses upon the sale of security.
realized earningsRealized Earnings is investment income as earned by a fund and considered part of you income.
Realized gainWhen you sell an investment for more than you paid, you have a realized gain. For example, if you buy a stock for $20 a share and sell it for $35 a share…
Realized Gain (Loss)A gain (loss) that has occurred financially. The difference between the principal amount received and the cost basis after the sale of an asset.
REALTOR®A real estate agent or broker who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, and its local and state associations.
Reasonable causeReasonable cause to conduct an investigation is based upon employer coverage (certified LCA) and an allegation of a violation occurring within the 12…
Reasons for DenialThese fields identify why an application was denied. As many as three reasons may be reported.
RecaptureWhen you recapture assets, you regain them, usually because of the provisions of a contract or legal precedent.
RecessionIn general usage, the word recession connotes a marked slippage in economic activity.
RecharacterizationWhen you have converted one type of individual retirement account (IRA) to another type - such as a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA - and then convert it…
ReclassificationAn adjustment made to the input-output (I-O) accounts when there are two or more industries whose primary activity is the production of similar…
ReconciliationThe process of analyzing two related records and, if differences exist between them, finding the cause and bringing the two records into agreement.
Record dateTo be paid a stock dividend, you must own the stock on the day that the corporation's board of directors names as the record date, also known as the date…
Record of Decision (ROD)(ROD)The Record of Decision (ROD) is a public document that explains which cleanup alternatives will be used to clean up a Superfund site.
RecorderThe public official who keeps records of transactions that affect real property in the area. Sometimes known as a "Registrar of Deeds" or "County Clerk."
RecordingThe filing of a lien or other legal documents in the appropriate public record.
Recording FeesCharged by the Registry of Deeds for the filing of documents or details of a legal document to make them a matter of public record.
RecruitmentRecruitment is the process to attract the attention of individual(s) who may apply for employment.
RecusalIs an ethics agreement in which an employee disqualifies himself from acting in official matters involving entities that present a financial conflict of…
Red Cross SchemeThis is a scheme that uses a charitable entity to disguise a transfer of funds offshore. For example, $1,000,000 is donated to a charitable organization.
Red herringWhen a security is offered to the public for the first time, the underwriter prepares a preliminary prospectus, called a red herring.
RedefinitionAn adjustment made to the input-output (I-O) accounts when a secondary product is assumed to have very different inputs than the other products of the…
RedemptionA redemption is the right given to a security holder to sell, at anytime, some or all of his/her units back to the fund for cash.
Redemption feeSome open-end mutual funds impose a redemption fee when you sell shares in the fund, often during a specific, and sometimes brief, period of time after…
RedliningThe alleged practice of certain lending institutions of not making mortgage, home improvement, and small business loans in certain neighborhoods-usually…
RefinanceThe repayment of a debt from the proceeds of a new loan using the same property as security.
RefinancingA way of obtaining a better interest rate, lower monthly payments, or borrow cash on the equity in a property that has built up on a loan.
RefundAn amount paid back because of an overpayment or because of the return of an item previously sold.
refundable creditWhen the amount of a credit is greater than the tax owed, taxpayers can receive a "refund" for some of the unused credit.
Regional exchangeStock exchanges in cities other than New York are called regional exchanges. They list both regional stocks, which may or may not be listed on the New…
Registered bondWhen a bond is registered, the name of the owner and the particulars of the bond are recorded by the issuer or the issuer's agent.
Registered investment adviser (RIA)Investment advisers who register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and agree to be regulated by SEC rules are known as registered…
Registered representativeAn investment salesperson or broker who is licensed by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and by the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange).
registration by coordinationA state procedure for registering securities for which a registration statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")…
registration by qualificationA state procedure for registering securities for which a registration statement has not been filed with the SEC.
Regressive taxA regressive or flat income tax system taxes everyone at the same rate, as sales tax does.
Regular ProgramThe final phase of a community's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Regular Program CommunityA community wherein a Flood Insurance Rate Map is in effect and full limits of coverage are available under the Flood Disaster Protection Act (FDPA or…
regulation aRegulation A is an exemption from federal securities registration. Regulation A permits an issuer to raise a limited dollar amount in an offering of…
Regulation DRegulation D is an exemption from federal securities registration for private placements of securities.
Regulation TRegulation T is the Federal Reserve Board rule that governs how much you can borrow through your margin account to cover the purchase price of a security.