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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Acceleration: The right of the lender to demand the immediate repayment of the balance of the mortgage loan upon the default of the borrower. Or the lender may use the right vested in the 'due on sale' clause.

Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM): A mortgage or home equity loan in which your interest rate and monthly payments may change periodically during the life of the loan, based on the fluctuation of an index. Lenders may charge a lower interest rate for the initial period of the loan. Most ARMs have a rate cap that limits the amount the interest rate can change, both in an adjustment period, and over the life of the loan. Also called a variable-rate mortgage.

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

Amortization: The gradual reduction in the principal amount owed on a debt. During the earlier years, most of each payment is applied toward the interest owed. During the final years of the loan, payment amounts are applied almost exclusively to the remaining principal, unless there has been negative amortization.

Amortization table: A time table or schedule to give you a breakdown of your monthly payments into principal and interest. You can use this schedule to figure out the amount of principal you'll repay during your mortgage term.

Amortization term: The amount of time required to amortize (or pay off) the loan. The amortization term is expressed in months. For example, for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, the amortization term is 180 months.

Annual fee: An annual amount you pay for having an open line of credit.

Annual adjustment cap: A limit on how much the variable interest rate on a loan can increase or decrease each year.

Annual percentage rate (APR): The annual cost of a loan to a borrower. Like an interest rate, the APR is expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. Unlike an interest rate, however, it includes other charges or fees to reflect the total cost of the loan. The Federal Truth in Lending Act requires that every consumer loan agreement disclose the APR. Since all lenders must follow the same rules to ensure the accuracy of the APR, borrowers can use the APR as a good basis for comparing certain costs of loans.

Application: This is the first step in the official loan approval process. This form is used to record important information about the potential borrower, this information is necessary to the underwriting process.

Application fees: Non-refundable fees paid when you apply for your loan. They may include charges for property appraisal, a credit profile and so forth.

Appraisal or appraised value: An informed estimate of the value of property. When made in connection with an application for a loan secured by a home, it's usually made by a professional appraiser. It's sometimes called a property valuation.

Appraisal fee: The charge for estimating the value of property.

Appreciation: An increase in the value of property over time. Important factors in a home's appreciation are its location and condition, and the selling price of similar homes in the area. Appreciation increases the amount of equity, which may also increase the amount you can borrow for a home equity loan or line of credit. The opposite of depreciation.

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

Assessor: This person is a government official who is responsible for determining the value of a property, the purpose is for taxation.

Asset: Property or a possession of value that a lender may be willing to accept as collateral to secure repayment of debt. For example, real estate, stocks, mutual funds, cash and automobiles are all assets.

Assumable: When you sell your home, your buyer may be able to qualify to take over your existing mortgage at your current rate. This can be beneficial if interest rates have risen above the rate you're currently paying on your mortgage. The lower-interest rate benefit may make your home more affordable to prospective homebuyers.

Available funds: The total amount of funds available to you from your own funds and/or other sources that can be used for your down payment and the closing costs associated with a loan.

B

Balance sheet: A dated financial statement (in table form) that shows your assets, liabilities and net worth.

Balloon loan: A short-term loan with smaller payments for a certain period of time, and one or more large payments for the remaining principal amount, due at a specified time.

Balloon payment: A lump-sum payment, which is larger than your regular periodic payment, that's paid at the end of your loan repayment period.

Bankruptcy: A proceeding in federal court altering or eliminating an eligible individual's obligations to repay some or all of his or her creditors. A borrower may relieve debts by transferring his or her assets to a trustee. Different chapters or types of bankruptcy exist. If a person files bankruptcy, a record of the filing appears on the borrower's credit report for up to 10 years.

Base rate: The underlying interest rate used as a benchmark, or index, for pricing variable-rate loans such as adjustable-rate mortgages, auto loans or credit cards.

Basis point: An amount equal to 1/100th of a percentage point. For example, a fee calculated as 50 basis points of $200,000 would be 0.50% or $1000.

Bi-weekly: Every other week. Some loans offer a bi-weekly payment option, which requires 26 half payments per year (amounting to one additional full payment each year). This option allows you to pay your loan off more quickly and to build equity faster. Sometimes there are costs associated with choosing this option.

