| |
|
| Abstract
of Judgment |
The summary of a court judgment that creates a lien against
a property when filed with the county recorder
|
| Abstract
of Title |
The historical summary of all of the recorded instruments
and proceedings that affect title to a property.
|
| Acceleration
Clause |
A clause in your mortgage which allows the lender to demand
payment of the outstanding loan balance for various reasons. The most
common reasons for accelerating a loan are if the borrower defaults on
the loan or transfers title to another individual without informing the
lender. See also Due on Sale
|
| Acre |
An area of land equaling 4,840 square yards or 43,560 square
feet.
|
| Ad
Valorem Tax |
ad valorem is Latin for "According to Value" - A tax based
on the assessed value of real estate or personal property.
|
| Addendum |
An addition to a contract or agreement
|
| Adjustable Rate Mortgage
(ARM) |
A mortgage in which the interest changes periodically,
according to corresponding fluctuations in an index. All ARMs are tied
to indexes.
|
| Adjustment Date |
The date the interest rate changes on an adjustable-rate
mortgage
|
| Adverse Possession |
A means of acquiring title to real estate where an occupant
has been in actual, open, notorious, exclusive and continuous occupancy
of property for the period required by state law.
|
| Amortization |
The loan payment consists of a portion which will be applied
to pay the accruing interest on a loan, with the remainder being applied
to the principal. Over time, the interest portion decreases as the loan
balance decreases, and the amount applied to principal increases so that
the loan is paid off (amortized) in the specified time.
|
| Amortization Schedule |
A table which shows how much of each payment will be applied
toward principal and how much toward interest over the life of the loan.
It also shows the gradual decrease of the loan balance until it reaches
zero.
|
| Annual Percentage Rate
(APR) |
This is not the note rate on your loan. It is a value created
according to a government formula intended to reflect the true annual
cost of borrowing, expressed as a percentage. It works sort of like this,
but not exactly, so only use this as a guideline: deduct the closing costs
from your loan amount, then using your actual loan payment, calculate
what the interest rate would be on this amount instead of your actual
loan amount. You will come up with a number close to the APR. Because
you are using the same payment on a smaller amount, the APR is always
higher than the actual not rate on your loan.
|
| Application |
The form used to apply for a mortgage loan, containing
information about a borrower's income, savings, assets, debts, and more.
|
| Appraisal |
A written justification of the price paid for a property,
primarily based on an analysis of comparable sales of similar homes nearby.
|
| Appraised Value |
An opinion of a property's fair market value, based on
an appraiser's knowledge, experience, and analysis of the property. Since
an appraisal is based primarily on comparable sales, and the most recent
sale is the one on the property in question, the appraisal usually comes
out at the purchase price.
|
| Appraiser |
An individual qualified by education, training, and experience
to estimate the value of real property and personal property. Although
some appraisers work directly for mortgage lenders, most are independent.
|
| Appreciation |
The increase in the value of a property due to changes
in market conditions, inflation, or other causes.
|
| Assessed Value |
The valuation placed on property by a public tax assessor
for purposes of taxation.
|
| Assessment |
The placing of a value on property for the purpose of taxation.
|
| Assessor |
A public official who establishes the value of a property
for taxation purposes.
|
| Asset |
Items of value owned by an individual. Assets that can
be quickly converted into cash are considered liquid assets. These include
bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and so on. Other assets include
real estate, personal property, and debts owed to an individual by others.
|
| Assignment |
When ownership of your mortgage is transferred from one
company or individual to another, it is called an assignment.
|
| Assumable Mortgage |
A mortgage that can be assumed by the buyer when a home
is sold. Usually, the borrower must qualify in order to assume the loan.
|
| Assumption |
The term applied when a buyer assumes the seller's mortgage.
|
| Balloon
Mortgage |
A mortgage loan that requires the remaining principal balance
be paid at a specific point in time. For example, a loan may be amortized
as if it would be paid over a thirty year period, but requires that at
the end of the tenth year the entire remaining balance must be paid.
|
| Balloon Payment |
The final lump sum payment that is due at the termination
of a balloon mortgage.
|
| Bankruptcy |
By filing in federal bankruptcy court, an individual or
individuals can restructure or relieve themselves of debts and liabilities.
Bankruptcies are of various types, but the most common for an individual
seem to be a Chapter 7 No Asset bankruptcy which relieves the borrower
of most types of debts. A borrower cannot usually qualify for an A paper
loan for a period of two years after the bankruptcy has been discharged
and requires the re-establishment of an ability to repay debt.
|
| Basis Point |
A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percentage point.
For example, the difference between a home loan at 4.25 percent and one
at 4.38 percent is 13 basis points.
|
| Bill of Sale |
A written document that transfers title to personal property.
For example, when selling an automobile to acquire funds which will be
used as a source of down payment or for closing costs, the lender will
usually require the bill of sale (in addition to other items) to help
document this source of funds.
|
| Bi-Weekly Mortgage |
A mortgage in which you make payments every two weeks instead
of once a month. The basic result is that instead of making twelve monthly
payments during the year, you make thirteen. The extra payment reduces
the principal, substantially reducing the time it takes to pay off a thirty
year mortgage. Note: there are independent companies that encourage you
to set up bi-weekly payment schedules with them on your thirty year mortgage.
They charge a set-up fee and a transfer fee for every payment. Your funds
are deposited into a trust account from which your monthly payment is
then made, and the excess funds then remain in the trust account until
enough has accrued to make the additional payment which will then be paid
to reduce your principle. You could save money by doing the same thing
yourself, plus you have to have faith that once you transfer money to
them that they will actually transfer your funds to your lender.
|
| Bond Market |
Usually refers to the daily buying and selling of thirty
year treasury bonds. Lenders follow this market intensely because as the
yields of bonds go up and down, fixed rate mortgages do approximately
the same thing. The same factors that affect the Treasury Bond market
also affect mortgage rates at the same time. That is why rates change
daily, and in a volatile market can and do change during the day as well.
|
| Bridge Loan |
Not used much anymore, bridge loans are obtained by those
who have not yet sold their previous property, but must close on a purchase
property. The bridge loan becomes the source of their funds for the down
payment. One reason for their fall from favor is that there are more and
more second mortgage lenders now that will lend at a high loan to value.
