Real Estate Lingo

ACCEPTANCE
An offeree’s consent to enter into a contract and be bound by the terms of the offer.

ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE (ARM)
A mortgage that permits the lender to adjust its interest rate periodically on the basis of changes in a specified index.

AFFIDAVITS
A formal sworn statement of fact. As part of the closing process, you’re likely to sign numerous affidavits. You may be required, for example, to sign an affidavit of occupancy. It states that you will use the property as a principal residence. Or, you and the seller may have to sign an affidavit stating all of the improvements to the property required in the sales contract were completed before closing.
Your lender can provide additional information regarding any of these documents you will sign.

AFFORDABILITY ANALYSIS
A detailed analysis of your ability to afford the purchase of a home. An affordability analysis takes into consideration your income, liabilities, and available funds, along with the type of mortgage you plan to use, the area where you want to purchase a home, and the closing costs that you might expect to pay.

AMENITY
A feature of real property that enhances its attractiveness and increases the occupant’s or user’s satisfaction although the feature is not essential to the property’s use. Natural amenities include a pleasant or desirable location near water, scenic views of the surrounding area, etc. Human-made amenities include swimming pools, tennis courts, community buildings, and other recreational facilities.

AMORTIZATION
The gradual repayment of a mortgage loan by installments.

ANNUITY
An amount paid yearly or at other regular intervals, often on a guaranteed dollar basis.

APPRAISAL
A written analysis of the estimated value of a property prepared by a qualified appraiser. Contrast with home inspection.

APPRECIATION
An increase in the value of a property due to changes in market conditions or other causes. The opposite of depreciation.

ASSESSMENT
The process of placing a value on property for the strict purpose of taxation. May also refer to a levy against property for a special purpose, such as a sewer assessment.

ASSET
Anything of monetary value that is owned by a person. Assets include real property, personal property, and enforceable claims against others (including bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, and so on).

ASSUMPTION CLAUSE
A provision in an assumable mortgage that allows a buyer to assume responsibility for the mortgage from the seller. The loan does not need to be paid in full by the original borrower upon sale or transfer of the property.

BALLOON MORTGAGE
A mortgage that has level monthly payments that will amortize it over a stated term but that provides for a lump sum payment to be due at the end of an earlier specified term.

BINDER
A preliminary agreement, secured by the payment of an earnest money deposit, under which a buyer offers to purchase real estate.

BRIDGE LOAN
A form of second trust that is collateralized by the borrower’s present home (which is usually for sale) in a manner that allows the proceeds to be used for closing on a new house before the present home is sold. Also known as “swing loan.”

BROKER
A person who, for a commission or a fee, brings parties together and assists in negotiating contracts between them.

BUYDOWN MORTGAGE
A temporary buydown is a mortgage on which an initial lump sum payment is made by any party to reduce a borrower’s monthly payments during the first few years of a mortgage. A permanent buydown reduces the interest rate over the entire life of a mortgage.

CALL OPTION
A provision in the mortgage that gives the mortgagee the right to call the mortgage due and payable at the end of a specified period for whatever reason.

CAP
A provision of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that limits how much the interest rate or mortgage payments may increase or decrease.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Any structure or component erected as a permanent improvement to real property that adds to its value and useful life.

CERTIFICATE OF ELEGIBILITY
A document issued by the federal government certifying a veteran’s eligibility for a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage.

CERTIFICATE OF REASONABLE VALUE (CRV)
A document issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that establishes the maximum value and loan amount for a VA mortgage.

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE
A statement provided by an abstract company, title company, or attorney stating that the title to real estate is legally held by the current owner.

CHAIN OF TITLE
The history of all of the documents that transfer title to a parcel of real property, starting with the earliest existing document and ending with the most recent.

CHANGE FREQUENCY
The frequency (in months) of payment and/or interest rate changes in an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM).

CLEAR TITLE
A title that is free of liens or legal questions as to ownership of the property.

CLOSING
A meeting at which a sale of a property is finalized by the buyer signing the mortgage documents and paying closing costs. Also called “settlement”.

CLOSING COSTS
Expenses (over and above the price of the property) incurred by buyers and sellers in transferring ownership of a property. Closing costs normally include an origination fee, an attorney’s fee, taxes, an amount placed in escrow, and charges for obtaining title insurance and a survey. Closing costs percentage will vary according to the area of the country; lenders or REALTORS® often provide estimates of closing costs to prospective homebuyers.