Blanket Mortgage: A mortgage covering at least two pieces of real estate, this is security for the same mortgage loan.

Blue Book value: Refers to the Kelley Blue Book, a guide and Web site that lists suggested values for new and used cars.

Borrower: A person who has been approved to receive a loan and he or she is obligated to repay the loan plus any additional fees according to the loan terms.

Breach: A violation of any legal obligation or contract.

Broker: A third party who helps arrange funding or negotiates a contract between parties, but does not lend the money himself or herself.

Building code: This is an agreement based on safety standards within a specific area. A building code is a regulation that determines the design, construction, and materials used in building.

Buydown: A buydown is the prepayment by a lender or homebuilder of a portion of the interest that will become due on your promissory note during the buydown period, thereby reducing your monthly payments. The buydown period may be one, two or three years, during which time your monthly payments will increase annually, in accordance with a predetermined schedule, ending with the monthly payment specified in your note.

C

Cap: A limit on how much a variable interest rate can increase. Many adjustable rate mortgages have both annual (or semi-annual) rate caps and lifetime caps. They limit the amount your payments can increase in an adjustment period and over the life of the loan.

Capitalized cost: The amount financed under a lease agreement.

Cash Flow: The amount of cash earned from an income producing property over a certain period of time. The cash flow should be big enough to pay the expenses of the income producing property (example: mortgage payment, utilities, and maintenance).

Cash Flow: The amount of cash earned from an income producing property over a certain period of time. The cash flow should be big enough to pay the expenses of the income producing property (example: mortgage payment, utilities, and maintenance).

Cash-Out: A type of loan in which the total proceeds of the loan are more than the actual refinanced amount and loan costs. Typically this extra money is given to the homeowner to use or paid directly to an account of the homeowner's choice.

Cash reserves: A cash amount sometimes required to be held in reserve, this is in addition to the down payment and closing costs. This amount is determined by the lender.

Closed-end lease: A lease that predetermines what the specific value of the leased item will be at the end of the lease, and the fees that may be due at that time.

Closing: The time and place at which all documents for your loan are signed, dated and notarized. Also called a settlement.

Closing costs: Fees paid at or prior to the closing of your loan. They may include attorneys' fees, as well as fees for preparing and filing a mortgage, and for taxes, title search, and insurance. They include the expenses incurred in obtaining the loan and in transferring the ownership of any collateral property from the seller to the buyer. Generally closing costs range from 2% to 6% of the mortgage amount.

Co-borrower: An additional person who assumes equal responsibility for repayment of a loan and is fully obligated under the terms of the loan. This person also has equal rights to the proceeds of the loan.

Collateral: An asset, such as a car or a home, used for securing the repayment of a loan. The borrower risks losing the asset if the loan is not repaid.

Collision insurance: Auto insurance that pays for repairing the damage to your car when you've been in a collision with another auto.

Combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV): The ratio between the unpaid principal amount of your first mortgage, plus your home equity loan - or your credit limit in the case of a line of credit - and the appraised value of your home. Expressed as a percentage.

Commitment: A promise made by the lender to make a loan on specific terms or conditions to a borrower or builder. A promise made by an investor to purchase mortgages from a lender with specific terms or conditions. An agreement, typically in writing, between a lender and a borrower to loan money on a future date subject to the completion of paper work or compliance with stated conditions.

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

Comprehensive insurance: Auto insurance that pays for repairing the damage sustained to your car in a non-collision accident. For example, theft, vandalism or bad weather.

Condominium or condo: A building or development with many housing units where each person owns his or her individual unit and shares an interest in the common areas and facilities of the entire project. You go through the same process of buying a condo as you do when buying a house, and have a deed to and a mortgage on your particular unit. You also pay property taxes on your unit.

Conforming loan: A mortgage loan that has the standard features as defined by and is eligible for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Contingency: A specified condition that the sales contract requires must be satisfied before the home sale can occur. When buying a home, the two most common contingencies are that the house must pass inspection and that the borrower must be approved for a loan.

Contract: An oral or written agreement to do, or not to do, a certain thing.

