Acceleration
The right of the mortgagee (lender) to demand the immediate repayment of the mortgage loan
balance upon the default of the mortgagor (borrower), or by using the right vested in the
Due-on-Sale Clause.
Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)
Is a mortgage in which the interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a pre-selected
index. Also sometimes known as the re negotiable rate mortgage, the variable rate mortgage
or the Canadian rollover mortgage.
Adjustment interval
On an adjustable rate mortgage, the time between changes in the interest rate and/or
monthly payment, typically one, three or five years, depending on the index.
Amortization
Means loan payment by equal periodic payment calculated to pay off the debt at the end of
a fixed period, including accrued interest on the outstanding balance.
Annual percentage rate (A.P.R.)
Is a interest rate reflecting the cost of a mortgage as a yearly rate. This rate is likely
to be higher than the stated note rate or advertised rate on the mortgage, because it
takes into account point and other credit cost. the APR allows home buyers to compare
different types of mortgages based on the annual cost for each loan.
Appraisal
An estimate of the value of property, made by a qualified professional called an
"appraiser".
Assessment
A local tax levied against a property for a specific purpose, such as a sewer or street
lights.
Assumption
The agreement between buyer and seller where the buyer takes over the payments on an
existing mortgage from the seller. Assuming a loan can usually save the buyer money since
this is an existing mortgage debt, unlike a new mortgage where closing cost and new,
probably higher, market-rate interest charges will apply.
Balloon (payment) mortgage
Usually a short-term fixed-rate loan which involves small payments for a certain period of
time and one large payment for the remaining amount of the principal at a time specified
in the contract.
Blanket Mortgage
A mortgage covering at least two pieces of real estate as security for the same mortgage.
Borrower (Mortgagor)
One who applies for and receives a loan in the form of a mortgage with the intention of
repaying the loan in full
Broker
An individual in the business of assisting in arranging funding or negotiating contracts
for a client buy who does not loan the money himself. Brokers usually charge a fee or
receive a commission for their services
Buy-down
When the lender and/or the home builder subsidized the mortgage by lowering the interest
rate during the first few years of the loan. While the payments are initially low, they
will increase when the subsidy expires.
Cash Flow
The amount of cash derived over a certain period of time from an income-producing
property. The cash flow should be large enough to pay the expenses of the income producing
property (mortgage payment, maintenance, utilities, etc.)
Caps (interest)
Consumer safeguards which limit the amount the interest rate on an adjustable rate
mortgage may change per year and/or the life of the loan.
Caps (payment)
Consumer safeguards which limit the amount monthly payments on an adjustable rate mortgage
may change.
Certificate of Eligibility,
The document given to qualified veterans which entitles them to VA guaranteed loans for
homes, business, and mobile homes. certificates of eligibility may be obtained by sending
DD-214 (Separation Paper) to the local VA office with VA form 1880 (request for
Certificate of Eligibility)
Certificate of Reasonable Value (CRV)
An appraisal issued by the Veterans Administration showing the property's current market
value
Certificate of veteran status
The document given to veterans or reservists who have served 90 days of continuous active
duty (including training time) It may be obtained by sending DD 214 to the local VA office
with form 26-8261a (request for certificate of veteran status. This document enables
veterans to obtain lower down payments on certain FHA insured loans).
Closing
The meeting between the buyer, seller and lender or their agents where the property and
funds legally change hands. Also called settlement. closing costs usually include an
origination fee, discount points, appraisal fee, title search and insurance, survey,
taxes, deed recording fee, credit report charge and other costs assessed at settlement.
The cost of closing usually are about 3 percent to 6 percent of the mortgage amount.
Commitment
A promise by a lender to make a loan on specific terms or conditions to a borrower or
builder. A promise by an investor to purchase mortgages from a lender with specific terms
or conditions. 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
A short term interim loan to pay for the construction of buildings or homes. These are
usually designed to provide periodic disbursements to the builder as he progresses.
Contract sale or deed:
A contract between purchaser and a seller of real estate to convey title after certain
conditions have been met. It is a form of installment sale.
