Real Estate Dictionary

General warranty deed A deed in which the grantor warrants title against all claims, offering the greatest guarantee of protection of any type of deed, and which is used in most real estate deed transfers of title

Ginnie Mae The Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), a United States corporation that guarantees privately issued securities backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, or the Veterans Administration

Graduated-payment mortgage (GPM) A flexible-payment mortgage with monthly principal and interest payments that increase by a certain percentage each year for a certain number of years, and then level off for the remainder of the term

Grantee The person who, by written document, receives title or an interest in real property from a grantor

Grantor The person who, by written document, transfers title to or an interest in real property to a grantee

Gross Lease The most common of residential leases, whereby the landlord pays for all property expenses incurred through ownership, such as taxes, insurance, repairs, etc.

Ground Lease A long-term lease of land (usually 99 years) that allows the lessee to build and use the land as agreed in the lease, at the end of which, the land and any improvements revert to the owner

Ground rent The payment made for the use of land when the title to the property is of a leasehold estate, rather than as a fee simple estate

Growing-equity mortgage (GEM) A fixed-rate loan for which the monthly payments increase over a designated period of time, with the increased amount of the monthly payment being applied directly to the principal balance, thereby shortening the term of the loan

Guarantee mortgage, or Insured mortgage A mortgage that is guaranteed against default by a third party (such as the FHA), and for which the borrower must pay an insurance premium

Guardian An individual designated by the Court to protect and preserve the property of someone who is not able to manage his or her own affairs
See “Conservator”