Co-signer: A second person who signs your loan and assumes equal responsibility for payment of the loan but receives no benefit from the loan proceeds.

Cost benefit analysis: A dollar-value analysis that compares the benefits of owning a home to the costs. Some home ownership benefits may include: tax savings you may receive on the mortgage interest and property taxes you pay; and the appreciation that may occur in the value of your home over time, building your home equity. Home ownership costs may include: interest you pay on the loan; closing costs, including any mortgage points; property taxes and homeowner's insurance premiums; private mortgage insurance premiums; and maintenance costs including those associated with normal wear and tear and weathering.

Credit: An arrangement in which a borrower receives something of value in exchange for a promise to repay the lender at a later date.

Credit reporting agency or credit bureau: An organization that gathers, records, updates and stores financial and public records of individuals who have been granted credit and provides this information to lenders and other authorized users for a fee.

Credit history: A record of an individual's debts and payment habits over time. It helps a lender determine whether or not a potential borrower is a good business risk.

Credit limit: The maximum amount you can borrow under a line of credit.

Credit report: A record of an individual's debts and payment habits. It helps a lender determine whether or not a potential borrower is a good business risk.

Credit score: A number, rating the quality of an individual's credit. Lenders calculate this number, often with the assistance of computer systems, as part of the process of assigning rates and terms to the loans they make.

Creditor: A person or business from whom you borrow or to whom you owe money.

Creditworthiness: The likely ability of a borrower to repay debt.

D

Dealer charges: Charges for features sold separately by an auto dealer, such as rustproofing, undercoating, extended warranties or additional options.

Dealer holdback: The difference between the amount on the invoice and what an auto dealer pays the manufacturer. This difference can be 2% to 3% of the car's MSRP.

Dealer incentives: Reduced-price programs that auto manufacturers can offer their dealers to boost sales of less popular models or reduce inventories. The dealers can then decide whether to pass these savings on to their customers.

Dealer invoice: The amount that auto manufacturers charge dealers for new cars, including the options.

Dealer sticker price: The Monroney sticker price plus the suggested mark-up for features the dealer installs himself.

Debt: An amount of money owed by one person, company, organization or other entity to another.

Debt consolidation: A single loan to pay off multiple debts, usually over a longer term. This is a popular use of home equity loan or line of credit.

Debt-to-income ratio: The percentage of your total debt compared to your total income before taxes. Many lenders like to see your debt (including your mortgage payments) be no more than 36% of your total income.

Deed (warranty or quit-claim): A document that legally transfers ownership of real estate from a seller to a buyer. It's delivered to the buyer at closing. Before making a loan, a lender will usually require a title search or a title report to make sure the real estate that is to secure the loan is legally owned by the borrower.

Default: Failure to make mortgage payments on time or to meet other terms of a loan. Default can lead to foreclosure.

Deferred interest: When you write a mortgage with a monthly payment that is less than what is required to satisfy the note rate, the unpaid interest is deferred by adding it to the loan balance.

Delinquency: Failure to make payments on time.

Depreciation: A decline in the value of property due to wear and tear or any other reason. The opposite of appreciation.

Destination charge: The actual costs the dealer pays for shipping and delivering a new car. The dealer then charges you this fee, with no mark-up.

Disclosures: Information given to consumers about their loans.

Discount points: Typically, an amount paid at closing to the lender in conjunction with a mortgage loan in order to lower the interest rate. One discount point equals one percentage point of the loan amount.

Document preparation fee: Fee required to cover the cost of preparing the necessary documents for closing.

Document drawn date: The date on which your legal documents are prepared for closing.

Down payment: The amount of cash you pay toward the purchase of your home to make up the difference between the purchase price and your mortgage loan. Down payments often range between 5% and 20% of the sales price depending on many factors, including your loan, your lender, your credit history and so forth.

Draw: The process of obtaining an advance against your available credit under your line of credit.

Draw period: The period during which a borrower can obtain advances from the available line of credit. At the end of the draw period, borrowers may be able to renew the credit line or may be required to pay the outstanding balance in full or in monthly installments.

