Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) - a mortgage that changes interest rate periodically based upon the changes in a specified index
Adjustment Date - The date on which the interest rate changes for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Adjustment Period - The period that elapses between the adjustment dates for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Amortization - The repayment of a mortgage loan by installments with regular payments to cover the principle and interest with the interest being paid in the front of the loan. Every payment made a small decrease in the principal balance
Amortization Term - The amount of time required to amortize the mortgage loan. The amortization term is expressed as a number of months. For example, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the amortization term is 360 months
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - The cost of a mortgage stated as a yearly rate; includes such items as interest, mortgage insurance, and loan origination fee (points)
Application - A form, commonly referred to as a 1003 form, used to apply for a mortgage and to provide information regarding a prospective mortgagor and the proposed security
Appraisal - A written analysis of the estimated value of a property prepared by a qualified appraiser
Appraiser - A person qualified by education, training, and experience to estimate the value of real property and personal property
Appreciation - An increase in the value of a property due to changes in market conditions or other causes. The opposite of depreciation
Asset - Anything of monetary value that is owned by a person. Assets include real property, personal property, and enforceable claims against others (including bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, and so on)
Assignment - The transfer of a mortgage from one person to another
Assumable mortgage - A mortgage that can be taken over ("assumed") by the buyer when a home is sold
Assumption - The transfer of the seller's existing mortgage to the buyer
Assumption Clause - A provision in an assumable mortgage that allows a buyer to assume responsibility for the mortgage from the seller. The loan does not need to be paid in full by the original borrower upon sale or transfer of the property
Assumption Fee - The fee paid to a lender (usually by the purchaser of real property) resulting from the assumption of an existing mortgage
Balance Sheet - A financial statement that shows assets, liabilities, and net worth as of a specific date
Balloon Mortgage - A mortgage that has level monthly payments that will amortize it over a stated term but that provides for a lump sum payment to be due at the end of an earlier specified term
Balloon Payment - The final lump sum payment that is made at the maturity date of a balloon mortgage
Bankrupt - A person, firm, or corporation that, through a court proceeding, is relieved from the payment of all debts after the surrender of all assets to a court-appointed trustee
Bankruptcy - A proceeding in a federal court in which a debtor who owes more than his or her assets can relieve the debts by transferring his or her assets to a trustee
Before-Tax Income - Income before taxes are deducted
Beneficiary - The person designated to receive the income from a trust, estate, or a deed of trust
Binder - A preliminary agreement, secured by the payment of an earnest money deposit, under which a buyer offers to purchase real estate
Biweekly Payment Mortgages - A mortgage that requires payments to reduce the debt every two weeks (instead of the standard monthly payment schedule). The 26 (or possibly 27) biweekly payments are each equal to one-half of the monthly payment that would be required if the loan were a standard 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, and they are usually drafted from the borrower's bank account. The result for the borrower is a substantial savings in interest
Blanket Mortgage - Multiple property purchases. Popular among the developer and builder community. The mortgage that is secured by a cooperative project, as opposed to the share loans on individual units within the project
Bond - An interest-bearing certificate of debt with a maturity date. An obligation of a government or business corporation. A real estate bond is a written obligation usually secured by a mortgage or a deed of trust
Breach - A violation of any legal obligation
Bridge Loan - A form of second trust that is collateralized by the borrower's present home (which is usually for sale) in a manner that allows the proceeds to be used for closing on a new house before the present home is sold. Also known as "swing loan"
Broker - A person who, for a commission or a fee, brings parties together and assists in negotiating contracts between them
Buy Down Mortgage - A temporary buy down is a mortgage on which an initial lump sum payment is made by any party to reduce a borrower's monthly payments during the first few years of a mortgage. A permanent buy down reduces the interest rate over the entire life of a mortgage
Call Option - A provision in the mortgage that gives the mortgagee the right to call the mortgage due and payable at the end of a specified period for whatever reason
Cap - A provision of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that limits how much the interest rate or mortgage payments may increase or decrease
Capital Improvement - Any structure or component erected as a permanent improvement to real property that adds to its value and useful life
Cash-Out Refinance - A refinance transaction in which the amount of money received from the new loan exceeds the total of the money needed to repay the existing first mortgage, closing costs, points, and the amount required to satisfy any outstanding subordinate mortgage liens. In other words, a refinance transaction in which the borrower receives additional cash that can be used for any purpose
Certificate of Eligibility - A document issued by the federal government certifying a veteran's eligibility for a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage
