Real estate-ese offered in plain non-English

Real estate has a language all its own, whether it's the structure called a "fixer-upper" or a buyer who is a "flipper."

But imagine the challenge of translating the nuances for the non-English-speaking buyer.

For example, plug a phrase like "vaulted ceiling" into a Chinese translation program, and the selling point becomes a liability.

"It invariably comes out as 'leaping roof,'" said Janet Choynowski, whose company, Immobel, offers translation services for the real estate industry.

Choynowski grew up in Mobile and attended Davidson High School before leaving for France to continue her education. She stayed in Europe, and happened into the real estate business as communism began to crumble.

"My ex-husband received some of his properties back from the Polish government," she said. "There had been no private property in Poland since World War II."

She had one of Poland's largest real estate firms as new foreign investment kicked in.

When "Ford and Pepsi sent these two chaps to scout the situation," she said, she started working with the American firms at the request of U.S. officials. Eventually, a company was born.

"My father (the late Leo Veal) was an entrepreneur and built and grew a lot of businesses," she said. "I've learned that if you think you have a good idea and you believe it, go ahead with it — the world will catch up to you."

She tells of one deal in which the Japanese government worked with a Swedish developer to secure Polish property.

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