Real estate terms starting with I

Impounds

A trust type of account established by lenders for the accumulation of borrower's funds to meet periodic payments of taxes, mortgage insurance premiums, and/or future insurance policy premiums, required to protect their security.

Indemnity

Insurance against possible loss or damage. A title insurance policy is a contract of indemnity.

Index

An alphabetical listing in the public records of the names of parties to recorded real estate instruments together with the book and page number of the record. The listing in abstract and title plants of recorded real estate instruments in groups according to land descriptions, known as a geographic index. The alphabetical listing in abstract and title plants, by names of the parties, of all recorded instruments that affect but do not describe particular real estate, such as judgments, powers of attorney, wills and probate proceedings. Such indexes are known by various names, such as "general index," "judgment index" and "name index."

Instrument

Any written document having a legal effect.

Internet Data Exchange (IDX)

These websites allow homebuyers to search for information on available properties in a market. Usually the information is more limited than what the searcher could find through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Rules about what information can and cannot be displayed by the IDX are set by the local MLS organization.

Intestate

Without leaving a will, or leaving an invalid will so that the property of the estate passes by the laws of succession rather than by the direction of the deceased.