Definition of "Margin"

Colleen Lawler real estate agent

Written by

Colleen Lawlerelite badge icon

Colleen and Team - Coldwell Banker Gundaker

In commerce and business, margin as a general term is defined as by the difference between the amount of money spent on a product and the selling price of it. The margin usually appears as a percentage of net sales revenues. For example, a retail store pays $5 for supplier goods and sells them for $10. This means that the margin of sales is 50% on these products.

Margin in financial accounting has a slightly different meaning. In accounting, there are three income statements that appear as a percentage of sales revenue. Gross margin, net profit margins, operating margin used by companies to measure earning performances.

Margin as far as investment goes is a measurement that indicated a change between the purchase price and the selling price of an asset. This creates leverage which means that the investor has gain or loss margins based on the value of the asset at the time of selling compared to the time of buying.

Margin in real estate

Let’s explain the meaning of margin In real estate, the term margin is tied to adjustable-rate mortgages(ARM). The ARM allows borrowers to pay a fixed interest rate for a determined period of time, after which it changes. At the time of the loan approval, a margin is set. As explained before it is a percentage and it determines the maximum interest rate that the borrower can set for the entire duration of the loan.

This means that the interest rate cannot be higher than the index of interest rates plus the margin. The index of interest rates is like a benchmark or a guide for lenders that helps them set interest rates. For example, if the margin is set at 3 percent, it means that your interest rate charges for your loan can only go as high as 3 percent above the index of interest rates.

Comments for Margin

Jared Jared said:

can you explain the definition f margin in a much more simpler way

Mar 08, 2020  11:56:56

 
Real Estate Agent

Hello Jared,

Thank you for reaching out to us. At your notification, we have updated the glossary term. Feel free to read the new changes and get informed.

Mar 26, 2020  14:04:37
 
 
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

A binding arbitration is a way to solve disputes without going to court. An alternative to the more expensive and lengthy legal procedures, a binding arbitration is basically the process ...

A legal procedure to sell a mortgage property to the highest bidder in order to satisfy a mortgage claim from a mortgagee against the value o the property. A foreclosure sale can occur from ...

Series of sloping horizontal slats most frequently mounted in doors and windows permitting the passage of air while restricting vision and preventing rain from entering the building. ...

Language commonly used in a fee simple title conveyance. The significance is whether the title is clear and can be passed on to the purchaser's estate including all heirs and those who may ...

(1) The interest rate charged on a construction loan. (2) The rate at which construction loan progress payments are made. See also bridge loan; bullet mortgage; development loan. ...

person's behavior partly genetic and partly learned through experience over time. Some people have good personal traits while others have poor ones. ...

In everyday discourse, a merger defines the combination of two entities, be it real estate or two companies, into a single and legit one. We should make a difference between a merger and ...

Same as term financial institutions: Institutions acting as intermediaries between suppliers and users of money. The financial markets are where those wanting funds are matched with those ...

Interest rate on a loan that varies periodically based on some related measure. If interest rates are currently high and a prospective buyer of a home believes future interest rates will be ...

Popular Real Estate Questions