Conventional loan
A mortgage not insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA.
Credit Report
A report documenting the credit history and current status of a borrower's credit
standing.
Debt-to-Income Ratio
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, which results when a borrower's monthly payment
obligation on long-term debts is divided by his or her gross monthly income. See housing
expenses-to-income ratio.
Deed of trust
In many states, this document is used in place of a mortgage to secure the payment of a
note.
Default
Failure to meet legal obligations in a contract, specifically, failure to make the monthly
payments on a mortgage.
Deferred interest
When a mortgage is written with a monthly payment that is less than required to satisfy
the note rate, the unpaid interest is deferred by adding it to the loan balance.
amortization
Delinquency
Failure to make payments on time. this can lead to foreclosure.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
An independent agency of the federal government which guarantees long-term, low-or no-down
payment mortgages to eligible veterans.
Discount Point
see point
Down Payment
Money paid to make up the difference between the purchase price and the mortgage amount.
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 to a seller as part of the purchase price to bind a transaction or
assure payment.
Entitlement
The VA home loan benefit is called entitlement. Entitlement for a VA guaranteed home loan.
This is also known as eligibility.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Is 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
The difference between the fair market value and current indebtedness, also referred to as
the owner's interest. The value an owner has in real estate over and above the obligation
against the property.
Escrow
An account held by the lender into which the home buyer pays money for tax or insurance
payments. Also earnest deposits held pending loan closing.
Fannie Mae
see Federal National Mortgage Association.
Farmers Home Administration (FmHA)
provides financing to farmers and other qualified borrowers who are unable to obtain loans
elsewhere.
Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB)
The former name for the regulatory and supervisory agency for federally chartered savings
institutions. Agency is now called the Office of Thrift Supervision
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation(FHLMC) also called "Freddie Mac",
is a quasi-governmental agency that purchases conventional mortgage from insured
depository institutions and HUD-approved mortgage bankers
Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
A division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its main activity is the
insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. FHA also sets standards
for underwriting mortgages.
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) also know as "Fannie Mae"
A tax-paying corporation created by Congress that purchases and sells conventional
residential mortgages as well as those insured by FHA or guaranteed by VA. This
institution, which provides funds for one in seven mortgages, makes mortgage money more
available and more affordable
FHA loan
a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration open to all qualified home
purchasers. While there are limits to the size of FHA loans ($155,250 as of 1/1/96), they
are generous enough to handle moderately-priced homes almost anywhere in the country.
FHA mortgage insurance
Requires a fee (up to 2.25 percent of the loan amount) paid at closing to insure the loan
with FHA. In addition, FHA mortgage insurance requires an annual fee of up to 0.5 percent
of the current loan amount, paid in monthly installments. The lower the down payment, the
more years the fee must be paid.
FHLMC
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation provides a secondary market for savings and
loans by purchasing their conventional loans. Also known as "Freddie Mac."
Firm Commitment
A promise by FHA to insure a mortgage loam for a specified property and borrower. A
promise from a lender to make a mortgage loan.
Fixed Rate Mortgage
The mortgage interest rate will remain the same on these mortgages throughout the term of
the mortgage for the original borrower.
FNMA
The Federal National Mortgage Association is a secondary mortgage institution which is the
largest single holder of home mortgages in the United States. FNMA buys VA, FHA, and
conventional mortgages from primary lenders. Also known as "Fannie Mae."
Foreclosure
A legal process by which the lender or the seller forces a sale of a mortgaged property
because the borrower has not met the terms of the mortgage. Also known as a repossession
of property.
Freddie Mac
see Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Ginnie Mae
see Government National Mortgage Association.
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA)
Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM)
A type of flexible-payment mortgage where the payments increase for a specified period of
time and then level off. This type of mortgage has negative amortization built into it.
Guaranty
A promise by one party to pay a debt or perform an obligation contracted by another if the
original party fails to pay or perform according to a contract
Hazard Insurance
A form of insurance in which the insurance company protects the insured from specified
losses, such as fire, windstorm and the like.