In addition, sellers often prefer to accept offers from buyers who have
already sold their property.
|
| Broker |
Broker has several meanings in different situations. Most
Realtors are agents who work under a broker. Some agents are brokers as
well, either working form themselves or under another broker. In the mortgage
industry, broker usually refers to a company or individual that does not
lend the money for the loans themselves, but broker loans to larger lenders
or investors. (See the Home Loan Library that discusses the different
types of lenders). As a normal definition, a broker is anyone who acts
as an agent, bringing two parties together for any type of transaction
and earns a fee for doing so.
|
| Buydown |
Usually refers to a fixed rate mortgage where the interest
rate is bought down for a temporary period, usually one to three years.
After that time and for the remainder of the term, the borrower's payment
is calculated at the note rate. In order to buy down the initial rate
for the temporary payment, a lump sum is paid and held in an account used
to supplement the borrower's monthly payment. These funds usually come
from the seller (or some other source) as a financial incentive to induce
someone to buy their property. A lender funded buydown is when the lender
pays the initial lump sum. They can accomplish this because the note rate
on the loan (after the buydown adjustments) will be higher than the current
market rate. One reason for doing this is because the borrower may get
to qualify at the start rate and can qualify for a higher loan amount.
Another reason is that a borrower may expect his earnings to go up substantially
in the near future, but wants a lower payment right now.
|
| Buyer's Agent |
A person with a state/provincial license to represent a
buyer or a seller in a real-estate transaction in exchange for commission.
Most agents work for a real-estate broker or realtor.
|
| Call
Option |
Similar to the acceleration clause. A clause in your mortgage
which allows the lender to demand payment of the outstanding loan balance
for various reasons.
|
| Cap |
Adjustable Rate Mortgages have fluctuating interest rates,
but those fluctuations are usually limited to a certain amount. Those
limitations may apply to how much the loan may adjust over a six month
period, an annual period, and over the life of the loan, and are referred
to as caps. Some ARMs, although they may have a life cap, allow the interest
rate to fluctuate freely, but require a certain minimum payment which
can change once a year. There is a limit on how much that payment can
change each year, and that limit is also referred to as a cap.
|
| Cap Rate |
See Capitalization Rate
|
| Capitalization Rate |
The assumed rate of return on an investment in real estate.
The capitalization rate is commonly used in the valuation of commercial
and investment property because it directly links the value to the income
produced by the property.
|
| Cash Flow |
The amount of cash a rental property investor receives
after deducting operating expenses and loan payments from gross income.
|
| Cash Home Buyer |
An individual or company who purchases houses quickly for
cash (typically at a discount from the retail value).
|
| Cash Out Refinance |
The refinancing of a mortgage in which the money received
from the new loan is greater than the amount due on the old loan.
|
| Cash-out Refinance |
When a borrower refinances his mortgage at a higher amount
than the current loan balance with the intention of pulling out money
for personal use, it is referred to as a cash out refinance.
|
| Caveat Emptor |
A Latin term meaning "Let the Buyer Beware"
|
| Certificate of Deposit |
A time deposit held in a bank which pays a certain amount
of interest to the depositor.
|
| Certificate of Deposit
Index |
One of the indexes used for determining interest rate changes
on some adjustable rate mortgages. It is an average of what banks are
paying on certificates of deposit.
|
| Certificate of Eligibility |
A document issued by the Veterans Administration that certifies
a veteran's eligibility for a VA loan.
|
| Certificate of Occupancy
(CO) |
A document stating that a home or other building has met
all building codes and is suitable for habitation.
|
| Certificate of Reasonable
Value (CRV) |
Once the appraisal has been performed on a property being
bought with a VA loan, the Veterans Administration issues a CRV.
|
| Certified Commercial
Investment Member (CCIM) |
A certification for someone recognized as an expert in
the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate.
|
| Certified Residential
Broker (CRB) |
Certification granted by the Realtors National Marketing
Institute, which is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors.
|
| Chain of Title |
An analysis of the transfers of title to a piece of property
over the years.
|
| Clear Title |
A title that is free of liens or legal questions as to
ownership of the property.
|
| Closing |
This has different meanings in different states. In some
states a real estate transaction is not consider closed until the documents
record at the local recorders office. In others, the closing is a meeting
where all of the documents are signed and money changes hands.
|
| Closing Costs |
Closing costs are separated into what are called non-recurring
closing costs and pre-paid items. Non-recurring closing costs are any
items which are paid just once as a result of buying the property or obtaining
a loan. Pre-paids are items which recur over time, such as property taxes
and homeowners insurance. A lender makes an attempt to estimate the amount
of non-recurring closing costs and prepaid items on the Good Faith Estimate
which they must issue to the borrower within three days of receiving a
home loan application.
|
| Closing Statement |
See Settlement Statement.
|
| Cloud on Title |
Any conditions revealed by a title search that adversely
affect the title to real estate. Usually clouds on title cannot be removed
except by deed, release, or court action.
|
| Co-Borrower |
An additional individual who is both obligated on the loan
and is on title to the property.
|
| Collateral |
In a home loan, the property is the collateral. The borrower
risks losing the property if the loan is not repaid according to the terms
of the mortgage or deed of trust.
|
| Collection |
When a borrower falls behind, the lender contacts them
in an effort to bring the loan current. The loan goes to collection. As
part of the collection effort, the lender must mail and record certain
documents in case they are eventually required to foreclose on the property.
|
| Commission |
Most salespeople earn commissions for the work that they
do and there are many sales professionals involved in each transaction,
including Realtors, loan officers, title representatives, attorneys, escrow
representative, and representatives for pest companies, home warranty
companies, home inspection companies, insurance agents, and more. The
commissions are paid out of the charges paid by the seller or buyer in
the purchase transaction. Realtors generally earn the largest commissions,
followed by lenders, then the others.(top)
|
| Common Area Assessments |
In some areas they are called Homeowners Association Fees.
