| A | B | C | D | E | F |
| G | H | I | J | K | L |
| M | N | O | P | Q | R |
| S | T | U | V | W | X |
| Y | Z |
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| U-value The amount of heat a door or window conducts between the inside air and the environment. |
| U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Also known as HUD. A federal agency that oversees the Federal Housing Administration and a variety of housing and community development programs. |
| unbundled real estate services Real estate services not bound together, but purchase transaction at a time. |
| underlayment A layer of wood between the subfloor and the floor. |
| underwriters’ knot A code-approved knot tied at the end of an electrical cord to prevent the wires from being pulled away from their connection to electrical terminals. |
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| underwriting The process in which lenders evaluate the risks posed by a particular borrower and set appropriate conditions for the loan. |
| underwriting fee A fee charged by the lender to verify information on the loan application, authenticate the property’s worth as collateral, and make a final determination about whether to grant a loan to the applicant. |
| undisclosed heir A person who claims the right to a piece of property after the death of an owner without a will. |
| undisclosed spouse A marital partner who can claim the right to a piece of property but is not identified in the owner’s will. |
| unilateral contract A one-sided contract. If one party makes a promise to do something, the second party is not legally required to perform. If the second party does comply, however, the first party is obligated to keep its promise. |
| unrecorded deed A deed that transfers ownership from one party to another without being officially recorded. |
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| unsecured loan Any loan that is not backed by collateral. |
| unsecured loan An unsecured loan is a loan that is not backed up by collateral. Often, loans from family members or pesonal acquaintances are unsecured loans. A gift from another person that is not expected to be repaid is not an unsecured loan. |
| upgrades Options offered to buyers in a new-home project that go beyond the standard carpeting, lighting, finish carpentry, and other amenities. |
| upzoning The process in which a property is zoned from a lower to a higher use. |
| urban sprawl The unplanned expansion of development over a large area. |
| usury Illegally excessive interest charged on any loan. |