Mortgage Terms

ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE (ARM) - A mortgage in which the interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a designated financial index. Also known as variable rate mortgage.

ADJUSTMENT INTERVAL - On an adjustable rate mortgage, the time between changes in the interest rate and/or monthly payment.

AMORTIZATION - Equal periodic payments calculated to pay off the loan at the end of a fixed period, typically 15 or 30 years.

ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR) - An interest rate reflecting the cost of a loan as a yearly rate. This rate is likely to be higher than the stated note rate on the mortgage, as it takes into account points and other credit costs. The APR allows borrowers to compare different types of mortgages based on the annual cost for each loan.

APPRAISAL - Estimate of the value of property by a qualified professional called an "appraiser."

ASSUMPTION - Agreement between buyer and lender where the buyer takes over the payments on an existing mortgage.

BROKER - An individual in the business of assisting, arranging, funding or negotiating loans for a client, but does not loan the money himself. Brokers either charge the borrower a fee or receive a commission from the lender for their services.

CAPS (INTEREST) - Consumer safeguards that limit the amount that the interest rate on an ARM loan may change per year and/or life of the loan.

CAPS (PAYMENT) Consumer safeguards which limit the amount monthly payments on an adjustable rate mortgage may change.

CLOSING - Meeting between the buyer, seller and lender escrow officer where the property and funds legally change hands. Also called settlement.

CLOSING COSTS - Usually include an origination fee, appraisal fee, title search and insurance, taxes, deed recording fee, credit report charge and other costs assessed at settlement .

COMMITMENT - An agreement, often in writing, between a lender and a borrower to loan money at a future date subject to the completion of paperwork or compliance with stated conditions.

CONSTRUCTION LOAN - Short term interim loan for financing the cost of construction. The lender advances funds to the builder at periodic intervals as the work progresses.

CONVENTIONAL LOAN - A loan not insured by FHA, VA or Farmers Home Administration.

CREDIT REPORT - Report listing borrowers' consumer credit use, including past and current debts, payment ratings and terms.

DEED OF TRUST - Document used in California and other states to secure the payment of a note.

DEFAULT - Failure to make the required payments on a loan. Often results in foreclosure.

DELINQUENCY - Failure to make loan payments on time. This could lead to default or foreclosure.

DISCOUNT POINTS - See POINTS.

DOWN PAYMENT - Money paid to make up the difference between the purchase price and loan amount. Down payments usually are 10 to 20 percent of the sales price on conventional loans.

DUE ON SALE CLAUSE - A provision in a mortgage or deed of trust that allows the lender to demand immediate payment of the balance of the mortgage if the mortgage holder sells the home.

EARNEST MONEY - Money given by a buyer as part of the purchase price to bind a transaction or assure payment. Also called DEPOSIT.

EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT ( ECOA ) - Federal law requiring 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 - The difference between market value and current loan, also known as owner's interest.

ESCROW - Neutral third party that carries out the instructions of both the borrower and lender to handle settlement or "closing." Escrow may also refer to an account held by the lender into which the borrower pays for tax or insurance payments.

FANNIE MAE - See Federal National Mortgage Association

FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION - Also called "Freddie Mac," a quasi-governmental agency that purchases conventional mortgages form insured depository institutions and HUD-approved mortgage bankers.

FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (FNMA) - Also known as "Fannie Mae." A corporation created by Congress that purchases and sells conventional, FHA and VA residential loans. Provides funds for 1 in 7 loans, making mortgage money more available and affordable.

FIXED RATE MORTGAGE - Loan in which the interest rate is constant for the term of the loan.

FORECLOSURE - A legal procedure in which property securing debt is sold by the lender to pay the defaulting borrower's debt .

FREDDIE MAC - See Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

GROSS MONTHLY INCOME - The total amount the borrower(s) earns each month, before any expenses are deducted.

GUARANTEE - Promise to pay a debt or perform an obligation contracted by another if the original party fails to pay or perform to a contract.

HAZARD INSURANCE - Insurance which protects the borrower and home from specified losses, such as fire, windstorm, etc.

HOUSING EXPENSES-TO-INCOME RATIO - The ratio, expressed as a percentage, obtained by dividing borrower's housing expenses by his/her gross monthly income. See debt-to-income ratio.

IMPOUND - Portion of the borrower's monthly payment collected by the lender to pay taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, and other items as they become due. Also known as reserves.