They are charges paid to the Homeowners Association by the owners of the
individual units in a condominium or planned unit development (PUD) and
are generally used to maintain the property and common areas. (top)
|
| Common Areas |
Those portions of a building, land, and amenities owned
(or managed) by a planned unit development (PUD) or condominium project's
homeowners' association (or a cooperative project's cooperative corporation)
that are used by all of the unit owners, who share in the common expenses
of their operation and maintenance. Common areas include swimming pools,
tennis courts, and other recreational facilities, as well as common corridors
of buildings, parking areas, means of ingress and egress, etc.
|
| Common Law |
An unwritten body of law based on general custom in England
and used to an extent in some states.
|
| Community Property |
In some states, especially the southwest, property acquired
by a married couple during their marriage is considered to be owned jointly,
except under special circumstances. This is an outgrowth of the Spanish
and Mexican heritage of the area.
|
| Comparable Sales |
Recent sales of similar properties in nearby areas and
used to help determine the market value of a property. Also referred to
as comps.
|
| Conditions, Covenants,
and Restrictions (CCR's) |
Promises written into deeds and other instruments agreeing
to performance or nonperformance of certain acts, or requiring or prohibiting
certain uses of the property.
|
| Condominium |
A type of ownership in real property where all of the owners
own the property, common areas and buildings together, with the exception
of the interior of the unit to which they have title. Often mistakenly
referred to as a type of construction or development, it actually refers
to the type of ownership.
|
| Condominium Conversion |
Changing the ownership of an existing building (usually
a rental project) to the condominium form of ownership.
|
| Condominium Hotel |
A condominium project that has rental or registration desks,
short-term occupancy, food and telephone services, and daily cleaning
services and that is operated as a commercial hotel even though the units
are individually owned. These are often found in resort areas like Hawaii.
|
| Conforming Loan |
A loan which has underwriting criteria consistent with
(i.e., conforming to) those strict guidelines of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac,
FHA or VA. These are typically the lowest interest rate loans with very
good terms. (See definitions of "Fannie Mae", "Freddie Mac", "FHA", "VA"
and "underwriting" below.).
|
| Construction Loan |
A short-term, interim loan for financing the cost of construction.
The lender makes payments to the builder at periodic intervals as the
work progresses.
|
| Contingency |
A condition that must be met before a contract is legally
binding. For example, home purchasers often include a contingency that
specifies that the contract is not binding until the purchaser obtains
a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified home inspector.
|
| Contract |
An oral or written agreement to do or not to do a certain
thing.
|
| Conventional Mortgage |
Refers to home loans other than government loans (VA and
FHA).
|
| Convertible ARM |
An adjustable-rate mortgage that allows the borrower to
change the ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage within a specific time.
|
| Cooperative (co-op) |
A type of multiple ownership in which the residents of
a multi unit housing complex own shares in the cooperative corporation
that owns the property, giving each resident the right to occupy a specific
apartment or unit.
|
| Cost of Funds Index (COFI) |
One of the indexes that is used to determine interest rate
changes for certain adjustable-rate mortgages. It represents the weighted-average
cost of savings, borrowings, and advances of the financial institutions
such as banks and savings & loans, in the 11th District of the Federal
Home Loan Bank.
|
| Counteroffer |
An offer made in return by one who rejects an unsatisfactory
offer.
|
| Creative Financing |
Financing property or anything outside of a standard loan.
|
| Credit |
An agreement in which a borrower receives something of
value in exchange for a promise to repay the lender at a later date. (top)
|
| Credit History |
A record of an individual's repayment of debt. Credit histories
are reviewed my mortgage lenders as one of the underwriting criteria in
determining credit risk.
|
| Credit Report |
A report of an individual's credit history prepared by
a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's
credit worthiness.
|
| Credit Repository |
An organization that gathers, records, updates, and stores
financial and public records information about the payment records of
individuals who are being considered for credit.
|
| Creditor |
A person to whom money is owed.
|
| Dealer |
One who holds real property primarily for sale to customers,
merchandise is inventory and gain on sale is treated as ordinary income.
|
| Debt |
An amount owed to another.
|
| Deed |
The legal document conveying title to a property.
|
| Deed of Trust |
Some states, like California, do not record mortgages.
Instead, they record a deed of trust which is essentially the same thing.
|
| Deed-in-Lieu |
Short for deed in lieu of foreclosure, this conveys title
to the lender when the borrower is in default and wants to avoid foreclosure.
The lender may or may not cease foreclosure activities if a borrower asks
to provide a deed-in-lieu. Regardless of whether the lender accepts the
deed-in-lieu, the avoidance and non-repayment of debt will most likely
show on a credit history. What a deed-in-lieu may prevent is having the
documents preparatory to a foreclosure being recorded and become a matter
of public record.
|
| Default |
Failure to make the mortgage payment within a specified
period of time. For first mortgages or first trust deeds, if a payment
has still not been made within 30 days of the due date, the loan is considered
to be in default.
|
| Delinquency |
Failure to make mortgage payments when mortgage payments
are due. For most mortgages, payments are due on the first day of the
month. Even though they may not charge a late fee for a number of days,
the payment is still considered to be late and the loan delinquent. When
a loan payment is more than 30 days late, most lenders report the late
payment to one or more credit bureaus.
|
| Deposit |
A sum of money given in advance of a larger amount being
expected in the future. Often called in real estate as an earnest money
deposit.
|
| Depreciation |
A decline in the value of property; the opposite of appreciation.
Depreciation is also an accounting term which shows the declining monetary
value of an asset and is used as an expense to reduce taxable income.