CLOUD ON TITLE
Any conditions revealed by a title search that adversely affect the title to real estate. Usually clouds on title cannot be removed except by a quitclaim deed, release, or court action.

COMMISSION
The fee charged by a broker or agent for negotiating a real estate or loan transaction. A commission is generally a percentage of the price of the property or loan.

COMMON AREA ASSESSMENTS
Levies against individual unit owners in a condominium or planned unit development (PUD) project for additional capital to defray homeowners’ association costs and expenses and to repair, replace, maintain, improve, or operate the common areas of the project.

COMMON AREAS
Those portions of a building, land, and amenities owned (or managed) by a planned unit development (PUD) or condominium project’s homeowners’ association (or a cooperative project’s cooperative corporation) that are used by all of the unit owners, who share in the common expenses of their operation and maintenance. Common areas include swimming pools, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities, as well as common corridors of buildings, parking areas, means of ingress and egress, etc.

COMPARABLES
An abbreviation for “comparable properties”; used for comparative purposes in the appraisal process. Comparables are properties like the property under consideration; they have reasonably the same size, location, and amenities and have recently been sold. Comparables help the appraiser determine the approximate fair market value of the subject property.

COMPOUND INTEREST
Interest paid on the original principal balance and on the accrued and unpaid interest.

CONTINGENCY
A condition that must be met before a contract is legally binding. For example, home purchasers often include a contingency that specifies that the contract is not binding until the purchaser obtains a satisfactory home inspection report from a qualified home inspector.

CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE
A mortgage that is not insured or guaranteed by the federal government. Contrast with government mortgage.

CONVERTIBILITY CLAUSE
A provision in some adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) that allows the borrower to change the ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage at specified timeframes after loan origination.

COVENANT
A clause in a mortgage that obligates or restricts the borrower and that, if violated, can result in foreclosure.

CREDIT SCORING
Your credit score is based on all the information in your credit report. This information is converted into a number - a credit score - that the lender uses to determine whether you are likely to repay your loan in a timely manner. The scores used in mortgage lending are typically in the 300 to 900 range. A general guide is that the higher your score the better. But you should keep in mind that your credit score is just one of several factors that will be used to evaluate your mortgage loan application.

DEED
The legal document conveying title to a property.
The deed is the document that transfers ownership from the seller to you. Only the seller signs the deed at closing, and you’ll receive a copy of it.
The closing agent will record the deed with you listed as the new property owner. Your name and the names of any other buyers appear on the deed, and it will be sent to you after it is recorded.

DEFAULT
Failure to make mortgage payments on a timely basis or to comply with other requirements of a mortgage.

DEPOSIT
A sum of money given to bind the sale of real estate, or a sum of money given to ensure payment or an advance of funds in the processing of a loan.

DEPRECIATION
A decline in the value of property; the opposite of appreciation.

DISCOUNT POINTS
Discount points are often used to describe a type of fee that lenders charge. Discount points are additional funds you pay the lender at closing to get a lower interest rate on your mortgage.
A point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. So, if you and your lender agree to a mortgage of $100,000, one point would equal $1,000.
Typically, each point you pay for a 30-year loan lowers your interest rate by .125 of a percentage point. If the current interest rate on a 30-year mortgage is 7.75 percent, paying one point would lower the interest rate to 7.625.
Ask your lender if you have the option of paying 1, 2, or 3 discount points - or you can choose not to pay any discount points. It often makes more sense to pay discount points if you plan to stay in your home for a long time.

DOM
Day on market. The number of days that a property has been listed on the market.

DOWN PAYMENT
The part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a mortgage.

DUE-ON-SALE PROVISION
A provision in a mortgage that allows the lender to demand repayment in full if the borrower sells the property that serves as security for the mortgage.

EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT
A deposit made by the potential home buyer to show that he or she is serious about buying the house.
The earnest money deposit is a “good-faith” payment you submit with your offer on a home to show the seller you are serious about proceeding.
The earnest money is deposited in an escrow account and will be applied to your closing costs.
Sometimes, your lender will want you to bring a receipt for the earnest money deposit along with your sales contract to the initial loan application meeting.

EASEMENT
A right of way giving persons other than the owner access to or over a property.

EFFECTIVE AGE
An appraiser’s estimate of the physical condition of a building. The actual age of a building may be shorter or longer than its effective age.

