| Term | Definition |
| Joint tenancy |
A form of concurrent ownership in which the co-owners have equal undivided interests and the right of survivorship. The right of survivorship means that when one joint tenant dies, the surviving tenants automatically acquire his or her interest in the property.
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| Judgment |
A court’s binding determination of the rights and duties of the parties in a lawsuit A decision made by a court of law. In judgments that require the repayment of a debt, the court may place a lien against the debtor's real property as collateral for the judgment's creditor
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| Judicial foreclosure |
A type of foreclosure proceeding used in some states that is handled as a civil lawsuit and conducted entirely under the auspices of a court. Other states use non-judicial foreclosure.
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| Jumbo loan |
A loan that exceeds Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's loan limits. Also called a nonconforming loan. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loans are referred to as conforming loans.
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| Jack |
A device for exerting a large force over a short distance, usually by means of screw action or hydraulic pressure.
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| Jack rafter |
A shortened rafter that joins a hip or valley rafter.
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| Jamb |
The vertical side of a door or window.
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| Jet burner |
A torch that burns fuel oil and compressed air, used in quarrying granite.
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| Joist |
One of a group of light, closely spaced beams used to support a floor deck or flat roof.
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| Joist-band |
A broad, shallow concrete beam that supports one-way concrete joists whose depths are identical to its own.
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| Joist girder |
A light steel truss used to support open-web steel joists.
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