Definition of "Capital lease"

Rental in which the lessee obtains major property rights. Although not legally a purchase of property, theoretical substance governs over legal form and requires that the leased property be recorded as an asset on the lessees books. The asset equals present value of the minimum lease payments and the present value of the bargain purchase option. A capital lease exists if any one of the following four criteria is met: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee at the end of the lease term; (2) there is a bargain purchase option; (3) the lease term is 75% or more of the life of the property; and (4) the present value of minimum lease payments equals or exceeds 90% of the fair market value of the property.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Secondary written agreement to purchase real property in the event the initial contract is not signed. ...

Transfer of title based on a preceding title transfer of conveyance. A derivative conveyance increases, ratifies, moderates, renews or transfers the stake created by the original ...

Recording an expenditure having a benefit of more than one year to the cost of the property. ...

Same as term graduated lease: A rental stipulation a varying rental rate. Rental rate are determined tied to periodic appraisals or an inflation or an inflation index. The provision is more ...

Right of a property owner located adjacent to an airfield to use the airspace above a certain distance to fly an airplane. However, the owner may not be allowed to put structures, signs or ...

A four-unit building with four tenants in a condominium type of ownership and management. ...

Lease agreement having level payments during the contractual period. It does not have an escalation clause to allow for increased costs due to increases in inflation, taxes, or other ...

Notion that a buyer should not pay more for a property than it would cost to buy at current prices for land, labor, and appraisals. ...

Generally, the escalation clause, often known as the escalator clause, means a provision in a contract enabling an upsurge in prices, bids, or wages. You must understand that they come into ...

Popular Real Estate Questions