EFFECTIVE GROSS INCOME
Normal annual income including overtime that is regular or guaranteed. The income may be from more than one source. Salary is generally the principal source, but other income may qualify if it is significant and stable.

EMINENT DOMAIN
The right of a government to take private property for public use upon payment of its fair market value. Eminent domain is the basis for condemnation proceedings.

ENCUMBRANCE
Anything that affects or limits the fee simple title to a property, such as mortgages, leases, easements, or restrictions.

EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT (ECOA)
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
A homeowner’s financial interest in a property. Equity is the difference between the fair market value of the property and the amount still owed on its mortgage.

ESCROW
An item of value, money, or documents deposited with a third party to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition. For example, the deposit by a borrower with the lender of funds to pay taxes and insurance premiums when they become due, or the deposit of funds or documents with an attorney or escrow agent to be disbursed upon the closing of a sale of real estate.

ESCROW DISBURSEMENTS
The use of escrow funds to pay real estate taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, and other property expenses as they become due.

EXAMINATION OF TITLE
The report on the title of a property from the public records or an abstract of the title.

FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT
A consumer protection law that regulates the disclosure of consumer credit reports by consumer/credit reporting agencies and establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on one’s credit record.

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.

FANNIE MAE (FNMA)
A New York Stock Exchange company and the largest non-bank financial services company in the world. It operates pursuant to a federal charter and is the nation’s largest source of financing for home mortgages.

FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION (FHA)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its main activity is the insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. The FHA sets standards for construction and underwriting but does not lend money or plan or construct housing.

FHA LOANS
With FHA insurance, you can purchase a home with a low down payment from 3 percent to 5 percent of the FHA appraised value or the purchase price, whichever is lower.
FHA mortgages have a maximum loan limit that varies depending on the average cost of housing in a given region. In general, the loan limit is less than what is available with a conventional mortgage through a lender.

FINAL WALK-THROUGH INSPECTION
Your sales contract should include a clause that allows you to examine the property you want to purchase within the 24 hours before closing.
This walk-through, during which you will be accompanied by the real estate sales professional, is your chance to ensure that the seller has vacated the house and left behind whatever property was agreed upon.

FIXED INSTALLMENT
The monthly payment due on a mortgage loan. The fixed installment includes payment of both principal and interest.

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE
A mortgage in which the interest rate does not change during the entire term of the loan.

FIXTURE
Personal property that becomes real property when attached in a permanent manner to real estate.

FLOOD INSURANCE
Insurance that compensates for physical property damage resulting from flooding. It is required for properties located in federally designated flood areas.

FORECLOSURE
The legal process by which a borrower in default under a mortgage is deprived of his or her interest in the mortgaged property. This usually involves a forced sale of the property at public auction with the proceeds of the sale being applied to the mortgage debt.

FORFEITURE
The loss of money, property, rights, or privileges due to a breach of legal obligation.

FSBO (For Sale by Owner)
For Sale By Owner, or FSBO, is the process of marketing, buying and selling of real estate without the representation of a real estate broker. FSBO can refer to both the individual selling the property “They are a FSBO,” or the property itself “that house is a FSBO.”

FULLY AMORTIZED ARM
An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with a monthly payment that is sufficient to amortize the remaining balance, at the interest accrual rate, over the amortization term.

GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE
The good-faith estimate is a report from your lender that outlines the costs you will incur to get your mortgage. It is based on the lender’s typical loan origination costs for the area where your home is located. The estimate usually changes between application and closing, so you’ll want to review your settlement form before the closing meeting.
The settlement form will list the actual amount of money you’ll need to bring to closing. You’ll need to pay your closing costs in the form of a certified or cashier’s check because personal checks usually are not accepted.

GOVERNMENT MORTGAGE
A mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Rural Housing Service (RHS). Contrast with conventional mortgage.

GROWING-EQUITY MORTGAGE (GEM)
A fixed-rate mortgage that provides scheduled payment increases over an established period of time, with the increased amount of the monthly payment applied directly toward reducing the remaining balance of the mortgage.

