Adjustable Rate: An interest rate that changes periodically according to an index. (ARM)
Amortization: A repayment schedule detailing how payments are applied to principal and interest.
Appraisal: A written report of a property’s current market value, based on recent sales information for similar properties, the current condition of the property, and how the neighborhood might affect future property value.
Closing Costs: Fees incurred in a real estate or mortgage transaction and paid by a borrower and/or seller during the mortgage loan closing. These typically include a loan origination fee, discount points, attorney’s fees, title insurance, appraisal, survey and any items that must be prepaid such as taxes and insurance escrow payments. The cost of closing is usually about 2-5% of the mortgage amount. Closing costs may vary based on property location.
Closing (or Settlement): Meeting between the buyer, seller, and the lender or their agents, at which the property and funds legally change hands.
Convertible ARMs: ARMs with the option of conversion during a fixed rate loan during a given time period.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: The ratio, expressed as a percentage, that results when a borrower’s monthly payment obligation on long-term debts is divided by gross monthly income.
Down Payment: Money paid for a house by the home buyer toward the purchaser price. The down payment will be the difference between the purchase price and mortgage amount.
Equity: Value of ownership built in a home or property that represents the current market value, less any remaining mortgage balance(s).
Escrow: The neutral third party that holds money and/or documents until the escrow instructions are fulfilled. Escrow can be a title company or attorney, depending on state regulations.
Fixed-Rate Mortgage: A mortgage with an interest rate that doesn’t change for the life of the loan, guaranteeing fixed payments.
Grace Period: Period of time which a loan payment made be made after its due date without incurring a late penalty.
Home Equity Loan: A loan secured by equity in the property. These are sought for a variety of purposes, including home improvements, major purchases or expenses, and debt consolidation.
Index: A published rate used by lenders to calculate interest adjustments on ARMs (index + margin = interest rate). Some indexes are more volatile than others.
Interest Rate: The periodic charge, expressed as a percentage, for use of credit.
Lien: A claim against the property by the bank or lender to secure repayment of the debt, usually in the form of a mortgage.
Loan Origination Fee: A fee a lender charges to process a mortgage, usually expressed as a percentage of the loan (or points), which pays for the work of evaluating and processing the loan.
Lock or Lock-In: A lender’s guarantee of an interest rate for a set period of time, usually between loan application and loan closing. This protects borrowers from rate increases during that time.
MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium): Insurance required on an FHA mortgage to protect the lender in the event of a default.
Mortgage: A document that creates a lien on a property as security for the payment of the debt.
PreQualification: The process of determining how much money a prospective home buyer may borrow, prior to application of the loan.
Principal: The amount of debt, not counting interest, on a loan.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Insurance purchased by the buyer on a conventional loan when a down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price to protect the lender from default.
Refinancing: The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds of a new loan secured by the same property.
Term: The number of years until a loan is due to be paid in full.
Title/Deed: A document that gives evidence of ownership of a property, as well as right of ownership and possession.
Underwriting: The process of verifying data and evaluating a loan application. The underwriter gives the final loan decision.
