For Buyers: Glossary of Terms

• 401(k)/403(b)
• 401(k)/403(b) loan

  A

• acceleration clause
• adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)
• adjustment date
• amortization
• amortization schedule
• annual percentage rate (APR)
• application
• appraisal
• appraised value
• appraiser
• appreciation
• assessed value
• asset
• assignment
• assumable mortgage

  B

• balloon mortgage
• balloon payment
• bankruptcy
• bill of sale
• biweekly mortgage
• bond market
• bridge loan
• broker
• buydown

  C

• call option
• cap
• cash-out refinance
• certificate of deposit
• certificate of deposit index
• Certificate of Eligibility
• Certificate of Reasonable Value (CRV)
• chain of title
• clear title
• closing
• closing costs
• closing statement
• cloud on title
• co-borrower
• collateral
• collection
• commission
• common area assessments
• common areas
• common law
• community property
• comparable sales
• condominium
• condominium conversion
• condominium hotel
• construction loan
• contingency
• contract
• conventional mortgage
• convertible ARM
• cooperative (co-op)
• cost of funds index (COFI)
• credit
• credit history
• credit report
• credit repository
• creditor

  D

• debt
• deed
• deed of trust
• deed-in-lieu
• default
• delinquency
• deposit
• depreciation
• discount points
• down payment
• due-on-sale provision

  E

• Earnest Money
• earnest money deposit
  
  

  	EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT A deposit made by the potential home buyer to show that he or she is serious about buying the house.

  
  
• easement
• effective age
• eminent domain
• encroachment
• encumbrance
• Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
• equity
• escrow
• escrow account
• escrow analysis
• escrow disbursements
• estate
• eviction
• examination of title
• exclusive listing
• executor

  F

• Fair Credit Reporting Act
• fair market value
• Fannie Mae (FNMA)
• Fannie Mae's Community Home Buyer's Program
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
• fee simple
• fee simple estate
• FHA mortgage
• firm commitment
• first mortgage
• fixed-rate mortgage
• fixture
• flood insurance
• foreclosure

  G

• government loan (mortgage)
• Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
• grantee
• grantor

  H

• hazard insurance
• Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)
• home equity line of credit
• home inspection
• homeowners' association
• homeowner's insurance
• homeowner's warranty
• HUD median income
• HUD-1 settlement statement

  J

• joint tenancy
• judgment
• judicial foreclosure
• jumbo loan

  L

• late charge
• lease
• lease option
• leasehold estate
• legal description
• lender
• liabilities
• liability insurance
• lien
• life cap
• line of credit
• liquid asset
• loan
• loan officer
• loan origination
• loan servicing
• loan-to-value (LTV)
• lock-in
• lock-in period

  M

• margin
• maturity
• merged credit report
• modification
• mortgage
• mortgage banker
• mortgage broker
• mortgage insurance (MI)
• mortgage insurance premium (MIP)
• mortgage life and disability insurance
• mortgagee
• mortgagor
• multidwelling units

  N

• negative amortization
• no cash-out refinance
• no-cost loan
• note
• note rate
• notice of default

  O

• original principal balance
• origination fee
• owner financing

  P

• partial payment
• payment change date
• periodic payment cap
• periodic rate cap
• personal property
• PITI
• PITI reserves
• Planned Unit Development (PUD)
• point
• power of attorney
• pre-approval
• prepayment
• prepayment penalty
• pre-qualification
• prime rate
• principal
• principal balance
• principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI)
• private mortgage insurance (MI)
• Probate Sale
• promissory note
• public auction
• purchase agreement

  Q

• qualifying ratios
• quitclaim deed

  R

• rate lock
• real estate agent
• Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
• real property
• recorder
• recording
• refinance transaction
• remaining balance
• remaining term
• rent loss insurance
• repayment plan
• replacement reserve fund
• revolving debt
• right of first refusal
• right of ingress or egress
• right of survivorship

  S

• sale-leaseback
• second mortgage
• secondary market
• secured loan
• security
• seller carry-back
• servicer
• servicing
• settlement statement
• subdivision
• subordinate financing
• survey
• sweat equity

  T

• tenancy in common
• third-party origination
• title
• title company
• title insurance
• title search
• transfer of ownership
• transfer tax
• Treasury index
• trustee
• Truth-in-Lending
• two- to four-family property
• two-step mortgage

  V

• VA mortgage
• vested
• Veterans Administration (VA)