Acceleration
The right of the mortgagee (lender) to demand the immediate repayment of the mortgage loan balance upon the default of the mortgagor (borrower), or by using the right vested in the Due-on-Sale Clause.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)
Is a mortgage in which the interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a pre-selected index. Also sometimes known as the re negotiable rate mortgage, the variable rate mortgage or the Canadian rollover mortgage.

Adjustment Interval
On an adjustable rate mortgage, the time between changes in the interest rate and/or monthly payment, typically one, three or five years, depending on the index.

Amortization
A loan repayment schedule that shows the principal and interest payment portion of each mortgage payment, and the effect that it has on debt reduction.

Annual Percentage Rate (A.P.R.)
Is an interest rate reflecting the cost of a mortgage as a yearly rate. This rate is likely to be higher than the stated note rate, because it takes into account points and other credit costs.

Appraisal
An estimate of the value of property, made by a qualified professional called an "appraiser".

Assessment
A local tax levied against a property for a specific purpose, such as a sewer or street lights.

Assumption
The agreement between buyer and seller where the buyer takes over the payments on an existing mortgage from the seller.

Balloon (payment) Mortgage
Usually a short-term fixed-rate loan which involves a set interest rate for a certain period of time (usually 5 or 7 years), and one large payment for the remaining amount of the principal at the conclusion of that time frame (may be able to convert or refinance).

Blanket Mortgage
A mortgage covering at least two pieces of real estate as security for the same mortgage.

Borrower
One who applies for and receives a loan in the form of a mortgage, with the intention of repaying the loan in full.

Broker
An individual in the business of assisting in arranging funding or negotiating contracts for a client buyer. Brokers usually charge a fee or receive a commission for their services.

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.

Cash Flow
The amount of cash derived over a certain period of time from an income-producing property. The cash flow should be large enough to pay the expenses of the income producing property (mortgage payment, maintenance, utilities, etc.)

Caps (interest)
Consumer safeguards which limit the amount the interest rate on an adjustable rate mortgage may change per year and/or the life of the loan.

Caps (payment)
Consumer safeguards which limit the amount monthly payments on an adjustable rate mortgage may change.

Certificate of Eligibility
The document given to qualified veterans which entitles them to VA guaranteed loans for homes, business, and mobile homes. Certificates of Eligibility may be obtained by sending DD-214 (Separation Paper) to the local VA office, with VA form 1880 (request for Certificate of Eligibility).

Certificate of Reasonable Value
An appraisal issued by the Veterans Administration showing the property's current market value.

Certificate of Veteran Status
The document given to veterans or reservists who have served for the minimum days of continuous active duty, that is specified by the current guidelines (including training time). It may be obtained by sending DD 214 to the local VA office, with form 26-8261.

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
Closing costs usually include an origination fee, discount points, appraisal fee, title search and insurance, survey, 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
A short term interim loan to pay for the construction of buildings or homes. These are usually designed to provide periodic disbursements to the builder as work progresses.

Contract Sale or Deed:
A contract between purchaser and a seller of real estate to convey title after certain conditions have been met. It is a form of installment sale.

Conventional Loan
A mortgage not insured by FHA, or guaranteed by the VA.

Credit Report
A report documenting the credit history and current status of a borrower's credit standing.

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 gross monthly income (See housing expenses-to-income ratio).

Deed of Trust
In many states, this document is used in place of a mortgage to secure the payment of a note.

Default
Failure to meet legal obligations in a contract, specifically, failure to make the monthly payments on a mortgage.

Delinquency
Failure to make payments on time. This can lead to foreclosure.

Department of Veterans Affairs
An independent agency of the federal government which guarantees long-term, low-or no-down payment mortgages to eligible veterans.

Discount Point
See Point

Down Payment
The difference between the purchase price and the mortgage amount (paid by buyer).

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.

Earnest Money
Money given up front by a buyer to a seller as part of the purchase price, to bind a transaction or assure payment.

Entitlement
The VA home loan benefit is called entitlement. This is also known as eligibility.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Is 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
The difference between the fair market value and current indebtedness, also referred to as the owner's interest. The value an owner has in real estate over and above the obligation against the property.

Escrow
An account held by the lender into which the home buyer pays money for tax or insurance payments. Also, earnest deposits held pending loan closing.