Since this is not a true expense where money is actually paid, lenders
will add back depreciation expense for self-employed borrowers and count
it as income.
|
| Discount Points |
In the mortgage industry, this term is usually used in
only in reference to government loans, meaning FHA and VA loans. Discount
points refer to any points paid in addition to the one percent loan origination
fee. A point is one percent of the loan amount.
|
| Down Payment |
The part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer
pays in cash and does not finance with a mortgage.
|
| Due-on-Sale Clause |
A clause in many mortgages that allows the lender to call
the loan due immediately if the property is sold. In general lenders are
not very aggressive in enforcing this clause as long as they continue
to be paid their monthly payment.
|
| Due-on-Sale Provision |
A provision in a mortgage that allows the lender to demand
repayment in full if the borrower sells the property that serves as security
for the mortgage.
|
| Earnest
Money Deposit |
A deposit made by the potential home buyer to show that
he or she is serious about buying the house.
|
| Easement |
A right of way giving persons other than the owner access
to or over a property.
|
| Effective Age |
An appraiser's estimate of the physical condition of a
building. The actual age of a building may be shorter or longer than its
effective age.
|
| Eminent Domain |
The right of a government to take private property for
public use upon payment of its fair market value. Eminent domain is the
basis for condemnation proceedings.
|
| Encroachment |
An improvement that intrudes illegally on another's property.
|
| Encumbrance |
Anything that affects or limits the fee simple title to
a property, such as mortgages, leases, easements, or restrictions.
|
| Equal Credit Opportunity
Act (ECOA) |
A federal law that requires lenders and other creditors
to make credit equally available without discrimination based on race,
color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or receipt
of income from public assistance programs.
|
| Equity |
A homeowner's financial interest in a property. Equity
is the difference between the fair market value of the property and the
amount still owed on its mortgage and other liens.
|
| Escrow |
An item of value, money, or documents deposited with a
third party to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition. For example,
the earnest money deposit is put into escrow until delivered to the seller
when the transaction is closed.
|
| Escrow Account |
Once you close your purchase transaction, you may have
an escrow account or impound account with your lender. This means the
amount you pay each month includes an amount above what would be required
if you were only paying your principal and interest. The extra money is
held in your impound account (escrow account) for the payment of items
like property taxes and homeowner's insurance when they come due. The
lender pays them with your money instead of you paying them yourself.
|
| Escrow Analysis |
Once each year your lender will perform an escrow analysis
to make sure they are collecting the correct amount of money for the anticipated
expenditures.
|
| Escrow Disbursements |
The use of escrow funds to pay real estate taxes, hazard
insurance, mortgage insurance, and other property expenses as they become
due.
|
| Estate |
The ownership interest of an individual in real property.
The sum total of all the real property and personal property owned by
an individual at time of death.
|
| Et Uxor |
A latin term meaning "And Wife". Commonly used in real
estate deeds. Also etux, et ux.
|
| Eviction |
The lawful expulsion of an occupant from real property.
|
| Examination of Title |
The report on the title of a property from the public records
or an abstract of the title.
|
| Exclusive Listing |
A written contract that gives a licensed real estate agent
the exclusive right to sell a property for a specified time.
|
| Executor |
A person named in a will to administer an estate. The court
will appoint an administrator if no executor is named. Executrix is the
feminine form.
|
| Fair
Credit Reporting Act |
A consumer protection law that regulates the disclosure
of consumer credit reports by consumer/credit reporting agencies and establishes
procedures for correcting mistakes on one's credit record.
|
| Fair Market Value |
The highest price that a buyer, willing but not compelled
to buy, would pay, and the lowest a seller, willing but not compelled
to sell, would accept.
|
| Fannie Mae (FNMA) |
The Federal National Mortgage Association, which is a congressionally
chartered, shareholder-owned company that is the nation's largest supplier
of home mortgage funds. For a discussion of the roles of Fannie Mae, Freddie
Mac (FHLMC), and Ginnie Mae (GNMA), see the Library.
|
| Fannie Mae's Community Home Buyer's Program |
An income-based community lending model, under which mortgage
insurers and Fannie Mae offer flexible underwriting guidelines to increase
a low- or moderate-income family's buying power and to decrease the total
amount of cash needed to purchase a home. Borrowers who participate in
this model are required to attend pre-purchase home-buyer education sessions.
|
| Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) |
An agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). Its main activity is the insuring of residential mortgage loans
made by private lenders. The FHA sets standards for construction and underwriting
but does not lend money or plan or construct housing. top)
|
| Fee Simple |
The greatest possible interest a person can have in real
estate.
|
| Fee Simple Estate |
An unconditional, unlimited estate of inheritance that
represents the greatest estate and most extensive interest in land that
can be enjoyed. It is of perpetual duration. When the real estate is in
a condominium project, the unit owner is the exclusive owner only of the
air space within his or her portion of the building (the unit) and is
an owner in common with respect to the land and other common portions
of the property.
|
| FHA Mortgage |
A mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA). Along with VA loans, an FHA loan will often be referred to as a
government loan.
|
| Firm Commitment |
A lender's agreement to make a loan to a specific borrower
on a specific property.
|
| First Mortgage |
The mortgage that is in first place among any loans recorded
against a property. Usually refers to the date in which loans are recorded,
but there are exceptions.
|
| Fixed-Rate Mortgage |
A mortgage in which the interest rate does not change during
the entire term of the loan.
|
| Fixture |
Personal property that becomes real property when attached
in a permanent manner to real estate.
|
| Flood Insurance |
Insurance that compensates for physical property damage
resulting from flooding. It is required for properties located in federally
designated flood areas.
|
| Foreclosure |
The legal process by which a borrower in default under
a mortgage is deprived of his or her interest in the mortgaged property.
This usually involves a forced sale of the property at public auction
with the proceeds of the sale being applied to the mortgage debt.
|
| Gentrification |
The restoration of deteriorated urban property by middle-class
or affluent people, often resulting in displacement of lower-income people.
|
| Government Loan (mortgage) |
A mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the
Rural Housing Service (RHS). Mortgages that are not government loans are
classified as conventional loans.
|
| Grantee |
The person to whom an interest in real property is conveyed.
|
| Grantor |
The person conveying an interest in real property.
|
| Hard
Money Loan |
Hard money loans are loans in which real estate serves
as the collateral asset. It is most commonly used as a type of bridge
loan for temporary financing. As with other collateralized loans, the
size, rate, and length of a hard money loan is determined by the borrower’s
equity in the asset, the volatility of the asset and marketplace, and
the financial standing of the borrower. Hard money loans are funded for
business and personal use. The real estate asset may be business or personal
property, and the proceeds of hard money loans are not restricted to business
use.
|
| Hazard Insurance |
Insurance coverage that in the event of physical damage
to a property from fire, wind, vandalism, or other hazards.
|
| Home Equity Conversion
Mortgage (HECM) |
Usually referred to as a reverse annuity mortgage, what
makes this type of mortgage unique is that instead of making payments
to a lender, the lender makes payments to you. It enables older home owners
to convert the equity they have in their homes into cash, usually in the
form of monthly payments. Unlike traditional home equity loans, a borrower
does not qualify on the basis of income but on the value of his or her
home. In addition, the loan does not have to be repaid until the borrower
no longer occupies the property.
