INDUSTRIAL
MULTIFAMILY
OFFICE
RETAIL
LAND & FINANCE
100

This measurement, often expressed in feet, refers to the unobstructed vertical distance from the floor to the lowest structural element, such as a beam or sprinkler, and is critical for racking and automated storage systems.

What is clear height?

100

The ratio of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and larger units within a property is collectively known as this.

What is the unit mix?

100

Expressed as parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of office space, helps determine if a building meets tenant parking requirements.


What is the parking ratio?

100

Retail developers often evaluate this feature, which ensures customers can easily see the store from the road and access it safely from parking lots or driveways.


What is frontage?

100

You can usually find links to this table on the planning and zoning pages of a municipality's site. It tells buyers, developers, etc what kinds of uses are allowed for a given parcel. 

What is a permitted use table?

200

These specialized exterior areas are designed to allow large trucks to back directly up to the building for loading and unloading of goods. The cargo hold flooring of the truck is level with the warehouse floor where forklifts can go in and out.

What are dock-high loading bays?

200

In multifamily development, this metric is calculated by dividing the number of residential units by the total land area, often expressed as units per acre.

What is residential density?

200

This metric adjusts a tenant’s usable square footage to include a proportionate share of common areas, giving the total space the tenant pays rent on.


What is rentable square footage

200

This metric measures how easily customers can access a retail property on foot, considering nearby amenities, street connectivity, and pedestrian friendliness.


What is a walkability score?

200

This process involves converting raw land into a site suitable for development, including grading, utilities, and zoning approvals.

What is the entitlement process?

300

Access to these two types of transportation infrastructure is often a top priority when selecting a site for industrial development.

What are highways and ports (or rail lines)?

300

This style of multifamily property typically consists of two- or three-story walk-up buildings spread across landscaped grounds with surface parking.


What is garden-style multifamily?

300

This measurement, often in feet, defines the distance between columns and influences how easily space can be divided into offices or open work areas.


What is column spacing?

300

A retail suite that is not on the end of a strip plaza.


What is an inline suite?

300

This ratio measures a property’s net operating income divided by its annual debt service to assess whether it can cover loan payments.


What is DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio)?

400

Industrial developers often highlight this building feature, which refers to how much weight a floor can hold.

What is floor load capacity (or floor load rating)?

400

This operational metric measures the percentage of residents who move out during a given year.


What is the annual turnover rate?

400

This term describes the percentage of a floor dedicated to elevators, stairwells, restrooms, and other non-leasable areas that affect how much space is rentable.


What is the core or load factor?

400

This type of retail property is anchored by big-box stores like Target or Home Depot, often surrounded by smaller specialty shops and restaurants.


What is a power center?

400

This short-term loan is often used to purchase or improve land before securing permanent financing, typically with higher interest rates.


What is a bridge loan?

500

This measurement, typically expressed in feet, refers to the distance from a dock door to the nearest obstruction, ensuring trucks have room to maneuver on the property.


What is truck court depth?

500

This internationally recognized certification is awarded to multifamily developments that meet energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable building standards.


What is LEED certification?

500

In commercial real estate, this acronym refers to the standard that defines how often and to what level common areas such as lobbies, hallways, and restrooms must be cleaned. The acronym, when applicable, is added as a suffix to Base Rent in Listings - similar to how NNN and MG might be.  


What is CHAR (Common Area Housekeeping Requirement)?

Charwoman, chargirl, charlady and char are occupational terms referring to a paid part-time worker who comes into a house or other building to clean it for a few hours of a day or week

500

This freestanding sign near the entrance of a retail center displays the names of multiple tenants to attract passing motorists.

What is a pylon sign?

500

This federal program allows investors to defer and potentially reduce capital gains taxes by investing in designated low-income areas through qualified funds.


What is an Opportunity Zone?