Q. I often see abbreviations on listings, but I don’t know what they mean. Can you help?
A. This chart may help you to better understand the abbreviations used in real estate advertising.
| WORD / EXPRESSION | ABBREVIATION |
| and | & |
| approximately | approx. |
| available | avail. |
| basement | bsmt. |
| bathroom | bth. or bathrm. |
| bedroom | bdrm. |
| block | blk. |
| building | bldg. |
| built | blt. |
| bungalow | bung. |
| ceiling | ceil. |
| central air conditioning | c/a or c/air |
| central vacuum | c/v or c/vac |
| condition | cond. |
| construction | const. |
| cupboards | cpbds. |
| dining room | din rm. |
| dishwasher | dishwr. |
| doors | drs. |
| double | dbl. |
| electric | elec. |
| ensuite | ens. |
| condition | cond. |
| equipment | equip. |
| family room | fam rm. |
| finished | fin. |
| fireplace | ffp. |
| furnace | furn. |
| hardwood | hrdwd. |
| hot water tank | hwt. or HWT |
| immediate | immed. |
| included | incl. |
| landscaped | lnscp. |
| large | lge. or lrg. |
| living room | lvgrm. or livrm. |
| maintenance | maint. |
| measurement | meas. |
| mortgage | mtge. |
| piece | pc. or pce. |
| possession | poss. |
| private | priv. |
| property | prop. |
| recreation room | rec rm. |
| refridgerator | fridge |
| room | rm. |
| small | sm. |
| square feet | sq. ft. |
| throughout | thruout. |
| square feet | sq. ft. |
| township | twp. |
| wall to wall | w/w |
| with | w/ |
| woodwork | woodwk |
| yard | yd. |
Q. The real estate industry uses abbreviations and acronyms a lot. Can you provide me with a list of the most common ones?
A. 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:
| 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 |