|
| Home Equity Line of Credit |
A mortgage loan, usually in second position, that allows
the borrower to obtain cash drawn against the equity of his home, up to
a predetermined amount.
|
| Home Inspection |
A thorough inspection by a professional that evaluates
the structural and mechanical condition of a property. A satisfactory
home inspection is often included as a contingency by the purchaser.
|
| Homeowners' Association |
A nonprofit association that manages the common areas of
a planned unit development (PUD) or condominium project. In a condominium
project, it has no ownership interest in the common elements. In a PUD
project, it holds title to the common elements.
|
| Homeowner's Insurance |
An insurance policy that combines personal liability insurance
and hazard insurance coverage for a dwelling and its contents.
|
| Homeowner's Warranty |
A type of insurance often purchased by home buyers that
will cover repairs to certain items, such as heating or air conditioning,
should they break down within the coverage period. The buyer often requests
the seller to pay for this coverage as a condition of the sale, but either
party can pay.
|
| HomeVestors |
A real estate investing franchise headquartered in Dallas,
TX
|
| House Buyer |
An individual or company that purchases houses.
|
| HUD Median Income |
Median family income for a particular county or metropolitan
statistical area (MSA), as estimated by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
|
| HUD-1 Settlement Statement |
A document that provides an itemized listing of the funds
that were paid at closing. Items that appear on the statement include
real estate commissions, loan fees, points, and initial escrow (impound)
amounts. Each type of expense goes on a specific numbered line on the
sheet. The totals at the bottom of the HUD-1 statement define the seller's
net proceeds and the buyer's net payment at closing. It is called a HUD1
because the form is printed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). The HUD1 statement is also known as the closing statement or settlement
sheet.
|
| Joint
Tenancy |
A form of ownership or taking title to property which means
each party owns the whole property and that ownership is not separate.
In the event of the death of one party, the survivor owns the property
in its entirety.
|
| Judgment |
A decision made by a court of law. In judgments that require
the repayment of a debt, the court may place a lien against the debtor's
real property as collateral for the judgment's creditor.[Top]
|
| Judicial Foreclosure |
A type of foreclosure proceeding used in some states that
is handled as a civil lawsuit and conducted entirely under the auspices
of a court. Other states use non-judicial foreclosure.
|
| Jumbo Loan |
A loan that exceeds Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's loan
limits, currently at $227,150. Also called a nonconforming loan. Freddie
Mac and Fannie Mae loans are referred to as conforming loans.
|
| Land
Trust |
A trust created to effectuate a real estate ownership arrangement
in which the trustee holds legal and equitable title to the property subject
to the provisions of a trust agreement setting out the rights of the beneficiaries
whose interests in the trust are declared to be personal property called
also Illinois land trust.
|
| Late Charge |
The penalty a borrower must pay when a payment is made
a stated number of days. On a first trust deed or mortgage, this is usually
fifteen days.
|
| Lease |
A written agreement between the property owner and a tenant
that stipulates the payment and conditions under which the tenant may
possess the real estate for a specified period of time.
|
| Lease Option |
An alternative financing option that allows home buyers
to lease a home with an option to buy. Each month's rent payment may consist
of not only the rent, but an additional amount which can be applied toward
the down payment on an already specified price.
|
| Leasehold Estate |
A way of holding title to a property wherein the mortgagor
does not actually own the property but rather has a recorded long-term
lease on it.
|
| Legal Description |
A property description, recognized by law, that is sufficient
to locate and identify the property without oral testimony.
|
| Lender |
A term which can refer to the institution making the loan
or to the individual representing the firm. For example, loan officers
are often referred to as lenders.
|
| Liabilities |
A person's financial obligations. Liabilities include long-term
and short-term debt, as well as any other amounts that are owed to others.
|
| Liability Insurance |
Insurance coverage that offers protection against claims
alleging that a property owner's negligence or inappropriate action resulted
in bodily injury or property damage to another party. It is usually part
of a homeowner's insurance policy.
|
| Lien |
A legal claim against a property that must be paid off
when the property is sold. A mortgage or first trust deed is considered
a lien.
|
| Life Cap |
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), a limit on the amount
that the interest rate can increase or decrease over the life of the mortgage.
|
| Line of Credit |
An agreement by a commercial bank or other financial institution
to extend credit up to a certain amount for a certain time to a specified
borrower.
|
| Liquid Asset |
A cash asset or an asset that is easily converted into
cash.
|
| Loan |
A sum of borrowed money (principal) that is generally repaid
with interest.
|
| Loan Officer |
Also referred to by a variety of other terms, such as lender,
loan representative, loan rep, account executive, and others. The loan
officer serves several functions and has various responsibilities: they
solicit loans, they are the representative of the lending institution,
and they represent the borrower to the lending institution.
|
| Loan Origination |
How a lender refers to the process of obtaining new loans.
|
| Loan Servicing |
After you obtain a loan, the company you make the payments
to is servicing your loan. They process payments, send statements, manage
the escrow/impound account, provide collection efforts on delinquent loans,
ensure that insurance and property taxes are made on the property, handle
pay-offs and assumptions, and provide a variety of other services.
|
| Loan-to-Value (LTV) |
The percentage relationship between the amount of the loan
and the appraised value or sales price (whichever is lower).
|
| Lock-in |
An agreement in which the lender guarantees a specified
interest rate for a certain amount of time at a certain cost.
|
| Lock-in Period |
The time period during which the lender has guaranteed
an interest rate to a borrower.
|
| Margin |
The difference between the interest rate and the index
on an adjustable rate mortgage. The margin remains stable over the life
of the loan. It is the index which moves up and down.
|
| Maturity |
The date on which the principal balance of a loan, bond,
or other financial instrument becomes due and payable.
|
| Merged Credit Report |
A credit report which reports the raw data pulled from
two or more of the major credit repositories. Contrast with a Residential
Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR) or a standard factual credit report.
|
| Modification |
Occasionally, a lender will agree to modify the terms of
your mortgage without requiring you to refinance. If any changes are made,
it is called a modification.
|
| Mortgage |
A legal document that pledges a property to the lender
as security for payment of a debt. Instead of mortgages, some states use
First Trust Deeds.
|
| Mortgage Banker |
For a more complete discussion of mortgage banker, see
Types of Lenders. A mortgage banker is generally assumed to originate
and fund their own loans, which are then sold on the secondary market,
usually to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. However, firms rather
loosely apply this term to themselves, whether they are true mortgage
bankers or simply mortgage brokers or correspondents.
|
| Mortgage Broker |
A mortgage company that originates loans, then places those
loans with a variety of other lending institutions with whom they usually
have pre-established relationships.
|
| Mortgage Insurance (MI) |
Insurance that covers the lender against some of the losses
incurred as a result of a default on a home loan. Often mistakenly referred
to as PMI, which is actually the name of one of the larger mortgage insurers.
