Glossary
of Real Estate and Mortgage Terms
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): A
mortgage with an interest rate that changes over time in line with movements in the index.
ARMs are also referred to as AMLs (adjustable mortgage loans) or VRMs (variable rate
mortgages).
Adjusted Basis: A measure used as a starting point for determining a
gain or loss on the sale of property. Certain capital expenditures, depreciation, etc. An
increase or decrease your basis.
Adjustment Period: The length of time between interest rate changes on
an ARM. For example, a loan with an adjustment period of one year is called a one-year
ARM, which means that the interest rate an change one a year.
Agreement for Sale: A written document in which the purchaser agrees to
buy certain real estate and the seller agrees to sell under stated terms and conditions.
Amortization: Repayment of a loan in equal installments of principal
and interest, rather than interest-only payments.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The total finance charge (interest, loan
fees, points) expressed as a percentage of the loan amount.
Appreciation: An increase in value of property.
Assumption of Mortgage: A buyer's agreement to assume the liability
under an existing note that is secured by a mortgage or deed of trust. The lender must
approve the buyer in order to release the original borrower (usually the seller) from
liability.
Balloon Payment: A lump sum principal payment due at the end of some
mortgages or other long-term loans.
Basis: Usually the cost of an asset. In the case of property, it
's the cost
including debt obligations and some taxes.
Binder: Sometimes known as an offer to purchase or an earnest money
receipt. A binder is the acknowledgment of a deposit along with a brief written agreement
to enter into a contract for the sale of real estate.
cap: The limit on how much an interest rate or monthly payment an
change, either at each adjustment or over the life of the mortgage.
capitalize: To add an expense to a property
's basis rather than
take as an itemized deduction.
casualty Loss: A loss from theft, fire, storm, shipwreck, or other
similar and unexpected occurrence.
&R's: covenants, conditions and restrictions. A document that
controls the use, requirements and restrictions of a property.
certificate of Reasonable Value (RV): A document that establishes the
maximum value and loan amount for a VA guaranteed mortgage.
clear Title: A title that is free of liens or legal questions as to
ownership of property.
closing: The conclusion or consummation of a real estate transaction.
This includes the delivery of deed financial adjustments, the signing of notes and the
disbursement of funds necessary to the sale or loan transaction.
closing Statement: The financial disclosure statement that accounts for
all of the funds received and expected at the losing, including deposits for taxes, hazard
insurance, and mortgage insurance.
condominium: A form of real estate ownership where the owner receives
title to a particular unit and has a proportionate interest in certain common areas. The
unit itself is generally a separately owned space whose interior surfaces (walls, floors
and ceilings) serve as its boundaries.
contingency: A condition that must be satisfied before a contract is
binding. For instance, a sales agreement may be contingent upon the buyer obtaining
financing.
conversion clause: A provision in some ARMs that enables you to change
an ARM to a fixed-rate loan, usually after the first adjustment period. The new fixed rate
is generally set at the prevailing interest rate for fixed-rate mortgages. This conversion
feature may cost extra.
cooperative: A form of multiple ownership in which a corporation or
business trust entity holds title to a property and grants occupancy rights to
shareholders by means of proprietary leases or similar arrangements.
Deed: The legal document conveying title to a property.
Depreciation: A deductible expense for wear and tear of tangible
property that has a useful life of more than one year and is used for business or
income-producing purposes.
Due-On-Sale clause:
An acceleration clause that requires full payment of a mortgage or deed
of trust when the secured property changes ownership.
Earnest Money: The portion of the down payment delivered to the seller
or escrow agent by the purchaser with a written offer as evidence of good faith.
Equity: The difference between fair market value and current
indebtedness, usually referred to as the owner
interest.
Escrow: A procedure in which a third party acts as a stakeholder for
both the buyer and the seller, carrying out both parties' instructions and assumes
responsibility for handling all of the paperwork and distribution of funds.
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.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA): A division of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development that insures residential mortgage loans made by private
lenders.
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA): Popularly known as Fannie
Mae. A privately owned corporation created by congress to support the secondary mortgage
market. It purchases and sells residential mortgages insured by FHA or guaranteed by the
VA, as well as conventional home mortgages.
Fee Simple: An estate in which the owner has unrestricted power to
dispose of the property as he wishes, including leaving by will or inheritance. It is the
greatest interest a person an have in real estate.
