LifeSteps Project Banner
Glossary

Address bar:
The long, narrow window at the top of the browser, which shows the web address (URL) of the site you are currently viewing. In Internet Explorer, the word ‘Address‘ appears just to the left of the window. The address bar is automatically filled when you visit a web page. Alternatively, you can type in the address of a web page you wish to visit, and click the ‘Go‘ button at the right-hand end of the window, to view that web page.

Affordable housing
Local authorities make houses and apartments available scheme: to eligible first-time buyers on low incomes at affordable prices. See also, Shared Ownership and Site Subsidy.

Auctioneer:
A person licensed to represent buyers and sellers in property transactions. Also called an estate agent.

Broker:
An independent agency that can advise you and offer a range of mortgages.

Click on/click here:
To select an object or phrase on the screen by moving the mouse pointer to the object‘s position and quickly pressing and releasing the button on the left of the mouse.

Conveyance:
The act of transferring the title (ownership) of a property.

Database:
A database is a collection of information stored on a computer. The database is made up of records
– each product record might include a name, a price, a description and a picture. Databases are structured
– they contain the same sorts of information for a collection of similar items. Databases are an essential element of most computer systems, including large websites, e-shops, etc.

Directory:
An alphabetical or classified list, often of names and addresses.

Download:
The process of copying a computer file from the Internet onto your own PC is called downloading. A file such as a music (MP3) file or a document is made available to the Internet by storing it on a server. To download the file, you usually click on a link to it, or else right-click and choose ‘Save target as‘ (in Internet Explorer) or ‘Save link as‘ (Mozilla Firefox). A box pops up asking you where on your hard disk you want to store the file. You choose the location for storage, click the button and the file is copied onto your hard disk (or downloaded).

Drop-down menu:
A list of choices that appears when you click on a word or hold your pointer over the word.

E-mail address:
A unique ‘address‘ from where you can send and receive mail.

Homepage:
The main or introductory page of a website.

Internet:
A large collection of computers, connected together to allow them to share information with one another.

Land registry:
A public record of property and its ownership.

Letter of offer:
The contract between the borrower and the mortgage company giving details of the loan and the attaching conditions.

Link:
A link, or hyperlink, is a part of a web page that, if clicked with a mouse, opens a different web page. Links are usually shown in blue and underlined on a web page.

Mortgage:
A long-term loan to finance the purchase of a property.

Mortgage protection:
A life assurance policy that pays the amount outstanding on your home-loan in the event of your death.
11 of 13