Property Data Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms and fields in U.S. property records.

• What Are Property Records?
  Property records are the public documents that describe a property — its characteristics, ownership history, sales, and taxes. Here's what they contain and how to access them.
• What Is an APN (Assessor Parcel Number)?
  An Assessor Parcel Number (APN) is the unique ID a county assigns to every parcel of land. Here's how it works, how it's structured, and where to find it.
• Data Dictionary
  Every column in the RealEstateDataset property dataset — field names, types, and definitions. The same schema powers the Straply API.
• Assessed Value vs. Market Value
  The difference between a property's assessed value (used for taxes) and its market value (what it would sell for) — explained plainly.
• What Is a Property Deed?
  A property deed is the legal document that transfers ownership of real estate. Here's what it is and how it differs from a title.
• What Is a Plat Map?
  A plat map is an official drawing that divides land into lots, showing boundaries, dimensions, and parcel numbers. Explained simply.
• Lot Size in Real Estate: Square Feet vs. Acres
  What lot size means, how it's measured, and how to convert between square feet and acres — with the exact fields in the property dataset.
• What Does 'Year Built' Mean?
  Year built is the year a home's structure was completed. Why it matters for value, condition, and financing — and how it appears in the data.
• What Are HOA Fees?
  HOA fees are recurring dues paid to a homeowners association for shared services and amenities. What they cover and how they appear in the data.
• Property Types Explained (Single-Family, Condo, Townhouse & More)
  The standard property-type categories — single-family, condo, townhouse, multi-family, manufactured, land — and how the dataset classifies them.
• What Is Square Footage (Living Area)?
  Square footage is a property's interior living area. How it's measured, why it drives price-per-square-foot, and the exact dataset field.