What do all of those real estate acronyms in the ads mean?

Answer:

If you find yourself stumbling over weird acronyms in a real estate listing, don’t be alarmed. There is a method to the madness of this shorthand (which is mostly adopted by sellers to save money in advertising charges). Here are newspaper classified section:

*assume. fin. – assumable financing
*dk – deck
*gar – garage (garden is usually abbreviated “gard”)
*expansion pot’l – may be extra space on the lot, or possibly vertical potential for a top floor or room addition. Verify actual potential by checking local zoning restrictions prior to purchase.
*fab pentrm – fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof, that sometimes has views.
*FDR – formal dining room
*frplc, fplc, FP – fireplace
*grmet kit – gourmet kitchen
*HDW, HWF, Hdwd – hardwood floors
*hi ceils – high ceilings
*In-law potential – potential for a separate apartment. Sometimes, local zoning codes restrict rentals of such units so be sure the conversion is legal first.
*large E-2 plan – this is one of several floor plans available in a specific building
*lsd pkg. – leased parking area, may come with an additional cost
*lo dues – find out just how low these homewoner’s dues are, and in comparison to what?
*nr bst schls – near the best schools
*pvt – private
*pwdr rm – powder room, or half-bath
*upr – upper floor
*vw, vu, vws, vus – view(s)