HOME EQUITY CONVERSTION MORTGAGE (HECM)
A special type of mortgage that enables older home owners to convert the equity they have in their homes into cash, using a variety of payment options to address their specific financial needs. Unlike traditional home equity loans, a borrower does not qualify on the basis of income but on the value of his or her home. In addition, the loan does not have to be repaid until the borrower no longer occupies the property. Sometimes called a reverse mortgage.
A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is a type of home loan that lets homeowners aged 62 or over with little or no remaining balance on their mortgage convert their equity into cash. The equity can be paid to the homeowner in a lump sum, in a stream of payments, draws from a line of credit, or a combination of monthly payments and line of credit.
Whatever payment plan you select, you do not have to repay any part of this reverse mortgage until you sell the home or vacate it for another reason. At that time, you pay the loan balance, plus any accrued interest. Any proceeds above that amount go to you or to your estate.

HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT
A mortgage loan, which is usually in a subordinate position, that allows the borrower to obtain multiple advances of the loan proceeds at his or her own discretion, up to an amount that represents a specified percentage of the borrower’s equity in a property.

HOME INSPECTION
A thorough inspection that evaluates the structural and mechanical condition of a property. A satisfactory home inspection is often included as a contingency by the purchaser. Contrast with appraisal.

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
A nonprofit association that manages the common areas of a planned unit development (PUD) or condominium project. In a condominium project, it has no ownership interest in the common elements. In a PUD project, it holds title to the common elements.

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
Homeowners insurance -- also called “hazard insurance” - should be equal to at least the replacement cost of the property you want to purchase. Replacement cost coverage ensures that your home will be fully rebuilt in case of a total loss.

HOMEOWNERS WARRANTY
A type of insurance that covers repairs to specified parts of a house for a specific period of time. It is provided by the builder or property seller as a condition of the sale.

HOMESTYLE CONSTRUCTION-TO-PERMENENT MORTGAGE
This mortgage gives you the financial power to build your own home - you can borrow money to build a home from the ground up or to finish building a home that’s currently under construction. This loan provides financing from the construction through the purchase phases of your new home.

HOMESTYLE MORTGAGE LOAN
A mortgage that enables eligible borrowers to obtain financing to remodel, repair, and upgrade their existing homes or homes that they are purchasing.

HOUSING EXPENSE RATIO
The percentage of gross monthly income that goes toward paying housing expenses.

HUD-1 STATEMENT
A document that provides an itemized listing of the funds that are payable at closing. Items that appear on the statement include real estate commissions, loan fees, points, and initial escrow amounts. Each item on the statement is represented by a separate number within a standardized numbering system. The totals at the bottom of the HUD-1 statement define the seller’s net proceeds and the buyer’s net payment at closing. The blank form for the statement is published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD-1 statement is also known as the “closing statement” or “settlement sheet.”

INDEX
A number used to compute the interest rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). The index is generally a published number or percentage, such as the average interest rate or yield on Treasury bills. A margin is added to the index to determine the interest rate that will be charged on the ARM. This interest rate is subject to any caps that are associated with the mortgage.

INITIAL INTEREST RATE
The original interest rate of the mortgage at the time of closing. This rate changes for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Sometimes known as “start rate” or “teaser.”

INSTALLMENT
The regular periodic payment that a borrower agrees to make to a lender.

INSURABLE TITLE
A property title that a title insurance company agrees to insure against defects and disputes.

INTEREST ACCRUAL RATE
The percentage rate at which interest accrues on the mortgage. In most cases, it is also the rate used to calculate the monthly payments, although it is not used for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with payment change limitations.

INTEREST RATE BUYDOWN PLAN
An arrangement wherein the property seller (or any other party) deposits money to an account so that it can be released each month to reduce the mortgagor’s monthly payments during the early years of a mortgage. During the specified period, the mortgagor’s effective interest rate is “bought down” below the actual interest rate.

INTEREST RATE CEILING
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the maximum interest rate, as specified in the mortgage note.

INTEREST RATE FLOOR
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the minimum interest rate, as specified in the mortgage note.

JUMBO LOAN
A loan that exceeds mortgage amount limits. Also called a nonconforming loan.

LEASE-PURCHASE OPTION
An alternative financing option that allows low- and moderate-income home buyers to lease a home from a nonprofit organization with an option to buy. Each month’s rent payment consists of principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) payments on the first mortgage plus an extra amount that is earmarked for deposit to a savings account in which money for a downpayment will accumulate.

LIEN
A legal claim against a property that must be paid off when the property is sold.

LIFETIME PAYMENT CAP
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), a limit on the amount that the interest rate can increase or decrease over the life of the mortgage.

LIFETIME RATE CAP
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), a limit on the amount that the interest rate can increase or decrease over the life of the loan.