Mortgage insurance is usually required in one form or another on all loans
that have a loan-to-value higher than eighty percent. Mortgages above
80% LTV that call themselves No MI are usually a made at a higher interest
rate. Instead of the borrower paying the mortgage insurance premiums directly,
they pay a higher interest rate to the lender, which then pays the mortgage
insurance themselves. Also, FHA loans and certain first-time home buyer
programs require mortgage insurance regardless of the loan-to-value.
|
| Mortgage Insurance Premium
(MIP) |
The amount paid by a mortgagor for mortgage insurance,
either to a government agency such as the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) or to a private mortgage insurance (MI) company.
|
| Mortgage Life and Disability Insurance |
A type of term life insurance often bought by borrowers.
The amount of coverage decreases as the principal balance declines. Some
policies also cover the borrower in the event of disability. In the event
that the borrower dies while the policy is in force, the debt is automatically
satisfied by insurance proceeds. In the case of disability insurance,
the insurance will make the mortgage payment for a specified amount of
time during the disability. Be careful to read the terms of coverage,
however, because often the coverage does not start immediately upon the
disability, but after a specified period, sometime forty-five days.
|
| Mortgagee |
The lender in a mortgage agreement.
|
| Mortgagor |
The borrower in a mortgage agreement.
|
| Multi-dwelling Units |
Properties that provide separate housing units for more
than one family, although they secure only a single mortgage. |
| Multiple Listing Service
(MLS) |
A real estate listing service that combines the listings
for all available properties in an area that are listed by real estate
agents in one directory. The MLS is typically limited to licensed real
estate agents. |
| Negative
Amortization |
Some adjustable rate mortgages allow the interest rate
to fluctuate independently of a required minimum payment. If a borrower
makes the minimum payment it may not cover all of the interest that would
normally be due at the current interest rate. In essence, the borrower
is deferring the interest payment, which is why this is called deferred
interest. The deferred interest is added to the balance of the loan and
the loan balance grows larger instead of smaller, which is called negative
amortization. |
| No Cash-Out Refinance |
A refinance transaction which is not intended to put cash
in the hand of the borrower. Instead, the new balance is calculated to
cover the balance due on the current loan and any costs associated with
obtaining the new mortgage. Often referred to as a rate and term refinance.
|
| No-Cost Loan |
Many lenders offer loans that you can obtain at no cost.
You should inquire whether this means there are no lender costs associated
with the loan, or if it also covers the other costs you would normally
have in a purchase or refinance transactions, such as title insurance,
escrow fees, settlement fees, appraisal, recording fees, notary fees,
and others. These are fees and costs which may be associated with buying
a home or obtaining a loan, but not charged directly by the lender. Keep
in mind that, like a no-point loan, the interest rate will be higher than
if you obtain a loan that has costs associated with it.
|
| Note |
A legal document that obligates a borrower to repay a mortgage
loan at a stated interest rate during a specified period of time.
|
| Note Rate |
The interest rate stated on a mortgage note.
|
| Notice of Default |
A formal written notice to a borrower that a default has
occurred and that legal action may be taken.
|
| Option |
A situation in which a buyer puts down money for the right
to purchase a piece of real estate within a set time period but does not
have an obligation to buy.
|
| Option Arm Loan |
A home loan where the borrower has multiple payment options
each month.
|
| Original Principal Balance |
The total amount of principal owed on a mortgage before
any payments are made.
|
| Origination Fee |
On a government loan the loan origination fee is one percent
of the loan amount, but additional points may be charged which are called
discount points. One point equals one percent of the loan amount. On a
conventional loan, the loan origination fee refers to the total number
of points a borrower pays.
|
| Owner Financing |
A property purchase transaction in which the property seller
provides all or part of the financing.
|
| Partial
Payment |
A payment that is not sufficient to cover the scheduled
monthly payment on a mortgage loan. Normally, a lender will not accept
a partial payment, but in times of hardship you can make this request
of the loan servicing collection department.
|
| Payment Change Date |
The date when a new monthly payment amount takes effect
on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or a graduated-payment mortgage (GPM).
Generally, the payment change date occurs in the month immediately after
the interest rate adjustment date.
|
| Periodic Payment Cap |
For an adjustable-rate mortgage where the interest rate
and the minimum payment amount fluctuate independently of one another,
this is a limit on the amount that payments can increase or decrease during
any one adjustment period.
|
| Periodic Rate Cap |
For an adjustable-rate mortgage, a limit on the amount
that the interest rate can increase or decrease during any one adjustment
period, regardless of how high or low the index might be.
|
| Personal Property |
Any property that is not real property.
|
| PITI |
This stands for principal, interest, taxes and insurance.
If you have an impounded loan, then your monthly payment to the lender
includes all of these and probably includes mortgage insurance as well.
If you do not have an impounded account, then the lender still calculates
this amount and uses it as part of determining your debt-to-income ratio.
|
| PITI Reserves |
A cash amount that a borrower must have on hand after making
a down payment and paying all closing costs for the purchase of a home.
The principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI) reserves must equal
the amount that the borrower would have to pay for PITI for a predefined
number of months.
|
| Planned Unit Development
(PUD) |
A project or subdivision that includes common property
that is owned and maintained by a homeowners' association for the benefit
and use of the individual PUD unit owners.
|
| Point |
A point is 1 percent of the amount of the mortgage.
|
| Power of Attorney |
A legal document that authorizes another person to act
on one's behalf. A power of attorney can grant complete authority or can
be limited to certain acts and/or certain periods of time.
|
| Pre-approval |
A loosely used term which is generally taken to mean that
a borrower has completed a loan application and provided debt, income,
and savings documentation which an underwriter has reviewed and approved.
