Gable roof
A ridged roof that forms a triangle at each end.

Gag rule
A provision in a legal contract signed by home buyers that prohibits the publicizing of complaints about the builder.

Gambrel roof
A roof with two slopes, often seen on barns.

Gap
A missing document that raises doubt as to the true owner of the property.

General contractor
The person who hires all of the subcontractors and suppliers for a construction job.

Georgian style
Architecture distinguished by a symmetrical façade, a prominent front entrance and quoins (decorative blocks of masonry or wood set in the corners of the house).

Gift
Funds a buyer receives from a relative or other source.  Mortgage lenders usually require a gift letter from the giver of this "gift money" stating that the money does not have to be repaid.

Gingerbread decoration
An intricate, almost lacy, wood trim.

Ginnie Mae
See Government National Mortgage Association (below)

Girders
Crossbeams that support floor joists.

Glazed
A window that has been fitted with a glass pane. "Double glazed" refers to a window with double panes.

Glazier's point
A small pointed metal clip that helps hold a pane of glass in a window frame.

Good faith estimate
An estimate from an mortgage lender or broker showing the all the costs associated with obtaining a home loan including loan processing, title and inspection fees.

Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA)
This government agency buys home loans from lenders, pools them with other loans and sells shares to investors.  However, unlike Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae only purchases loans backed by the federal government.  (Commonly known as Ginnie Mae)

Grace period
A specified amount of time in which a borrower may make a loan payment after its due date without penalty.

Grade
The elevation of land above level ground.

Grade level
The flat or sloping surface upon which a house is built.

Graduate Realtor® Institute (GRI)
A designation issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to members who meet specific performance and education requirements for residential real estate sales.

Graduated Payment Mortgage
A mortgage that requires a borrower to make larger monthly payments over the term of the loan.  Payments are lower for the first few years but gradually rise until year three or five, when payments become fixed.

Granny flat
Refers to a separate unit in a house or above the garage which may have been occupied by an elderly relative in the past.

Grantee
A person to whom an interest in a piece of property is conveyed.

Grantor
The person who conveys an interest in a piece of property to another person.

Greenbelt
Any stretch of park, open space or other natural setting in a community.

Gross income
The total household income before taxes or expenses are subtracted.

Ground fault circuit interrupter
A device that detects leakage of electrical current to the ground and prevents accidental shock.

Ground rent
The amount of money paid for the use of a piece of property that is a leasehold estate.

Group home
A single family residence used as a living space for unrelated people who require special care or supervision.

Grout
A type of mortar used to fill areas between tiles, stone or marble.

Growing-equity mortgage
A fixed rate mortgage that increases payments over a specific period of time. The extra funds are applied to the principal.

Gutters
Horizontal channels installed at the edge of a roof to carry rainwater or melted snow away from the house.

Guy
A cable that guides or holds something, such as an antenna.