Finance charge: The total cost a borrower must pay, directly or
indirectly, to obtain credit according to Regulation Z.
Graduated Payment Mortgage: A residential mortgage with monthly
payments that start at a low level and increase at a predetermined rate.
Home Inspection Report: A qualified inspector's report on a property's
overall ocndition. The report usually includes an evaluation of both the structure and
mechanical systems.
Home Warranty Plan: Protection against failure of mechanical systems
within the property. Usually includes plumbing, electrical, heating systems and installed
appliances.
HUD-1: A two-page financial disclosure statement detailing the losing
costs of a home purchase.
Index: A measure of interest rate changes used to determine changes in
an ARM's interest rate over the term of the loan.
Itemized Deductions: Expenses that you claim on your individual tax
return and that are subtracted from your adjusted gross income.
Joint Tenancy: An equal undivided ownership of property by two or more
persons. Upon the death of any owner, the survivors take the decedent's interest in the
property.
Lease: A written document containing the conditions under which the
possession and use of real property are given by the owner to another for a stated period
and for a stated consideration.
Lien: A legal hold or claim on property as security for a debt or
charge.
Loan commitment: A written promise to make a loan for a specified
amount on specified terms.
Loan-To-Value Ratio:
The relationship between the amount of the mortgage and the appraised
value of the property, expressed as a percentage of the appraised value.
Margin: The number of percentage points the lender adds to the index
rate to aculeate the ARM interest rate at each adjustment.
Mortgage Life Insurance: A type of term life insurance often bought by
mortgagors. The overage decreases as the mortgage balance declines. If the borrower dies
while the policy is in fore, the debt is automatically covered by insurance proceeds.
Negative Amortization: Negative amortization ours when monthly payments
fail to over the interest cost. The interest that isn't covered is added to the unpaid
principal balance, which means that even after several payments you could owe more than
you did at the beginning of the loan. Negative amortization an our when an ARM has a
payment ap that results in monthly payments that aren't high enough to over the interest.
Origination Fee: A fee or charge for work involved in evaluating,
preparing, and submitting a proposed mortgage loan. The fee is limited to 1 percent for
FHA and VA loans.
Planned Unit Development (PUD): A zoning designation for property
developed at the same or slightly greater overall density than conventional development,
sometimes with improvements clustered between open, common areas. Uses may be residential,
commercial or industrial.
Point: An amount equal to 1 percent of the principal amount of the
investment or note. The lender assesses loan discount points at losing to increase the
yield on the mortgage to a position competitive with other types of investments.
Prepayment: Paying extra payments (or paying entire balance) to pay
your mortgage off early; it is important to ask your lender if there is a prepayment
penalty.
Prepayment Penalty: A fee charged to a mortgagor who pays a loan before
it is due. Not allowed for FHA or VA loans.
Primary Financing: A loan secured by a first mortgage for trust deed on
real property.
Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance (PITI): The principal and
interest payment on most loans is fixed for the term of the loan; the tax and insurance
portion may be adjusted to reflect changes in taxes or insurance costs.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Insurance written by a private
company protecting the lender against loss if the borrower defaults on the mortgage.
Purchase Agreement: A written document in which the purchaser agrees to
buy certain real estate and the seller agrees to sell under stated terms and conditions.
Also called a sales contract, earnest money contract, or agreement for sale.
Rate Lock-in: The ability to lock-in the interest rate at today
return.
Tenancy in common: A type of joint ownership of property by two or more
persons with no right of survivorship.
Title: A legal document evidencing a persons right to or ownership of a
property.
Title Insurance Policy: A policy that protects the purchaser, mortgagee
or other party against losses.
Truth-in-Lending: A federal law that requires lenders to fully
disclose, in writing, the terms and conditions of a mortgage, including the Annual
Percentage Rate (APR) and other harges.
Veterans Administration (VA): An independent agency of the federal
government. (The VA home loan guarantee program is designed to encourage lenders to offer
long-term, low down payment mortgages to eligible veterans by guaranteeing the lender
against loss.)
Wrap-around/All-Inclusive Trust Deed: A mortgage which secures a debt
which includes the balance due on an additional amount advanced by the wrap-around
mortgagee. The wrap-around mortgagee then makes the payments on the senior mortgage.
