Kapish Learning Center
The Homebuying &
Building Glossary
Understand the language of real estate, financing, construction and homeownership—one clear definition at a time.
Your reference library
Know the terms. Make confident decisions.
From your first mortgage conversation to buying land, evaluating rental income or understanding what is behind your walls, this guide is designed to make unfamiliar words feel familiar. Choose a topic, search a term or start with the 20 essentials.
Start here: 20 essential terms
Connect the concepts
Three distinctions worth knowing
Terms make more sense when you see how they relate to decisions people make every day.
Deposit ≠ Extra Down Payment
A deposit normally counts toward the buyer's total down payment at closing. It is not automatically an extra payment on top.
Title ≠ Survey
A land title shows registered ownership and interests; an RPR shows surveyed property boundaries and structures at the time of survey.
Suite-Ready ≠ Legal Suite
Planning space for a future rental suite does not make it an authorized dwelling. Zoning and permits still matter.
A reliable starting point
Official references
These plain-English explanations summarize common Canadian and Alberta usage. Actual definitions, qualification rules and legal consequences depend on the applicable contract, lender, bylaw or statute. For financing, taxes, property rights and development approvals, consult the relevant professional and current official guidance.
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