Certificate of Reasonable Value (CRV) - A document issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that establishes the maximum value and loan amount for a VA mortgage
Certificate of Title - A statement provided by an abstract company, title company, or attorney stating that the title to real estate is legally held by the current owner
Chain of Title - The history of all of the documents that transfer title to a parcel of real property, starting with the earliest existing document and ending with the most recent
Change Frequency - The frequency (in months) of payment and/or interest rate changes in an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
Clear Title - A title that is free of liens or legal questions as to ownership of the property
Closing - A meeting at which a sale of a property is finalized by the buyer signing the mortgage documents and paying closing costs. Also called "settlement"
Closing Cost Item - A fee or amount that a home buyer must pay at closing for a single service, tax, or product. Closing costs are made up of individual closing cost items such as origination fees and attorney's fees. Many closing cost items are included as numbered items on the HUD-1 statement
Closing Costs - Expenses (over and above the price of the property) incurred by buyers and sellers in transferring ownership of a property. Closing costs normally include an origination fee, an attorney's fee, taxes, an amount placed in escrow, and charges for obtaining title insurance and a survey. Closing costs percentage will vary according to the area of the country
Closing Statement - Also referred to as the HUD1. The final statement of costs incurred to close on a loan or to purchase a home
Cloud on Title - Any conditions revealed by a title search that adversely affects the title to real estate. Usually, clouds on title cannot be removed except by a quitclaim deed, release, or court action
Collateral - An asset (such as a car or a home) that guarantees the repayment of a loan. The borrower risks losing the asset if the loan is not repaid according to the terms of the loan contract
Collection - The efforts used to bring a delinquent mortgage current and to file the necessary notices to proceed with foreclosure when necessary
Co-Maker - A person who signs a promissory note along with the borrower. A co-makers signature guarantees that the loan will be repaid because the borrower and the co-maker are equally responsible for the repayment. See endorser
Commission - The fee charged by a broker or agent for negotiating a real estate or loan transaction. A commission is generally a percentage of the price of the property or loan
Commitment Letter - A formal offer by a lender stating the terms under which it agrees to lend money to a home buyer. Also known as a "loan commitment"
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
Community Home Improvement Mortgage Loan - An alternative financing option that allows low- and moderate-income home buyers to obtain 95 percent financing for the purchase and improvement of a home in need of modest repairs. The repair work can account for as much as 30 percent of the appraised value
Community Property - In some western and southwestern states, a form of ownership under which property acquired during a marriage is presumed to be owned jointly unless acquired as separate property of either spouse
Comparables "Comps" - An abbreviation for "comparable properties"; used for comparative purposes in the appraisal process. Comparables are properties like the property under consideration; they have reasonably the same size, location, and amenities and have recently been sold. Comparables help the appraiser determine the approximate fair market value of the subject property
Condominium - A real estate project in which each unit owner has title to a unit in a building, an undivided interest in the common areas of the project, and sometimes the exclusive use of certain limited common areas
Condominium Conversion - Changing the ownership of an existing building (usually a rental project) to the condominium form of ownership
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
Consumer Reporting Agency (or bureau) - An organization that prepares reports that are used by lenders to determine a potential borrower's credit history. The agency obtains data for these reports from a credit repository as well as from other sources
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 - A mortgage that is not insured or guaranteed by the federal government
Convertibility Clause - A provision in some adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) that allows the borrower to change the ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage at specified timeframes after loan origination
Convertible ARM - An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that can be converted to a fixed-rate mortgage under specified conditions
Cooperative (co-op) - A type of multiple ownership in which the residents of a multiunit housing complex own shares in the cooperative corporation that owns the property, giving each resident the right to occupy a specific apartment or unit
Corporate Relocation - Arrangements under which an employer moves an employee to another area as part of the employer's normal course of business or under which it transfers a substantial part or all of its operations and employees to another area because it is relocating its headquarters or expanding its office capacity
Cost of Funds Index (COFI) - An index that is used to determine interest rate changes for certain adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) plans. It represents the weighted-average cost of savings, borrowings, and advances of the 11th District members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
Covenant - A clause in a mortgage that obligates or restricts the borrower and that, if violated, can result in foreclosure
Credit - An agreement in which a borrower receives something of value in exchange for a promise to repay the lender at a later date