A pre-approval is usually done at a certain loan amount and making assumptions
about what the interest rate will actually be at the time the loan is
actually made, as well as estimates for the amount that will be paid for
property taxes, insurance and others. A pre-approval applies only to the
borrower. Once a property is chosen, it must also meet the underwriting
guidelines of the lender. Contrast with pre-qualification
|
| Pre-approval Letter |
A letter from a lender that states the amount of money
a potential buyer can obtain.
|
| Prepayment |
Any amount paid to reduce the principal balance of a loan
before the due date. Payment in full on a mortgage that may result from
a sale of the property, the owner's decision to pay off the loan in full,
or a foreclosure. In each case, prepayment means payment occurs before
the loan has been fully amortized.
|
| Prepayment Penalty |
A fee that may be charged to a borrower who pays off a
loan before it is due.
|
| Pre-qualification |
This usually refers to the loan officer's written opinion
of the ability of a borrower to qualify for a home loan, after the loan
officer has made inquiries about debt, income, and savings. The information
provided to the loan officer may have been presented verbally or in the
form of documentation, and the loan officer may or may not have reviewed
a credit report on the borrower.
|
| Prime Rate |
The interest rate that banks charge to their preferred
customers. Changes in the prime rate are widely publicized in the news
media and are used as the indexes in some adjustable rate mortgages, especially
home equity lines of credit. Changes in the prime rate do not directly
affect other types of mortgages, but the same factors that influence the
prime rate also affect the interest rates of mortgage loans.
|
| Principal |
The amount borrowed or remaining unpaid. The part of the
monthly payment that reduces the remaining balance of a mortgage.
|
| Principal Balance |
The outstanding balance of principal on a mortgage. The
principal balance does not include interest or any other charges. See
remaining balance.
|
| Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance
(PITI) |
The four components of a monthly mortgage payment on impounded
loans. Principal refers to the part of the monthly payment that reduces
the remaining balance of the mortgage. Interest is the fee charged for
borrowing money. Taxes and insurance refer to the amounts that are paid
into an escrow account each month for property taxes and mortgage and
hazard insurance.
|
| Private Mortgage Insurance
(MI) |
Mortgage insurance that is provided by a private mortgage
insurance company to protect lenders against loss if a borrower defaults.
Most lenders generally require MI for a loan with a loan-to-value (LTV)
percentage in excess of 80 percent.
|
| Promissory Note |
A written promise to repay a specified amount over a specified
period of time.
|
| Public Auction |
A meeting in an announced public location to sell property
to repay a mortgage that is in default.
|
| Purchase Agreement |
A written contract signed by the buyer and seller stating
the terms and conditions under which a property will be sold.
|
| Purchase Money Transaction |
The acquisition of property through the payment of money
or its equivalent.
|
| Qualifying
Ratios |
Calculations that are used in determining whether a borrower
can qualify for a mortgage. There are two ratios. The top or front ratio
is a calculation of the borrower's monthly housing costs (principle, taxes,
insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner's association fees) as a percentage
of monthly income. The back or bottom ratio includes housing costs as
will as all other monthly debt.
|
| Quit Claim Deed |
A quit claim deed is a legal document by which a person
releases or "quits" any claim that they may have had to property. Of the
different types of deeds, the quit-claim has the least assurance that
the person receiving it will actually get any rights. The person who provides
a quit-claim deed makes no warranty or representation that they actually
own anything. The quit-claim merely provides that whatever they had or
may have had, they are conveying it. Other types of deeds are judicial
deeds, warranty deeds, and sheriff's deeds.
|
| Quitclaim Deed |
A deed that transfers without warranty whatever interest
or title a grantor may have at the time the conveyance is made.
|
| Rate
Lock |
A commitment issued by a lender to a borrower or other
mortgage originator guaranteeing a specified interest rate for a specified
period of time at a specific cost.
|
| Real Estate Agent |
A person licensed to negotiate and transact the sale of
real estate.
|
| Real Estate Investment
Trust |
A company that purchases and manages real estate or real
estate loans, using money invested by its shareholders. (REIT)
|
| Real Estate Settlement
Procedures Act (RESPA) |
A consumer protection law that requires lenders to give
borrowers advance notice of closing costs.
|
| Real Property |
Land and appurtenances, including anything of a permanent
nature such as structures, trees, minerals, and the interest, benefits,
and inherent rights thereof.
|
| Realtor |
A real estate agent, broker or an associate who holds active
membership in a local real estate board that is affiliated with the National
Association of Realtors.
|
| Recorder |
The public official who keeps records of transactions that
affect real property in the area. Sometimes known as a Registrar of Deeds
or County Clerk.
|
| Recording |
The noting in the registrar's office of the details of
a properly executed legal document, such as a deed, a mortgage note, a
satisfaction of mortgage, or an extension of mortgage, thereby making
it a part of the public record.
|
| Refinance Transaction |
The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from
a new loan using the same property as security.
|
| REIT |
See Real Estate Investment Trust
|
| Remaining Balance |
The amount of principal that has not yet been repaid. See
principal balance.
|
| Remaining Term |
The original amortization term minus the number of payments
that have been applied.
|
| Rent Loss Insurance |
Insurance that protects a landlord against loss of rent
or rental value due to fire or other casualty that renders the leased
premises unavailable for use and as a result of which the tenant is excused
from paying rent.
|
| Repayment Plan |
An arrangement made to repay delinquent installments or
advances.
|
| Replacement Reserve Fund |
A fund set aside for replacement of common property in
a condominium, PUD, or cooperative project -- particularly that which
has a short life expectancy, such as carpeting, furniture, etc.
|
| RESPA |
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act - Protects consumers
buying real estate by requiring disclosure of all closing costs. The Act
required lenders to give mortgage applicants a standard form estimating
the settlement costs, and it prohibited kickbacks for referrals among
settlement service providers (as title insurers).