LIS PENDENS
A publicly recorded notice of a pending lawsuit against a property owner that may affect the ownership of a property. Some states require lenders to file a lis pendens to begin the foreclosure process if a borrower is in default on loan payments.

LOAN ORIGINATION
The process by which a mortgage lender brings into existence a mortgage secured by real property.

LOAN ORIGINATION FEE
The loan origination fee covers the administrative costs of processing the loan. It is often expressed in points. One point is 1 percent of the mortgage amount.

LOAN-TO-VALUE (LTV) PERCENTAGE
The relationship between the principal balance of the mortgage and the appraised value (or sales price if it is lower) of the property. For example, a $100,000 home with an $80,000 mortgage has a LTV percentage of 80 percent.

LOCK-IN
A written agreement in which the lender guarantees a specified interest rate if a mortgage goes to closing within a set period of time. The lock-in also usually specifies the number of points to be paid at closing.

LOCK-IN PERIOD
The time period during which the lender has guaranteed an interest rate to a borrower.

MARGIN
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the amount that is added to the index to establish the interest rate on each adjustment date, subject to any limitations on the interest rate change.

MARKET VALUE
You can get a good feel for the market value of a home by asking whether the listing agent compiled a “comparative market analysis (CMA)”. This written report on the property examines comparable homes in the area that have recently been sold, are currently on the market, or are currently under contract.

MAXIMUM FINANCING
A mortgage amount that is within 5 percent of the highest loan-to-value (LTV) percentage allowed for a specific product. Thus, maximum financing on a fixed-rate mortgage would be 90 percent or higher, because 95 percent is the maximum allowable LTV percentage for that product.

MONTHLY FIXED INSTALLMENT
That portion of the total monthly payment that is applied toward principal and interest. When a mortgage negatively amortizes, the monthly fixed installment does not include any amount for principal reduction.

MORTGAGE
A legal document that pledges a property to the lender as security for payment of a debt.
Simply put, the mortgage is the legal document that gives the lender a legal claim against your house should you default on your loan payments. The mortgage indicates that a specific amount of money will be loaned at a specific interest rate so that you can buy your home. Another way of thinking of the mortgage is that you have possession of the property but the lender has ownership until you have repaid your loan.

NEGATIVE AMORTIZATION
A gradual increase in mortgage debt that occurs when the monthly payment is not large enough to cover the entire principal and interest due. The amount of the shortfall is added to the remaining balance to create “negative” amortization.

NO CASH-OUT REFINANCE
A refinance transaction in which the new mortgage amount is limited to the sum of the remaining balance of the existing first mortgage, closing costs (including prepaid items), points, the amount required to satisfy any mortgage liens that are more than one year old (if the borrower chooses to satisfy them), and other funds for the borrower’s use (as long as the amount does not exceed 1 percent of the principal amount of the new mortgage).

OCCUPANCY DATE
This provision is a good way to help ensure that your home will be ready for occupancy after the closing takes place. As part of your formal purchase offer, consider including a provision that holds the seller responsible for paying you rent should they not move out on or prior to the agreed-upon date. This allows you, for example, to use the money you receive to pay your own rent if you are leasing your current residence.

OFFER
When you make an offer on a house, it means you are making a formal bid to buy a home. You can work with your real estate sales professional to put together a written bid that abides by the laws in your state. Your offer should include such aspects as the address of the home, the sales price, the type of mortgage financing you will use to purchase the home, any personal property that might be included as part of the sale, and a target date for closing and occupancy. An earnest money deposit typically accompanies the offer. Your real estate sales professional can provide guidance on other elements of the offer.

ORIGINATION FEE
A fee paid to a lender for processing a loan application. The origination fee is stated in the form of points. One point is 1 percent of the mortgage amount.

OWNER FINANCING
A property purchase transaction in which the property seller provides all or part of the financing.

PARTIAL PAYMENT
A payment that is not sufficient to cover the scheduled monthly payment on a mortgage loan.

PERIODIC PAYMENT CAP
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), a limit on the amount that payments can increase or decrease during any one adjustment period.

PERIODIC RATE CAP
For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), a limit on the amount that the interest rate can increase or decrease during any one adjustment period, regardless of how high or low the index might be.

PERMITS
With most major home improvement projects, work permits may be required. Permits provide legal permission to undertake a project and are usually given by local governments agencies.