Credit History - A record of an individual's open and fully repaid debts. A credit history helps a lender to determine whether a potential borrower has a history of repaying debts in a timely manner
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 creditworthiness. See merged credit report
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
Debt - An amount owed to another
Deed - The legal document conveying title to a property
Deed-In-Lieu - A deed given by a mortgagor to the mortgagee to satisfy a debt and avoid foreclosure
Deed of Trust - The document used in some states instead of a mortgage; title is conveyed to a trustee
Default - Failure to make mortgage payments on a timely basis or to comply with other requirements of a mortgage
Delinquency - Failure to make mortgage payments when mortgage payments are due
Deposit - A sum of money given to bind the sale of real estate, or a sum of money given to ensure payment or an advance of funds in the processing of a loan
Depreciation - A decline in the value of property; the opposite of appreciation
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 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
Effective Gross Income - Normal annual income including overtime that is regular or guaranteed. The income may be from more than one source. Salary is generally the principal source, but other income may qualify if it is significant and stable
Encumbrance - Anything that affects or limits the fee simple title to a property, such as mortgages, leases, easements, or restrictions
Endorser - A person who signs ownership interest over to another party. Contrast with co-maker
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
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 deposit by a borrower with the lender of funds to pay taxes and insurance premiums when they become due, or the deposit of funds or documents with an attorney or escrow agent to be disbursed upon the closing of a sale of real estate
Escrow Account - The account in which a mortgage servicer holds the borrower's escrow payments prior to paying property expenses
Escrow Analysis - The periodic examination of escrow accounts to determine if current monthly deposits will provide sufficient funds to pay taxes, insurance, and other bills when due
Escrow Collections - Funds collected by the servicer and set aside in an escrow account to pay the borrower's property taxes, mortgage insurance, and hazard insurance
Escrow disbursements - The use of escrow funds to pay real estate taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, and other property expenses as they become due
Escrow Payment - The portion of a mortgagor's monthly payment that is held by the servicer to pay for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, lease payments, and other items as they become due. Known as "impounds" or "reserves" in some states
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
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
Exception Requests - Documenting exceptions are imperative in order to "present your case" in a way that anyone who reviews the loan can follow the logic and reasoning behind the justifications. Senior management and any post-funding reviewer may readily view at a glance the compensating factors, including the justification comments and summary describing the compensating factors that mitigate the risk are printed on the loan as well as any challenges, and the type and number of exceptions made on any given loan file.
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 - A congressionally chartered, shareholder-owned company that is the nation's largest supplier of home mortgage funds
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
Fee Simple - The greatest possible interest a person can have in real estate
FHA Mortgage - A mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Also known as a government mortgage
Finder's Fee - A fee or commission paid to a mortgage broker for finding a mortgage loan for a prospective borrower
First Mortgage - A mortgage that is the primary lien against a property
Fixed-Rate Mortgage (FRM) - A mortgage in which the interest rate does not change during the entire term of the loan
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
Fully Amortized ARM - An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with a monthly payment that is sufficient to amortize the remaining balance, at the interest accrual rate, over the amortization term
Good Faith Estimate - An estimate of charges which a borrower is likely to incur in connection with a settlement
Hazard Insurance - Insurance protecting against loss to real estate caused by fire, some natural causes, vandalism, etc., depending upon the terms of the policy
Housing Ratio - The ratio of the monthly housing payment in total (PITI - Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) divided by the gross monthly income. This ratio is sometimes referred to as the top ratio or front-end ratio
HUD - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Index - A published interest rate to which the interest rate on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) is tied. Some commonly used indices include the 1 Year Treasury Bill, 6 Month LIBOR, and the 11th District Cost of Funds (COFI)
Lien - An encumbrance against property for money due, either voluntary or involuntary
Lifetime Cap - A provision of an ARM that limits the highest rate that can occur over the life of the loan
Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) - The ratio of the amount of your loan to the appraised value of the home. The LTV will affect programs available to the borrower and generally, the lower the LTV the more favorable the terms of the programs offered by lenders
Lock-In - A written agreement guaranteeing the home buyer a specified interest rate provided the loan is closed within a set period of time. The lock-in also usually specifies the number of points to be paid at closing
Margin - The number of percentage points a lender adds to the index value to calculate the ARM interest rate at each adjustment period. A representative margin would be 2.75%
