Here is a comprehensive, alphabetically sorted list of the most commonly used real estate investing abbreviations and acronyms. This covers residential, commercial, fix-and-flip, multifamily, wholesaling, BRRRR, private lending, syndication, and general investing terms you're likely to encounter in your deals, talking to investors, BiggerPockets, forums, X/Twitter, podcasts, or deal analysis.
ADU - Accessory Dwelling Unit
AIR - Asset Investment Recovery
AMA - Ask Me Anything (common on forums)
AME - Adjusted Mean Error (appraisal)
AMI - Area Median Income
AO - Accepted Offer
APOD - Annual Property Operating Data
ARV - After-Repair Value
AS-IS - Sold in current condition
BPO - Broker Price Opinion
BR - Bedroom
BRRRR - "Buy - Rehab - Rent - Refinance - Repeat"
CAP or Cap Rate - Capitalization Rate
CC - Closing Costs
CCR - "Covenants - Conditions & Restrictions"
CDFI - Community Development Financial Institution
CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
CF - Cash Flow
CMA - Comparative Market Analysis
COA - Condominium Owners Association
COC or CoC - Cash-on-Cash Return
CPA - Certified Public Accountant
CPC - Cost Per Click (marketing)
CPI - Consumer Price Index
COCR - Cash-on-Cash Return (same as COC)
DCR or DSCR - Debt Coverage Ratio / Debt Service Coverage Ratio
DD - Due Diligence
DOM - Days on Market
DP - Down Payment
DTI - Debt-to-Income Ratio
DUI - Driving Under Influence (sometimes appears on tenant screening)
EMD - Earnest Money Deposit
EIK - Eat-In Kitchen
EO - Existing Owner
EOF - End of Financials (syndication)
ER - Earnest Money Receipt
FHA - Federal Housing Administration
FMR - Fair Market Rent
FMV - Fair Market Value
FNMA - Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association)
FSBO - For Sale By Owner
FHA - Federal Housing Administration
FMR - Fair Market Rent
FMV - Fair Market Value
FNMA - Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association)
FSBO - For Sale By Owner
GIM - Gross Income Multiplier
GLA - Gross Living Area
GOI - Gross Operating Income
GRM - Gross Rent Multiplier
GRI - Gross Rental Income
HML - Hard Money Lender
HOA - Homeowners Association
HOC - Home Ownership Center (HUD)
HELOC - Home Equity Line of Credit
HUD - Department of Housing and Urban Development
IRR - Internal Rate of Return
JV - Joint Venture
KPI - Key Performance Indicator
K - Kitchen (in floor plans)
LA - Listing Agent
LTV - Loan-to-Value
LTC - Loan-to-Cost
LTR - Long-Term Rental
MAO - Maximum Allowable Offer
MHA - Making Home Affordable
MHP - Mobile Home Park
MLS - Multiple Listing Service
MOO - Make Offer Only
MTR - Mid-Term Rental (30–90 days)
NNN - Triple Net Lease
NOI - Net Operating Income
NNN - Triple Net (commercial lease)
OBO - Or Best Offer
OOM - Owner-Occupied Multifamily
OOR - Owner-Occupied Rehab
OP - Original Poster (forums)
OPM - Other People’s Money
P&I - Principal & Interest
P&S - Purchase & Sale Agreement
PCF - Positive Cash Flow
PITI - "Principal - Interest - Taxes - Insurance"
PMI - Private Mortgage Insurance
POA - Property Owners Association / Power of Attorney
PPC - Pay Per Click (marketing)
POF - Proof of Funds
PPM - Private Placement Memorandum (syndication)
PRA - Primary Residence Acquisition
QC - Quit Claim Deed
REI - Real Estate Investing
REIA - Real Estate Investors Association
REO - Real Estate Owned (bank-owned)
RGV - Repair Value Gap
ROI - Return on Investment
ROV - Repair & Operating Value
RPM - Real Property Management / Revenue Per Month
RUBS - Ratio Utility Billing System
SA - Selling Agent
SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission
SFR - Single-Family Residence
SOW - Scope of Work
STR - Short-Term Rental
T12 - Trailing 12 Months (financials)
TDD - Tenant Due Diligence
TIC - Tenants in Common
TTM - Trailing Twelve Months
TURN - Tenant Turnover
VA - Veterans Administration (loan)
VAC - Vacancy Rate
VOM - Value Over Market
W2 - Wage Earner
WDIK - We Don’t Know It All (BiggerPockets joke)
YTD - Year to Date
1% Rule - Monthly rent ≥ 1% of purchase price
2% Rule - Monthly rent ≥ 2% of purchase price
50% Rule - Operating expenses ≈ 50% of gross rent (excl. mortgage)
70% Rule - Max offer = 70% of ARV minus repairs