ACCELERATION CLAUSE
Allows the lender to demand immediate payment of the balance of the loan should you default on your payments.

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.

B

 BALLOON (PAYMENT) MORTGAGE
Usually a short-term loan involving small payments for a set period of time and one large payment for the remaining principal balance at a specified time.

BROKER
An individual in the business of assisting, arranging, funding or negotiating loans for a client, but does not loan the money himself.

BUY-DOWN
When the lender and/or the home builder subsidizes 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.

C

 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.

D

 DEED OF TRUST
Document used in many states to secure the payment of a note.

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

DEFERRED INTEREST
See NEGATIVE AMORTIZATION.

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

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Independent agency of the federal government which guarantees long-term, low or no-down payment loans to eligible veterans.

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.

E

 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.

F

 FHA LOAN
Loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration open to qualified home purchasers. While limited in size, they are generous enough to handle moderate-priced homes almost anywhere in the country.

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.

G

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

H

 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.

I

 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.

J

 JUMBO LOAN
Loan which is larger than the limits ($214,600) set by FNMA and FHLMC. Because jumbo loans cannot be funded by these agencies, they usually carry a higher interest rate.

K

L

 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.

M

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

MORTGAGE INSURANCE
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.

N

 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.

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

NON-ASSUMPTION CLAUSE
Statement in a loan contract forbidding the assumption of the loan without the prior approval of the lender.

O

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

P

 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.

R

 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.

RENEGOTIABLE RATE MORTGAGE (RRM)
A loan in which the interest rate is adjusted periodically. See adjustable rate mortgage.

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 ANNUITY MORTGAGE (RAM)
A Mortgage in which the lender makes periodic payments to the borrower using the borrower's equity in the home as security.

S

 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.

SHARED APPRECIATION MORTGAGE (SAM)
Borrower receives a below-market interest rate and the lender (or another investor) receives a portion of the future appreciation of the property.

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.

T

 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.

TWO-STEP MORTGAGE
Mortgage in which the borrower receives a below-market interest rate for a specified number of years (usually 5 or 7 years), and then a new interest rate adjusted (within limits) to market conditions at that time.

U

 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.

V

 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.

W

 WRAPAROUND
When an existing assumable loan is combined with a new loan, resulting in an interest rate somewhere between the old rate and the current market rate. The payments are made to a second lender or the previous homeowner, who then forwards the payments to the first lender after taking the additional amount off the top.