U-value The amount of
heat a door or window conducts between the inside air and the
environment.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development Also known as HUD. A federal agency
that oversees the Federal Housing Administration and a variety of housing and
community development programs.
unbundled real estate services Real estate services not bound together, but purchase transaction
at a time.
underlayment A layer
of wood between the subfloor and the floor.
underwriters' knot A
code-approved knot tied at the end of an electrical cord to prevent the wires
from being pulled away from their connection to electrical
terminals.
underwriting The
process in which lenders evaluate the risks posed by a particular borrower and
set appropriate conditions for the loan.
underwriting fee A
fee charged by the lender to verify information on the loan application,
authenticate the property's worth as collateral, and make a final determination
about whether to grant a loan to the applicant.
undisclosed heir A
person who claims the right to a piece of property after the death of an owner
without a will.
undisclosed spouse A
marital partner who can claim the right to a piece of property but is not
identified in the owner's will.
unilateral contract A
one-sided contract. If one party makes a promise to do something, the second
party is not legally required to perform. If the second party does comply,
however, the first party is obligated to keep its promise.
unrecorded deed A
deed that transfers ownership from one party to another without being officially
recorded.
unsecured loan Any loan that is not backed by collateral.
unsecured loan An
unsecured loan is a loan that is not backed up by collateral. Often, loans from
family members or pesonal acquaintances are unsecured loans. A gift from another
person that is not expected to be repaid is not an unsecured
loan.
upgrades Options
offered to buyers in a new-home project that go beyond the standard carpeting,
lighting, finish carpentry, and other amenities.
upzoning The process
in which a property is zoned from a lower to a higher use.
urban sprawl The
unplanned expansion of development over a large area.
usury Illegally
excessive interest charged on any loan.
Equal Housing Opportunity