PITI
Principle, interests, taxes and insurance (PITI) are the four components of a monthly mortgage payment.

POINT
A one-time charge by the lender for originating a loan. A point is 1 percent of the amount of the mortgage.

PRE-APPROVAL
When you work with your lender to get pre-approved, you are getting an indication of how much money you will be eligible to borrow when you apply for a mortgage. This process occurs before you complete an application for a loan.

PRE-QUALIFICATION
The process of determining how much money a prospective home buyer will be eligible to borrow before he or she applies for a loan.

PREFORCLOSURE SALE
A procedure in which the investor allows a mortgagor to avoid foreclosure by selling the property for less than the amount that is owed to the investor.

PRELIMINARY REPORT
A preliminary report is a report prepared prior to issuing a policy of title insurance that shows the ownership of a specific parcel of land, together with the liens and encumbrances thereon which will not be covered under a subsequent title insurance policy.

PREPAYMENT
Any amount paid to reduce the principal balance of a loan before the due date. Payment in full on a mortgage that may result from a sale of the property, the owner’s decision to pay off the loan in full, or a foreclosure. In each case, prepayment means payment occurs before the loan has been fully amortized.

PREPAYMENT PENALTY
A fee that may be charged to a borrower who pays off a loan before it is due.

PRIME RATE
The interest rate that banks charge to their preferred customers. Changes in the prime rate influence changes in other rates, including mortgage interest rates.

PRINCIPAL
The amount borrowed or remaining unpaid. The part of the monthly payment that reduces the remaining balance of a mortgage.

PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI)
Also known as Mortgage Insurance, PMI is provided by a private mortgage insurance company to protect lenders against loss if a borrower defaults. Most lenders generally require PMI for a loan with a loan-to-value (LTV) percentage in excess of 80 percent.

QUALIFYING RATIOS
Calculations that are used in determining whether a borrower can qualify for a mortgage. They consist of two separate calculations: a housing expense as a percent of income ratio and total debt obligations as a percent of income ratio.

QUITCLAIM DEED
A deed that transfers without warranty whatever interest or title a grantor may have at the time the conveyance is made.

RADON
A radioactive gas found in some homes that in sufficient concentrations can cause health problems.

RATE CAPS
Lenders offer caps with their adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) so you can have more control over your monthly mortgage payment.

RATE LOCK
A commitment issued by a lender to a borrower or other mortgage originator guaranteeing a specified interest rate for a specified period of time.

RATE-IMPROVEMENT MORTGAGE
A fixed-rate mortgage that includes a provision that gives the borrower a one-time option to reduce the interest rate (without refinancing) during the early years of the mortgage term.

RATIFIED SALES CONTRACT
A ratified sales contract means both the buyer and the seller have signed off on the final offer. It also acts as a starting point for the loan application interview.

REAL ESTATE AGENT
A person licensed to negotiate and transact the sale of real estate on behalf of the property owner.

REAL PROPERTY
Land and appurtenances, including anything of a permanent nature such as structures, trees, minerals, and the interest, benefits, and inherent rights thereof.

REALTOR®
A real estate agent, broker or an associate who holds active membership in a local real estate board that is affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS®.

RECORDER
The public official who keeps records of transactions that affect real property in the area. Sometimes known as a “Registrar of Deeds” or “County Clerk.”

RECORDING
The noting in the registrar’s office of the details of a properly executed legal document, such as a deed, a mortgage note, a satisfaction of mortgage, or an extension of mortgage, thereby making it a part of the public record.

REFINANCE TRANSACTION
The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from a new loan using the same property as security.

REHABILITATION MORTGAGE
A mortgage created to cover the costs of repairing, improving, and sometimes acquiring an existing property.

RESCISSION
The cancellation or annulment of a transaction or contract by the operation of a law or by mutual consent. Borrowers usually have the option to cancel a refinance transaction within three business days after it has closed.

RHS LOANS
The Rural Housing Service (RHS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers low-interest-rate homeownership loans with no down payment requirements to low- and moderate-income persons who live in rural areas or small towns. Check with your local RHS office or a local lender for eligibility requirements. For the location of RHS State Offices and details on RHS loans, see the RHS home page.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
A provision in an agreement that requires the owner of a property to give another party the first opportunity to purchase or lease the property before he or she offers it for sale or lease to others.

RIGHT OF INGRESS OR EGRESS
The right to enter or leave designated premises.