|
| Revolving Debt |
A credit arrangement, such as a credit card, that allows
a customer to borrow against a pre approved line of credit when purchasing
goods and services. The borrower is billed for the amount that is actually
borrowed plus any interest due.
|
| Right of First Refusal |
A provision in an agreement that requires the owner of
a property to give another party the first opportunity to purchase or
lease the property before he or she offers it for sale or lease to others.
|
| Right of Ingress or Egress |
The right to enter or leave designated premises.
|
| Right of Survivorship |
In joint tenancy, the right of survivors to acquire the
interest of a deceased joint tenant.
|
| Sale-Leaseback |
A technique in which a seller deeds property to a buyer
for a consideration, and the buyer simultaneously leases the property
back to the seller.
|
| Second Mortgage |
A mortgage that has a lien position subordinate to the
first mortgage.
|
| Secondary Market |
The buying and selling of existing mortgages, usually as
part of a pool of mortgages.
|
| Secured Loan |
A loan that is backed by collateral.
|
| Security |
The property that will be pledged as collateral for a loan.
|
| Seller Carry-Back |
An agreement in which the owner of a property provides
financing, often in combination with an assumable mortgage.
|
| Servicer |
An organization that collects principal and interest payments
from borrowers and manages borrowers' escrow accounts. The servicer often
services mortgages that have been purchased by an investor in the secondary
mortgage market.
|
| Servicing |
The collection of mortgage payments from borrowers and
related responsibilities of a loan servicer.
|
| Settlement Statement |
See HUD1 Settlement Statement
|
| Squatter's Rights |
See Adverse Possession
|
| Subdivision |
A housing development that is created by dividing a tract
of land into individual lots for sale or lease.
|
| Subordinate Financing |
Any mortgage or other lien that has a priority that is
lower than that of the first mortgage.
|
| Survey |
A drawing or map showing the precise legal boundaries of
a property, the location of improvements, easements, rights of way, encroachments,
and other physical features.
|
| Sweat Equity |
Contribution to the construction or rehabilitation of a
property in the form of labor or services rather than cash.
|
| Tenancy
in Common |
As opposed to joint tenancy, when there are two or more
individuals on title to a piece of property, this type of ownership does
not pass ownership to the others in the event of death.
|
| Third-Party Origination |
A process by which a lender uses another party to completely
or partially originate, process, underwrite, close, fund, or package the
mortgages it plans to deliver to the secondary mortgage market.
|
| Title |
A legal document evidencing a person's right to or ownership
of a property.
|
| Title Company |
A company that specializes in examining and insuring titles
to real estate.
|
| Title Insurance |
Insurance that protects the lender (lender's policy) or
the buyer (owner's policy) against loss arising from disputes over ownership
of a property.
|
| Title Search |
A check of the title records to ensure that the seller
is the legal owner of the property and that there are no liens or other
claims outstanding.
|
| Transfer of Ownership |
Any means by which the ownership of a property changes
hands. Lenders consider all of the following situations to be a transfer
of ownership: the purchase of a property subject to the mortgage, the
assumption of the mortgage debt by the property purchaser, and any exchange
of possession of the property under a land sales contract or any other
land trust device.
|
| Transfer Tax |
State or local tax payable when title passes from one owner
to another.
|
| Treasury Index |
An index that is used to determine interest rate changes
for certain adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) plans. It is based on the results
of auctions that the U.S. Treasury holds for its Treasury bills and securities
or is derived from the U.S. Treasury's daily yield curve, which is based
on the closing market bid yields on actively traded Treasury securities
in the over-the-counter market.
|
| Trustee |
A fiduciary who holds or controls property for the benefit
of another.
|
| Truth-in-Lending |
A federal law that requires lenders to fully disclose,
in writing, the terms and conditions of a mortgage, including the annual
percentage rate (APR) and other charges.
|
| Two- to-Four-Family Property |
A property that consists of a structure that provides living
space (dwelling units) for two to four families, although ownership of
the structure is evidenced by a single deed.
|
| Two-Step Mortgage |
An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that has one interest
rate for the first five or seven years of its mortgage term and a different
interest rate for the remainder of the amortization term.
|
| Underwriting |
The act of applying formal guidelines that provide qualitative
and quantitative standards for determining whether or not a loan should
be approved. |
| Undivided
Interest |
An ownership right to use and possession of a property
that is shared among co-owners, with no one co-owner having exclusive
rights to any portion of the property.
|
| Unencumbered
Property |
Real estate that is owned free and clear.
|
| Unrecorded
Deed |
An instrument that transfers title from one party (grantor)
to another party (grantee) without providing public notice of the change
in ownership.
|
| VA
mortgage |
A mortgage that is guaranteed by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA).
|
| Vested |
Having the right to use a portion of a fund such as an
individual retirement fund. For example, individuals who are 100 percent
vested can withdraw all of the funds that are set aside for them in a
retirement fund. However, taxes may be due on any funds that are actually
withdrawn.
|
| Veterans
Administration (VA) |
An agency of the federal government that guarantees residential
mortgages made to eligible veterans of the military services. The guarantee
protects the lender against loss and thus encourages lenders to make mortgages
to veterans.
|
| We
Buy Houses |
A term commonly used by real estate
investors to market their services. Typically these investors pay cash,
however many are able to take over payments or work out other solutions
for home owners that have little or now equity.
|
| We
Buy Ugly Houses |
A trademarked term of HomeVestors, a nationwide franchise
of investors who purchase houses for cash, but require a large discount
from the retail value of the property.
|
1031
Exchange |
This refers to a portion of the IRS code also known as a
Like Kind Exchange or Starker Exchange. This specifies that if a property
is sold and the proceeds of the sale are invested in an asset of like kind,
then no gain or loss is recognized. This is a very effective way to defer
taxes that would otherwise be due on the sale of a property.
|
| 401(k)/403(b) |
An employer-sponsored investment plan that allows individuals
to set aside tax-deferred income for retirement or emergency purposes. 401(k)
plans are provided by employers that are private corporations. 403(b) plans
are provided by employers that are not for profit organizations.
|
| 401(k)/403(b)
loan |
Some administrators of 401(k)/403(b) plans allow for loans
against the monies you have accumulated in these plans. Loans against 401K
plans are an acceptable source of down payment for most types of loans.
|
| |