Fannie Mae
Federal National Mortgage Association

Farmers Home Administration (FmHA)
Provides financing to farmers and other qualified borrowers.

Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB)
The former name for the regulatory and supervisory agency for federally chartered savings institutions. Agency is now called the Office of Thrift Supervision.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) also called "Freddie Mac"
Is a quasi-governmental agency that purchases conventional mortgages from insured depository institutions and HUD-approved mortgage bankers.

Federal Housing Administration
A division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its main activity is the insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. FHA also sets standards for underwriting mortgages.

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) also know as "Fannie Mae"
A tax-paying corporation created by Congress that purchases and sells conventional residential mortgages, as well as those insured by FHA or guaranteed by VA. This institution, which provides funds for one in seven mortgages, makes mortgage money more available and more affordable.

FHA Loan
A loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration open to all qualified home purchasers. While there are limits to the size of FHA loans (loan amount varies by region), they are generous enough to handle moderately-priced homes almost anywhere in the country.

FHA Mortgage Insurance
Requires a fee (up to 2.25 percent of the loan amount) paid at closing to insure the loan with FHA. In addition, FHA mortgage insurance requires an annual fee of up to 0.5 percent of the current loan amount, paid in monthly installments. The lower the down payment, the more years the fee must be paid.

FHLMC
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation provides a secondary market for savings and loans by purchasing their conventional loans. Also known as "Freddie Mac."

Fixed Rate Mortgage
The mortgage interest rate will remain the same on these mortgages throughout the term of the mortgage for the original borrower.

FNMA
The Federal National Mortgage Association is a secondary mortgage institution which is the largest single holder of home mortgages in the United States. FNMA buys VA, FHA, and conventional mortgages from primary lenders. Also known as "Fannie Mae."

Foreclosure
A legal process by which the lender or the seller forces a sale of a mortgaged property because the borrower has not met the terms of the mortgage. Also known as a repossession of property.

Freddie Mac
See Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

Hazard Insurance
A form of insurance in which the insurance company protects the insured from specified losses, such as fire, windstorm and the like.

Home Equity Loan
A home mortgage based on the equity in your home. Often Home Equity Loans are 2nd mortgages.

Homeowners Insurance
A multiple peril insurance policy which covers the dwelling and its contents, as well as personal liability.

Housing Expenses-to-Income Ratio
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, which results when a borrower's housing expenses are divided by his/her gross monthly income. See debt-to-income ratio.

Impound
That portion of a borrower's monthly payments held by the lender or servicer to pay for taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, lease payments, and other items as they become due (also known as reserves).

Index
A published interest rate against which lenders measure the difference between the current interest rate on an adjustable rate mortgage and that earned by other investments (such as one- three-, and five-year U.S. Treasury security yields, the monthly average interest rate on loans closed by savings and loan institutions, and the monthly average costs-of-funds incurred by savings and loans), which is then used to adjust the interest rate on an adjustable mortgage up or down.

Interim Financing
A construction loam made during completion of a building or a project. A permanent loan usually replaces this loan after completion.

Investor
A money source for a lender.

Jumbo Loan
A loan which is larger than the limits set by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Because jumbo loans cannot be funded by these two agencies, they usually carry a higher interest rate.

Lenders Title Insurance
Protects the financial interests of a properties lender from title defects that have already occurred, but are not known about at the time of closing.

Lien
A claim upon a piece of property for the payment or satisfaction of a debt or obligation.

Loan-to-Value Ratio
The relationship between the amount of the mortgage loan and the purchase price or appraised value (whichever is lower) of the property, expressed as a percentage.

Margin
The amount a lender adds to the index on an adjustable rate mortgage to establish the adjusted interest rate.

Market Value
The highest price that a buyer would pay and the lowest price a seller would accept on a property. Market value may be different from the price a property could actually be sold for at a given time.

MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium)
It is insurance from FHA to the lender against incurring a loss on account of the borrower's default (see FHA Mortgage Insurance).

Mortgage Insurance
Money paid to insure the mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent. See Private Mortgage Insurance, FHA Mortgage Insurance.

Mortgagee
The lender

Mortgagor
The borrower or homeowner

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. The danger of negative amortization is that the home buyer ends up owing more than the original amount of the loan.

