Glossary

Housing terms and abbreviations in Argentina

Glossary

If you are not from Argentina, well even if you are from Argentina, understanding the vocabulary and abbreviations in real estate might cause serious confusion. In this section the most frequent terms and abbreviations are described.

In Argentina, addresses are often indicated by stating the street and the nearest crossing with another street. An example would be Av/Corrientes y Estado de Israel, meaning the apartment is located at Avenida Corrientes near the junction with the street called Estado de Israel.

Prices are mostly quoted in US dollars and Argentinean Pesos.

Alquiler = The rental agreement between landlord and tenant
Arrendador = Landlord/ owner
Arrendatario = Tenant
Boleto = Sales agreement between buyer and owner. Normally covers 30% of total price as a guarantee that the sale will go through.
Cadena de titularidades = History of ownership
Campo = Land
Compra-venta = The sales agreement. In this agreement they buyer agrees to pay an amount in exchange of the ownership title
Departamento = Apartment
Dependencia = A small room which is normally inhabited by personnel.
Desalojo = Eviction. Only a judge can order this
Escribano = Notary Public. Without a notary it is not possible to register the property on your name at the register. If you want a mortgage you will also need a Notary.
Family = Dining room or a room close to the kitchen
Fiador = The person that stands guarantees the tenant’s payments to the landlord. Also called garante.
Fianza = The contract in which a third person known as garante/ fiador takes responsibility for the tenants payments to the landlord.
Garante = The person that stands guarantees the tenant’s payments to the landlord. Also called fiador.
Hipoteca = Mortgage
Inquilino =Tenant
Informe de dominio = Statement covering the exact dimensions and financial situation of the premises
Informe de inhibiciones = Statement whether or not the owner is allowed to sell
Locador = Landlord/ owner
Locatario = Tenant, term used in contracts
Mantenimiento = Maintenance
Notario = Also called escribano, notary public. Without a notary it is not possible to register the property on your name at the register. If you want a mortgage you will also need a Notary.
Propiedad horizontal (PH) = Housing in which the owners share certain attributes like stairs and main entrance and also have private property like patios. It is best to be compared with an old house in which several small houses are built.
Playroom = Television room, play room or living room
Propietario = owner
Quinta = Country house, originally for weekend retreat and found in the outskirts.
Registro de Propiedad = Office where ownership titles are registered
Reserva de compra = down-payment that has to be made by potential buyers in order to make an offer on a premises.
Subasta = Auction
Suite = Master bedroom with individual bathroom
Toilete = Bathroom for visitors

Abbreviations

Amb = ambientes, the number of rooms
Ampl = amplia, spacious
Balc = balcon, balcony
= baño, bathroom
Calef = calefacción, heating
Cochs = cocheras, parking spaces
Coc = cocina, kitchen
Com = comedor, dining room
Dep = dependecia, small room where personnel lives
Depto = departamento, apartment
Exc = excelente, excellent
Fte = frente, front side of the building
Impec = impeccable,
Lav = lavadora, washing machine
Lum = luminoso, bride
Nvo = Nuevo, new
P.H. = propriedad horizontal, Housing in which the owners share certain attributes like stairs and main entrance and also have private property like patios. It is best to be compared with an old house in which several small houses are built.
Quinta = Casa Quinta/ Casa fin de semana, weekend retreat
Toi = toilet

Further reading

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