The following is a list of abbreviations frequently used in the real estate business. This may help you to better understand the descriptions of properties in real estate advertising.

As with any organization, the real estate industry often relies on abbreviations and acronyms to describe a service, association or designation. Listed below are some of the more common acronyms.

ACRONYMS
  • AACI

    Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute

  • ABR®

    Accredited Buyer Representative

  • ABRM®

    Accredited Buyer Representative Manager

  • AFM

    Accredited Farm Manager

  • AIC

    Appraisal Institute of Canada

  • ALC

    Accredited Land Consultant

  • AMP

    Accredited Mortgage Professional

  • ARA

    Accredited Rural Appraiser

  • ARM

    Accredited Resident Manager

  • BOMA

    Building Owners & Managers Association

  • CAHPI

    Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors

  • CCI

    Canadian Condominium Institute

  • CCIM

    Certified Commercial/Investment Member

  • CIMBL

    Canadian Institute of Mortgage Brokers & Lenders

  • CLP

    Certified in Land Planning and Development

  • CMA

    Current Market Appraisal

  • CMHC

    Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation

  • CMR

    Certified in Marketing of Real Estate

  • CPM

    Certified Property Manager

  • CRA

    Canadian Residential Appraiser

  • CRB

    Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager

  • CRE

    Counselor of Real Estate

  • CREA

    Canadian Real Estate Association

  • CRES

    Certified Real Estate Specialist

  • CRS

    Certified Residential Specialist

  • E&O

    Errors and Omissions Professional Liability Insurance

  • FRI

    Fellow of the Real Estate Institute

  • FRI(E)

    Executive Fellow of the Real Estate Institute

  • FRICS

    Fellow, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

  • FSBO

    For Sale By Owner

  • MLS®

    Multiple Listing Service® (a certification mark owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association)

  • MPAC

    Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

  • MVA

    Market Value Appraiser (Residential)

  • OA-AIC

    Ontario Association Appraisal Institute of Canada

  • OREA

    Ontario Real Estate Association

  • PCC

    Private Career College

  • RECO

    Real Estate Council of Ontario

  • REIC

    Real Estate Institute of Canada

  • SRS

    Specialist in Real Estate Syndication

  • VOW

    Virtual Office Website

EXPRESSION

and

approximately

available

basement

bathroom

bedroom

block

building

built

bungalow

ceiling

central air conditioning

central vacuum

condition

construction

cupboards

dining room

dishwasher

doors

double

electric

en-suite

equipment

family room

finished

fireplace

furnace

hardwood

hot water tank

immediate

included

landscaped

large

living room

maintenance

measurement

mortgage

piece

possession

private

property

recreation room

refrigerator

room

small

square feet

throughout

township

wall to wall

with

woodwork

yard

ABBREVIATION

&

approx.

avail.

bsmt.

bth. or bathrm.

bdrm.

blk.

bldg.

blt.

bung.

ceil.

c/a or c/air

c/v or c/vac

cond.

const.

cpbds.

din rm.

dishwr.

drs.

dbl.

elec.

ens.

equip.

fam rm.

fin.

ffp.

furn.

hrdwd.

hwt. or HWT

immed.

incl.

lnscp.

lge. or lrg.

lvgrm. or livrm.

maint.

meas.

mtge.

pc. or pce.

poss.

priv.

prop.

rec rm.

fridge

rm.

sm.

sq. ft.

thruout.

twp.

w/w

w/

woodwk

yd.