INDEX - The rate against which lenders measure the difference between the current rate on adjustable rate loans and that earned by other investments, (U.S. Treasury security yields, monthly average interest rate on loans closed by savings and loans, and monthly average costs-of-funds incurred by savings and loans), which is then used to adjust the interest rate up or down.

INVESTOR - Money source for a lender.

JUMBO LOAN - Loan which is larger than the limits ($203,150) set by FNMA and FHLMC. Because jumbo loans cannot be funded by these agencies, they usually carry a higher interest rate.

LIEN - A claim upon a piece of property for the payment of satisfaction of a debt or obligation.

LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO - The relationship between the amount of the loan and the appraised value of the property expressed as a percentage.

MARGIN - Rate expressed as a percentage that a lender adds to the index on an adjustable rate loan to establish the adjusted interest rate.

MARKET VALUE - Price that a buyer would pay and a seller would accept on a property. Market value may be different from the price a property could actually be sold for at a given time.

MORTGAGE INSURANCE - A fee (up to 3.8 percent of loan amount) paid at closing or a portion of this fee added to each monthly payment of an FHA loan to insure the loan with FHA. Paid to insure the mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent. See Private Mortgage Insurance.

MORTGAGEE - The lender. MORTGAGOR - The borrower or homeowner.

NET EFFECTIVE INCOME - The borrower's gross income minus federal income tax.

ORIGINATION FEE - Fee charged by lender to prepare loan documents, credit checks, etc.; usually computed as a percentage of face value of the loan.

PITI - Principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Also called monthly housing expense.

POINTS (LOAN DISCOUNT POINTS) - Prepaid interest assessed at closing by the lender. Each point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.

POWER OF ATTORNEY - A legal document authorizing one person to act on behalf of another.

PREPAIDS - Expenses necessary to create an escrow account or to adjust an existing account. Can include taxes, hazard insurance, private mortgage insurance and special assessments.

PREPAYMENT PENALTY - Fee charged for early repayment of some types loans. Usually 6 months interest on 80% of current balance.

PRINCIPAL - The balance, not including interest, left on a loan.

PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI) - For loans over 80% loan-to-value. Lenders will loan up to 95% in some cases. With the higher LTV loans, borrowers are required to carry private mortgage insurance, which requires an initial premium and may require an additional monthly fee depending on your loan's structure.

REALTOR - Real estate broker or agent belonging to the National Association of Realtors.

RECISION -Law that gives the borrower 3 days after signing to cancel a contract in some cases, if the transaction uses home equity as security.

RECORDING FEES - Paid to the county for recording a home sale, thereby making it part of the public records.

RESPA Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act - Federal law allowing consumers to receive and review information on known or estimated settlement costs after application and again at settlement. Requires lenders to furnish information after application only.

REVERSE MORTGAGE - Allows home owners to borrow against the equity in their homes without repaying the debt for as long as they live there.

SERVICING - All steps and operations a lender performs to keep a loan in good standing, such as collection of payments, payment of taxes, insurance, and property inspections.

SETTLEMENT/SETTLEMENT COSTS - See closing/closing costs.

SURVEY - Measurement of land, prepared by a registered land surveyor, showing location of the land with reference to known points, dimensions, and the location and dimensions of any building.

TERM MORTGAGE - See balloon payment mortgage.

TITLE - A document that gives evidence of an individual's ownership of property.

TITLE INSURANCE - A policy, usually issued by a title insurance company, which insures a homebuyer against errors in the title search.

TITLE SEARCH - An examination of public records to determine the legal ownership of property. Usually is performed by a title company.

TRUTH-IN-LENDING - A federal law requiring disclosure of the Annual Percentage Rate to homebuyers shortly after they apply for the loan.

UNDERWRITING - The decision whether to make a loan based on credit, employment, assets, and other factors and matching this risk to an appropriate rate, term and loan amount.

VA LOAN - Long-term, low-or no-down payment loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Borrowers qualified by military service or other entitlements.

VA MORTGAGE FUNDING FEE - Premium of up to 17/9 percent (depending on the size of the down payment) paid on a VA loan.

VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE (VRM) - See adjustable rate mortgage

VERIFICATION OF DEPOSIT (VOD) - Form signed by the borrower's bank or lender verifying the status and balance of financial accounts.

VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT - Form signed by the borrower's employer(s) verifying his/her position and salary.

 

NOTE: If you are referring to this page to settle a legal matter, consult your attorney for professional advice.