amortization
Repayment of your loan amount through regular payments of both principal
and interest, calculated to pay off the loan after a fixed period of
time.
annual percentage rate (APR)
Charges imposed on the borrower to obtain a mortgage, expressed on an
annualized basis as an interest rate. It includes the interest rate,
loan fees and points.
appraisal
Professional estimate of your property's current market value.
appreciation
Increase in property value (opposite: depreciation).
assessed value
Property's taxable value according to your local tax assessor
balloon mortgage
Loan with monthly payments of principal and interest that do not fully
amortize the loan. The last payment is then made up of a lump-sum of the
remaining principal balance.
clear title
Home ownership title without liens or claims against it.
closing
The time at which loan documents and funds are signed and delivered to
finalize the funding of a loan. Sometimes called a settlement.
closing costs
Expenses incurred to finance a home loan and/or transfer ownership of
real estate.
combination rate mortgage
Loan that has a fixed rate for the first 2 or 3 years, then has an
adjustable rate for the remaining years.
combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio
Comparison, in the form of a ratio, of the total outstanding loans
against the real property to its appraised value or sales price.
common areas
Areas in a condominium or townhouse development used by all residents
and supported with owners' association fees.
consideration
Something of value (usually money) exchanged for the act or promise of
another person; a required element in a legally enforceable contract,
such as a home sales contract.
co-signer
Person who agrees to make loan payments, if you cannot fulfill your
financial commitment.
credit rating
A rating given to a person that establishes creditworthiness based on
credit history, experience and current financial condition.
credit report
A report run by an independent credit agency which verifies certain
information concerning your credit standing.
counter offer
Rejection of an offer to buy, that includes a new offer to consider.
debt-to-income ratio
Ratio of your monthly debt obligation to gross monthly income.
down payment
Cash paid by the home buyer towards the partial payment of a home's
sales price.
escrow
The collection or deposit of documents and funds from the parties
involved while a purchase loan is being processed that are held by a
third party until all conditions are met to fund the loan.
Fannie Mae
Federal National Mortgage Association. A government-sponsored private
corporation that buys home loans from lenders and sells them to
investors.
FHA
Federal Housing Administration. An agency within the Department of
Housing and Urban Development that provides mortgage insurance for home
loans and sets standards for construction and underwriting.
fixed rate mortgage
Loan with an interest rate and monthly payments that remain constant
throughout the life of the loan.
gift funds
Funds used for a down payment or closing costs that were a gift from a
relative.
hazard insurance
Insurance coverage that compensates the insured for physical damage to
the mortgaged property.
home improvement loan
A loan used to pay for permanent improvements to a home.
homeowners insurance
Hazard insurance plus provisions to protect against personal liability
and damage or loss to the personal property inside the home.
housing expense
Any and all housing costs, i.e., rent or mortgage payment, including
principal, interest, taxes, and hazard insurance.
impound or escrow account
Account consisting of a portion of monthly payments collected and
distributed by a lender to pay for taxes, insurance and other expenses.
joint tenancy
Ownership of property by two or more persons with equal interest and
equal rights in the property including the right of survivorship. If one
owner dies, ownership rights are passed to the surviving owner.
loan-to-value (LTV) ratio
Ratio of the loan against the real property to its appraised value or
sales price.
negative amortization
Increase in the unpaid loan balance created when monthly payments do not
cover both principal and interest and unpaid interest is added to the
principal balance.
owner-occupant
Borrower living in the mortgaged property as his or her primary
residence.
PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)
Insurance coverage purchased to protect lender from non-payment of the
loan.
points
Upfront fee lenders charge to reduce an interest rate. Each point
typically equals 1 percentage point of the total amount of the loan.
prepayment penalty
Fee borrowers pay if they pay off a loan during the early years of its
term.
principal
The original amount of money borrowed not including interest owed.
purchase loan
A loan used to buy real property.
purchase price
Amount for which a property sells.
Realtor®
Real estate professional adhering to the code of ethics of and
participating as an active member in the National Association of
Realtors.
refinance loan
New loan obtained on a property that pays off its existing mortgage. May
also be used to receive cash for the equity in your home.
