Real Estate Glossary of Terms
ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE (ARM)
a mortgage with an interest rate that changes
periodically, according to an index that is selected
when the mortgage is issued. The initial interest
rate is lower than that for fixed-rate mortgages,
but monthly payments can go up or down when the
rate is adjusted.
ADJUSTMENT INTERVAL
the period of time between changes in the interest
rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage. Typical adjustment
intervals are one year, three and five years.
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR)
a stated interest rate that reflects all the financing
costs of a mortgage. The APR includes points, origination
fees and other finance charges in addition to the
interest on the mortgage, and includes them all
in a yearly interest rate. As a result, the APR
is usually higher than the interest rate alone.
It also provides a benchmark for comparing different
types of mortgages based on the annual cost for
each loan.
APPRAISAL
an estimate of the value of a property, made by
a qualified professional called an appraiser.
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.
BIWEEKLY MORTGAGE
a type of fixed-rate mortgage with payments for
half the usual monthly amount scheduled every two
weeks. Because you make the equivalent of 13 months
of payments every year, the loan term is shortened
from 30 years to 18 or 19 years, and total interest
cost are substantially lower.
CAPS
consumer safeguards for adjustable-rate mortgages
that limit the amount monthly payments can increase.
An interest rate cap limits the amount the interest
can change, while a payment cap limits the increase
in monthly payment to a specific dollar amount.
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
the costs and fees associated with the official
change in ownership of the property and with obtaining
your mortgage that are assessed at the closing or
settlement. Closing costs include required certifications,
insurance, taxes and other fees, and typically total
between 3 and 6 percent of the mortgage amount.
CREDIT REPORT
a report that documents a borrower's credit history and current status.
Borrowers can examine their own credit reports,
although most credit reporting companies charge
a fee to provide a report.
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 net effective
income (FHA/VA loans) or gross monthly income (conventional
loans).
DOWN PAYMENT
an amount paid in cash to the seller when a home
is purchased. The down payment is the difference
between the purchase price and the mortgage amount,
and is traditionally 10 to 20 percent of the purchase
price, although many loans are now available with
smaller down payments.
EQUITY
the difference between the fair market value and
current indebtedness, also referred to as the owner's
interest.
ESCROW
a special account set up by the lender in which
money is held to pay for taxes and insurance. "Escrow"
can also refer to a third party who carries out
the instructions of both the buyer and seller to
handle the paperwork at the settlement.
FHA (FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION)
MORTGAGE
a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
FHA mortgages require lower down payments than conventional
mortgages, and also feature less stringent income
and financial requirements.
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE
a mortgage with an interest
rate that remains constant for the life of the loan.
The most common fixed-rate mortgage is repaid over
a period of 30 years; 15 year fixed-rate mortgages
are also available.
INDEX
an economic indicator, usually a published interest
rate, that determines changes in the interest rate
of an ARM. ARM rates are adjusted to reflect changes
in the index. The margin is the amount a lender
adds to the index to establish the actual interest
rate on an ARM.
INTEREST
the sum paid for borrowing money, which pays the
lender's costs of doing business.
LENDER BUY-DOWN MORTGAGE
a convertible mortgage offering a discounted interest
rate at the beginning of the loan that gradually
increases to an agreed-upon fixed-rate over the
first few years of the loan. It provides lower initial
payments and a stable final monthly rate, but the
final rate may be somewhat higher than on a standard
fixed-rate mortgage.
LOAN ORIGINATION FEE
the fee charged by a lender to prepare all the
documents associated with your mortgage.
LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO
the relationship between the amount of the mortgage
loan and the appraised value of the property expressed
as a percentage.
MORTGAGE INSURANCE
an insurance policy the borrower buys to protect
the lender from non-payment of the loan. Private
mortgage insurance policies are usually required
if you make a down payment that is below 20% of
the appraised value of the home.
PITI (PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, TAXES AND INSURANCE)
the four components that (for most homeowners)
are included in the monthly mortgage payment. Principal
and interest are the portions of the payment assigned
to repay the mortgage itself; taxes and insurance
are paid by your lender into a special escrow account
to pay for homeowners insurance and property taxes.
POINTS (LOAN DISCOUNT POINTS)
prepaid interest on a mortgage that is usually paid
at the time of closing. Each point is equal to one
percent of the total amount of a mortgage (one point
on an $80,000 mortgage is $800, or 1 percent of
80,000). Most lenders offer mortgages with several
combinations of points and interest rates; generally,
the lower the interest rate, the more points you
will pay at settlement.
PRINCIPAL
the amount of debt, not including interest, left
on a loan; also the face amount of the mortgage.
TITLE INSURANCE
an insurance policy which insures you against
errors in the title search, essentially guaranteeing
you and your lender's financial interest in the
property.
UNDERWRITING
the process of deciding whether to make a loan
based on credit, employment, assets and other factors.
VA (DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS) MORTGAGE
government insured loans guaranteed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs, requiring very low or no down
payments and with generous requirements for qualification.
They are available only to veterans of the armed
services, those currently on active duty or in the
reserves, and their spouses.
Copyright © Mortgage Bankers Association of America.
All rights reserved.
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