air conditioning – electrical system for cooling properties. Note that "hot and cold air conditioning" means that the air conditioning unit has a heating element built into it for the winter months

apartment – one of a number of homes in one building

belle époque France – the settled and peaceful period before the First World War

bourgeois France – in architecture this refers to an ornate period at the end of the nineteenth century

capital gains tax – a tax levied on the sale of a property or investment

chateau France – large country house or castle

chiringuito Spain – beach bar

complex – More than one dwelling sharing common facilities

condo – see condominium

condominium US – housing where each unit owner has title to their unit in a multi-unit building and an undivided interest in the common areas

condominium hotel US – a condominium with cleaning, front desk and other hotel-style services, even though the individual units are privately owned

condo-hotel, condotel – see condominium hotel

country club – a rural or semi-rural self-contained development, typically featuring sporting activities such as a golf course, tennis and so on, and a clubhouse

development – more than one dwelling sharing common facilities

double taxation agreement – agreement between two countries so people who have income from both countries avoid paying tax twice on that income

downtown US – in or relating to the central/commercial part of a town or city

duplex – a flat or apartment on two floors; a residential building divided into two apartments

escrow account – a fund established to hold moneys pledged and to be used solely for a designated purpose

eurozone – the parts of Europe which use the euro ie have monetary union

féria Spain/France – a local trade/social fair, usually lasting for several days

first-line – on the edge of something with uninterrupted views, so “first-line golf” means a property overlooking a golf course

front-line – see first-line

fitness centre – a building or room containing gym equipment, sports facilities and so on

infinity pool – a swimming pool which gives the visual impression of extending into infinity, especially the sea

inheritance tax – a tax levied on property and money acquired by inheritance or gift

inspection trip – a short trip, typically organised by a real estate company in order to view property in a particular region

Jacuzzi – a trademark, but often used to mean any whirlpool bath with a system of underwater jets of water to massage the body

leaseback scheme usually France – a scheme whereby a rental company manages your property for you and offers you a guaranteed income from it for a fixed period of time

loggia – a room with one or more open sides that forms part of a house and has one side open to the garden

loan-to-value ratio – the percentage of a property’s value available as a mortgage

maisonette – typically a home on two storeys with its own entrance but part of a larger building

mas French – country-style home

mortgage broker – agent who finds the best mortgage for you from a variety of different providers

off-plan – property which is bought before or during building, usually with payment made in stages

open-plan – building with large rooms and few or no dividing walls

resale – existing property being sold by its current owner

resort – as well as meaning a holiday town or village, can refer specifically to a self-contained development with lots of leisure facilities on-site

gondola – another word for ski lift

sq metre – unit of measurement for area of property, for instance a room of five metres by five metres has a size of 25 sq metres

storage unit – a storage area, usually separate from the property and typically near the garage

studio – apartment where the living area doubles as the bedroom

taverna Greek – type of pub

title deed – legal deed or document proving ownership of a property

town house – a type of terraced dwelling having two floors, with the living area and kitchen on the first floor, and the bedrooms on the second

urbanización – purpose-built development in Spain with its own shopping centre and other facilities

villa – large and luxurious house in its own grounds, especially in continental Europe

WC – water closet ie toilet

wellness centre – building typically containing beauty, fitness and health facilities, such as massage, beauty treatments, personal trainers, complementary therapies, asesthetic treatments and so on