Mortgage - A legal document that pledges a property to the lender as security for payment of a debt
Mortgage Disability Insurance - A disability insurance policy which will pay the monthly mortgage payment in the event of a covered disability of an insured borrower for a specified period of time
Mortgage Insurance (MI) - Insurance written by an independent mortgage insurance company protecting the mortgage lender against loss incurred by a mortgage default. Usually required for loans with an LTV of 80.01% or higher
Mortgagee - The person or company who receives the mortgage as a pledge for repayment of the loan. The mortgage lender
Mortgagor - The mortgage borrower who gives the mortgage as a pledge to repay
Non-Conforming Loan - Also called a jumbo loan. Conventional home mortgages not eligible for sale and delivery to either Fannie Mae (FNMA) or Freddie Mac (FHLMC) because of various reasons, including loan amount, loan characteristics or underwriting guidelines. Non-conforming loans usually incur a rate and origination fee premium
Note - A written agreement containing a promise of the signer to pay to a named person, or order, or bearer, a definite sum of money at a specified date or on demand
Origination Fee - a fee imposed by a lender to cover certain processing expenses in connection with making a real estate loan. Usually a percentage of the amount loaned, such as one percent
Owner Financing - A property purchase transaction in which the property seller provides all or part of the financing
Planned Unit Developments (PUD) - A subdivision of five or more individually owned lots with one or more other parcels owned in common or with reciprocal rights in one or more other parcels
PITI - Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance--the components of a monthly mortgage payment
Points Charges levied by the mortgage lender and usually payable at closing. One point represents 1% of the face value of the mortgage loan
Prepaids - Those expenses of property which are paid in advance of their due date and will usually be prorated upon sale, such as taxes, insurance, rent, etc
Prepayment Penalty - A charge imposed by a mortgage lender on a borrower who wants to pay off part or all of a mortgage loan in advance of schedule
Principal - Amount of debt, not including interest. The face value of a note or mortgage
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) - Insurance provided by nongovernment insurers that protects lenders against loss if a borrower defaults. Fannie Mae generally requires private mortgage insurance for loans with loan-to-value (LTV) percentages greater than 80%
Qualifying Ratios - The ratio of your fixed monthly expenses to your gross monthly income, used to determine how much you can afford to borrow. The fixed monthly expenses would include PITI along with other obligations such as student loans, car loans, or credit card payments
Rate Cap - A limit on how much the interest rate can change, either at each adjustment period or over the life of the loan
Rate lock-In - A written agreement in which the lender guarantees the borrower a specified interest rate, provided the loan closes within a set period of time
Rebate - Compensation received from a wholesale lender which can be used to cover closing costs or as a refund to the borrower. Loans with rebates often carry higher interest rates than loans with "points" (see above)
Refinancing - The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from a new loan using the same property as security
Residential Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR) - A report requested by your lender that utilizes information from at least two of the three national credit bureaus and information provided on your loan application
Seller Carry-Back - An agreement in which the owner of a property provides financing, often in combination with an assumed mortgage
Survey - A print showing the measurements of the boundaries of a parcel of land, together with the location of all improvements on the land and sometimes its area and topography
Tenants-in-Common - An undivided interest in property taken by two or more persons. The interest need not be equal. Upon death of one or more persons, there is no right of survivorship
Title - The evidence one has of right to possession of land
Title Insurance - Insurance against loss resulting from defects of title to a specifically described parcel of real property.
Title Search - An investigation into the history of ownership of a property to check for liens, unpaid claims, restrictions or problems, to prove that the seller can transfer free and clear ownership
Total Debt Ratio - Also known as Back-End Debt Ratio - Monthly debt and housing payments divided by gross monthly income. Also known as Obligations-to-Income Ratio or Back-End ratio
Truth-in-Lending Act - A federal law requiring a disclosure of credit terms using a standard format. This is intended to facilitate comparisons between the lending terms of different financial institutions
Verifications - Underwriters/processors will not rely on broker-provided information, but will verify or re-verify all information required in connection with underwriting a loan, including without limitation the borrower's identity, date of birth, social security number or ITIN, mortgage history, rent history, bank deposits, employment and income. Whenever the underwriter/processor is calling a third party for verification purposes, whether it be employment, income, mortgage debt, other debt, assets, etc. The underwriter/processor should first call directory assistance to confirm there is a business at the address given by the borrower and use the number listed in the directory. This is to look out for phone banks set up by individuals seeking to perpetrate fraud by making it look as though the business exists. When seeking verifications with an unknown company, an abundance of caution is essential.
Veterans Administration (VA) - A government agency guaranteeing mortgage loans with no down payment to qualified veterans.