Housing Expenses-to-Income Ratio
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, which results when a borrower's housing expenses are
divided by his/her gross monthly income. See debt-to-income ratio.
Impound
That portion of a borrower's monthly payments held by the lender or servicer to pay for
taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, lease payments, and other items as they
become due. Also known as reserves.
Index
A published interest rate against which lenders measure the difference between the current
interest rate on an adjustable rate mortgage and that earned by other investments (such as
one- three-, and five-year U.S. Treasury security yields, the monthly average interest
rate on loans closed by savings and loan institutions, and the monthly average
costs-of-funds incurred by savings and loans), which is then used to adjust the interest
rate on an adjustable mortgage up or down.
Interim Financing
A construction loam made during completion of a building or a project. A permanent loan
usually replaces this loan after completion.
Investor
A money source for a lender.
Jumbo Loan
a loan which is larger (more than $214,600 as of 1/1/97) than the limits set by the
Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
Because jumbo loans cannot be funded by these two agencies, they usually carry a higher
interest rate.
Lien
A claim upon a piece of property for the payment or satisfaction of a debt or obligation.
Loan-to-Value Ratio
The relationship between the amount of the mortgage loan and the appraised value of the
property expressed as a percentage.
Margin
The amount a lender adds to the index on an adjustable rate mortgage to establish the
adjusted interest rate.
Market Value
The highest price that a buyer would pay and the lowest price 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.
MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium)
It is insurance from FHA to the lender against incurring a loss on account of the
borrower's default.
Mortgage Insurance
Money paid to insure the mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent. See
private mortgage insurance, FHA mortgage insurance.
Mortgagee
The lender
Mortgagor
The borrower or homeowner
Negative Amortization
Occurs when your monthly payments are not large enough to pay all the interest due on the
loan. This unpaid interest is added to the unpaid balance of the loan. the danger of
negative amortization is that the home buyer ends up owing more than the original amount
of the loan.
Net Effective Income
The borrower's gross income minus federal income tax.
Non Assumption Clause
A statement in a mortgage contract forbidding the assumption of the mortgage without the
prior approval of the lender. Note: The signed obligation to pay a debt, as a mortgage
note.
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
The regulatory and supervisory agency for federally chartered savings institutions.
Formally known as Federal Home Loan Bank Board
Origination Fee
The fee charged by a lender to prepare loan documents, make credit checks, inspect and
sometimes appraise a property; usually computed as a percentage of the face value of the
loan.
Permanent Loan
A long term mortgage, usually ten years or more. Also called an "end loan."
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance. Also called monthly housing expense.
Pledged account Mortgage (PAM):
Money is placed in a pledged savings account and this fund plus earned interest is
gradually used to reduce mortgage payments.
Points (loan discount points)
Prepaid interest assessed at closing by the lender. Each point is equal to 1 percent of
the loan amount (e.g., two points on a $100,000 mortgage would cost $2,000)
Power of Attorney
A legal document authorizing one person to act on behalf of another.
Prepaid Expenses
Necessary to create an escrow account or to adjust the seller's existing escrow account.
Can include taxes, hazard insurance, private mortgage insurance and special assessments.
Prepayment
A privilege in a mortgage permitting the borrower to make payments in advance of their due
date.
Prepayment Penalty
Money charged for an early repayment of debt. Prepayment penalties are allowed in some
form (but not necessarily imposed) in many states
Primary Mortgage Market
Lenders making mortgage loans directly to borrower's such as savings and loan
associations, commercial banks, and mortgage companies. These lenders sometimes sell their
mortgages into the secondary mortgage markets such as to FNMA or GNMA, etc.
Principal
The amount of debt, not counting interest, left on a loan.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
In the event that you do not have a 20 percent down payment, lenders will allow a smaller
down payment - as low as 5 percent in some cases. With the smaller down payment loans,
however, borrowers are usually required to carry private mortgage insurance. Private
mortgage insurance will usually require an initial premium payment and may require an
additional monthly fee depending on you loan's structure.
