Keene's cement
A hard white finishing cement with a fast setting time and a high polish capability. Consisting of anhydrous gypsum plaster and an accelerant, alum, Keene's cement is normally applied over Portland cement often using several coats.

Key
A groove in the top of a footing.

Key indication series
Measures looking at the past, current a future direction of the economy. They may have an impact on the real estate market. Each month government bodies, including the Federal Reserve System and several economic institutions publish economic indicators.

Keys
Little fingers of plaster that squeeze through lath. When they harden, these hold the plaster in place.

Keystone
An angular block centered over a door or window in a header or mantle.

Kick plate
A metal plate attached to the lower end of a door to prevent marring from people "kicking" the door in order to open it.

Kick-out clause
A clause in a sales contract that allows a seller to accept one buyer's contingent offer, then back out without penalty if a second buyer makes a better offer.

Kicker
An income feature added to a mortgage whereby the mortgagee earns income in addition to the mortgage interest and principal payments. Also called an equity kicker, a kicker allows the mortgagee to participate in income from the mortgagor. For example, an individual buys an office condominium from a corporation selling the office unit. the corporation agrees to provide the purchaser with a mortgage if a kicker is included whereby the corporation would receive 10% of all the business profits the purchaser would earn.

Kit home
A structure that contains prefabricated components and is put together by a contractor.

Knee wall
A wall-like structure that supports roof rafters

Knob-and-tube wiring
An old-fashioned wiring system that has been replaced by fuses and circuit breakers.