Non Assumption Clause
A statement in a mortgage contract forbidding the assumption of the mortgage without the prior approval of the lender.

Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
The regulatory and supervisory agency for federally chartered savings institutions. Formally known as Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

Origination Fee
The fee charged by a lender to prepare loan documents, process, underwrite, make credit checks, inspect and sometimes appraise a property (lenders profit is also included).

Owners Title Insurance
Protects the financial interests of property owners should any title defects come to light after the property is closed. This policy is for events that have already happened, such as a forged deed somewhere in the chain of title (that is not known about at closing).

Permanent Loan
A long term mortgage, usually ten years or more. Also called an "end loan."

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 (e.g., two points on a $100,000 mortgage would cost $2,000).

Power of Attorney
A legal document authorizing one person to act on behalf of another.

Prepaid Expenses
Necessary to create an escrow account or to adjust the seller's existing escrow account. Can include taxes, hazard insurance, private mortgage insurance and special assessments.

Prepayment
A privilege in a mortgage permitting the borrower to make payments in advance of their due date.

Prepayment Penalty
Money charged for an early repayment of debt. Prepayment penalties are allowed in some form (but not necessarily imposed) in many states.

Principal
The amount of debt, not counting interest, left on a loan.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
In the event that you do not have a 20 percent down payment, lenders will allow a smaller down payment. With the smaller down payment loans, however, borrowers are usually required to carry private mortgage insurance. This insurance protects the lender against financial loss, should a borrower default on their mortgage.

Realtor
A real estate broker or an associate holding active membership in a local real estate board affiliated with the National Association of Realtors.

Recision
The cancellation of a contract. With respect to mortgage refinancing, the law that gives the homeowner three days to cancel a contract in some cases once it is signed, if the transaction uses equity in the home as security.

Recording Fees
Money paid to the lender for recording a home sale with the local authorities, thereby making it part of the public records.

Refinance
Obtaining a new mortgage loan on a property already owned. Often to replace existing loans on the property.

RESPA
Short for the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. RESPA is a federal law, which in part allows consumers to review information on known or estimated settlement costs, once after application and once prior to or at a settlement.

Second Mortgage
A mortgage made subsequent to another mortgage and subordinate to the first one.

Secondary Mortgage Market
The place where primary mortgage lenders sell the mortgages they make to obtain more funds to originate more new loans. It provides liquidity for the lenders.

Servicing
All the steps and operations a lender performs to keep a loan in good standing, such as collection of payments, payment of taxes, insurance, property inspections and the like.

Settlement / Settlement Costs
See Closing / Closing Costs

Simple Interest
Interest which is computed only on the principle balance.

Survey
A measurement of land, prepared by a registered land surveyor, showing the location of the land with reference to known points, its dimensions, and the location and dimensions of any buildings.

Sweat Equity
Equity created by a purchaser performing work on a property being purchased.

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 home buyer against errors in the title search (Owners Title Insurance). The cost of the policy is usually a function of the value of the property, and is often borne by the purchaser and/or seller. Policies are also available to protect the lender's interests (Lenders Title Insurance).

Title Search
An examination of municipal 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 home buyers shortly after they apply for the loan. Also known as Regulation Z.

Two-Step Mortgage
A mortgage in which the borrower receives a below-market interest rate for a specified number of years, and then receives a new interest rate adjusted (within certain limits) to market conditions at that time. The lender sometimes has the option to call the loan due with 30 days notice at the end of the initial period.

Underwriting
The analysis of the risk involved in making a loan to a potential home buyer based on credit, employment, assets, and other factors; and the matching of this risk to an appropriate rate and term or loan amount.

USURY
Interest charged in excess of the legal rate established by law.

VA Loan
A long-term, low-or no-down payment loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Restricted to individuals qualified by military service or other entitlements.

VA Mortgage Funding Fee
A premium paid at closing on a VA-backed loan.

Variable Rate Mortgage (VRM)
See Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Verification of Deposit (VOD)
A document signed by the borrower's financial institution verifying the status and balance of his/her financial accounts.

Verification of Employment (VOE)
A document signed by the borrower's employer verifying his/her position and salary.

Wraparound Mortgage
Results 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 their share.