Realtor
A real estate broker or an associate holding active membership in a local real estate
board affiliated with the National Association of Realtors.
Recision
The cancellation of a contract. With respect to mortgage refinancing, the law that gives
the homeowner three days to cancel a contract in some cases once it is signed if the
transaction uses equity in the home as security.
Recording Fees
Money paid to the lender for recording a home sale with the local authorities, thereby
making it part of the public records.
Refinance
Obtaining a new mortgage loan on a property already owned. Often to replace existing loans
on the property.
Renegotiable Rate Mortgage
a loan in which the interest rate is adjusted periodically. See adjustable rate mortgage
RESPA
short for the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. RESPA is a federal law that allows
consumers to review information on known or estimated settlement cost once after
application and once prior to or at a settlement. The law requires lenders to furnish the
information after application only.
Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM)
a form of mortgage in which the lender makes periodic payments to the borrower using the
borrower's equity in the home as Satisfaction of Mortgage: The document issued by the
mortgagee when the mortgage loam is paid in full. Also called a "release of
mortgage."
Second Mortgage
A mortgage made subsequent to another mortgage and subordinate to the first one
Secondary Mortgage Market
The place where primary mortgage lenders sell the mortgages they make to obtain more funds
to originate more new loans. It provides liquidity for the lenders. security.
Servicing
all the steps and operations a lender performs to keep a loan in good standing, such as
collection of payments, payment of taxes, insurance, property inspections and the like.
Settlement/Settlement Costs
see closing/closing costs
Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM)
a mortgage in which a borrower receives a below-market interest rate in return for which
the lender (or another investor such as a family member or other partner) receives a
portion of the future appreciation in the value of the property. May also apply to
mortgage where the borrowers shares the monthly principal and interest payments with
another party in exchange for part of the appreciation.
Simple Interest
Interest which is computed only on the principle balance.
Survey
A measurement of land, prepared by a registered land surveyor, showing the location of the
land with reference to know points, its dimensions, and the location and dimensions of any
buildings.
Sweat Equity
Equity created by a purchaser performing work on a property being purchased.
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 home buyer against
errors in the title search. The cost of the policy is usually a function of the value of
the property, and is often borne by the purchaser and/or seller. Policies are also
available to protect the lender's interests.
Title Search
an examination of municipal 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 home
buyers shortly after they apply for the loan. Also known as Regulation Z.
Two-Step Mortgage
a mortgage in which the borrower receives a below-market interest rate for a specified
number of years (most often seven or 10), and then receives a new interest rate adjusted
(within certain limits) to market conditions at that time. the lender sometimes has the
option to call the loan due with 30 days notice at the end of seven or 10 years. also
called "Super Seven" or "Premier" mortgage.
Underwriting
the decision whether to make a loan to a potential home buyer based on credit, employment,
assets, and other factors and the matching of this risk to an appropriate rate and term or
loan amount.
USURY
Interest charged in excess of the legal rate established by law.
VA Loan
a long-term, low-or no-down payment loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Restricted to individuals qualified by military service or other entitlements.
VA Mortgage Funding Fee
a premium of up to 1-7/8 percent (depending on the size of the down payment) paid on a
VA-backed loan. On a $75,000 fixed-rate mortgage with no down payment, this would amount
to $1,406 either paid at closing or added to the amount financed.
Variable Rate Mortgage (VRM)
see adjustable rate mortgage
Verification of Deposit (VOD)
a document signed by the borrower's financial institution verifying the status and balance
of his/her financial accounts.
Verification of Employment (VOE)
a document signed by the borrower's employer verifying his/her position and salary.
Warehouse Fee
Many mortgage firms must borrow funds on a short term basis in order to originate loans
which are to be sold later in the secondary mortgage market (or to investors). When the
prime rate of interest is higher on short term loans than on mortgage loans, the mortgage
firm has an economic loss which is offset by charging a warehouse fee. |