SALE-LEASEBACK
A technique in which a seller deeds property to a buyer for a consideration, and the buyer simultaneously leases the property back to the seller.

SECOND MORTGAGE
A mortgage that has a lien position subordinate to the first mortgage.

SELLER TAKE-BACK
An agreement in which the owner of a property provides financing, often in combination with an assumable mortgage.

SELLER VS BUYER CLOSING COSTS
Buyers and sellers often negotiate who will pay certain closing costs, and the results vary depending on the negotiated deal. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a sales agreement to state that either the buyer or seller pays all closing costs. The agreement that you and the seller reach must be specified in the sales contract.

SERVICER
An organization that collects principal and interest payments from borrowers and manages borrowers’ escrow accounts. The servicer often services mortgages that have been purchased by an investor in the secondary mortgage market.

SERVICING
The collection of mortgage payments from borrowers and related responsibilities of a loan servicer.

SETTLEMENT
The final step before you get the keys to your home is a formal meeting called the closing. It is at this meeting in which ownership of the home is transferred from the seller to the buyer.

SHORT SALE
A property sale negotiated with a mortgage company in which a lender takes less than the total amount due.

SIX-MONTH ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGE
This adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) offers a low initial interest rate for the first six months with an interest rate that adjusts every six months thereafter. The rate caps per adjustment can be 1 percent or 2 percent; the lifetime adjustment caps can be 4 percent, 5 percent, or 6 percent. This type of mortgage may be right for you if you anticipate a rapid increase in income over the first few years of your mortgage. That’s because it lets you maximize your purchasing power immediately. It may also be the right mortgage for you if you plan to live in your home for only a few years.

SPECIAL DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
An account that is established for rehabilitation mortgages to hold the funds needed for the rehabilitation work so they can be disbursed from time to time as particular portions of the work are completed.

STANDARD PAYMENT CALCULATION
The method used to determine the monthly payment required to repay the remaining balance of a mortgage in substantially equal installments over the remaining term of the mortgage at the current interest rate.

STEP-RATE MORTGAGE
A mortgage that allows for the interest rate to increase according to a specified schedule (i.e. seven years), resulting in increased payments as well. At the end of the specified period, the rate and payments will remain constant for the remainder of the loan.

SUBPRIME
Designating a loan (typically at a greater than usual rate of interest) offered to a borrower who is not qualified for other loans (e.g. because of poor credit history).

SWEAT EQUITY
Contribution to the construction or rehabilitation of a property in the form of labor or services rather than cash.

THIRD-PARTY ORIGINATION
A process by which a lender uses another party to completely or partially originate, process, underwrite, close, fund, or package the mortgages it plans to deliver to the secondary mortgage market.

TITLE
A legal document evidencing a person’s right to or ownership of a property.

TITLE COMPANY
A company that specializes in examining and insuring titles to real estate.

TITLE INSURANCE
Insurance that protects the lender (lender’s policy) or the buyer (owner’s policy) against loss arising from disputes over ownership of a property.

TITLE SEARCH
A check of the title records to ensure that the seller is the legal owner of the property and that there are no liens or other claims outstanding.

TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
Any means by which the ownership of a property changes hands. Lenders consider all of the following situations to be a transfer of ownership: the purchase of a property “subject to” the mortgage, the assumption of the mortgage debt by the property purchaser, and any exchange of possession of the property under a land sales contract or any other land trust device. In cases in which an inter vivos revocable trust is the borrower, lenders also consider any transfer of a beneficial interest in the trust to be a transfer of ownership.

TRANSFER TAX
State or local tax payable when title passes from one owner to another.

TREASURY INDEX
An index that is used to determine interest rate changes for certain adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) plans. It is based on the results of auctions that the U.S. Treasury holds for its Treasury bills and securities or is derived from the U.S. Treasury’s daily yield curve, which is based on the closing market bid yields on actively traded Treasury securities in the over-the-counter market.

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 charges.

UNDERWRITING
The process of evaluating a loan application to determine the risk involved for the lender. Underwriting involves an analysis of the borrower’s creditworthiness and the quality of the property itself.

VA MORTGAGE
A mortgage that is guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

WRAPAROUND MORTGAGE
A mortgage that includes the remaining balance on an existing first mortgage plus an additional amount requested by the mortgagor. Full payments on both mortgages are made to the wraparound mortgagee, who then forwards the payments on the first mortgage to the first mortgagee.