E

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA): A federal law that requires lenders and other creditors to make credit 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 (appraised value) of your home and your outstanding mortgage balances and other liens.

Escrow: The process of placing an amount of money and documents with a neutral third party, called an escrow agent, who's given the authority to deposit, disburse and distribute to the proper parties all the money and documents involved in a real estate transaction. The purpose is to protect both the buyer and seller in the transaction from the other side's unauthorized use of funds and ensures an arm's-length transaction between both sides. Also commonly used to mean an escrow account or impound account, required by many lenders and held by the lender during the term of the loan. This deposit is used to hold the borrower's advance payments toward insurance and property taxes until they become due.

F

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Congress passed this act to give consumers certain rights when dealing with consumer reporting agencies, or CRAs. CRAs are required to provide accurate credit histories to authorized businesses for use in evaluating applications for insurance, employment, credit or loans.

Fair Housing Act: A law that prohibits discrimination in all aspects of the home purchasing process on the basis of race, national origin, color, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

Fair market value: The likely selling price of a home between a willing buyer and a willing seller on the open market. In a mortgage or a home equity loan, the fair market value is usually determined by an appraisal.

Fannie Mae: Federal National Mortgage Association, a government-sponsored enterprise which buys and securitizes mortgages for re-sale in the secondary market.

FHA: An acronym for Federal Housing Administration, which is an agency of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The FHA provides mortgage insurance for certain residential mortgages. It sets standards for underwriting these mortgages and for construction of homes secured by these mortgages.

FICO�: An acronym for Fair Isaac Company, Inc., which develops the mathematical formulas used to produce credit scores for assessing credit risk.

Finance charge: The finance charge is the cost of consumer credit expressed as a dollar amount. It includes the amount of interest you will pay during the terms of the loan, origination points and certain other items. Some closing costs are not treated as finance charges.

First mortgage: A mortgage that is the senior lien against a property.

Fixed-rate option or fixed-rate loan option: An option available on home equity lines of credit allowing borrowers to fix the payments and interest rate on all or a portion of their outstanding principal balance for a specific term. Customers may be charged a fee for this privilege.

Fixed-rate mortgage: A home loan with a predetermined fixed interest rate for the entire term of your loan. This means that the interest rate will never change for as long as you have the loan.

Flood certification: A determination by a reputable source about whether property is located within a special flood hazard zone.

Flood insurance: Insurance that protects against loss due to floods. When available, this type of insurance is required by law when a property is located within a special flood hazard zone.

Foreclosure: A legal procedure in which property securing a defaulted loan is sold by the lender in order to repay a borrower's loan. The amount paid by a buyer at the foreclosure may not be enough to fully repay the loan and the borrower may continue to owe the lender the difference.

Freddie Mac: A government-sponsored enterprise which buys and securitizes mortgages for re-sale in the secondary market.

Funding date: The date on which the proceeds from a loan are available to, or disbursed for the benefit of, the borrowers.

G

GAP insurance: An acronym for guaranteed auto protection insurance.

Gift funds: The funds a borrower receives that do not have to be paid back.

Good faith estimate (GFE): An itemized, detailed list of certain estimated costs associated with a home loan that the lender is required to provide to the borrower within three business days of the application.

Gross annual income: The total amount of income from all sources (not just salary) that a borrower receives each year before deductions.

Guaranteed auto protection (GAP) insurance: Intended to pay all or part of the amount you would owe due to early termination of a lease agreement. Such early termination may occur when a car is stolen or seriously damaged in an accident. However, the auto insurer's payment may not be enough to pay off the lease balance and any early-termination penalties.

H

Home equity line of credit (HELOC): A line of credit secured by the equity in a borrower's residence. It can be used for home improvements, debt consolidation and other major purchases or expenses. Interest on these loans may be tax deductible. (Consult a tax advisor about tax deductibility of interest.) At closing, a credit limit is established. In most cases, the borrower can access the line of credit by a variety of access devices, such as convenience checks, debit cards and credit cards.

Home equity loan: An installment loan secured by the equity in a borrower's residence. It can be used for home improvements, debt consolidation and other major purchases or expenses. Interest on these loans may be tax deductible. (Consult a tax advisor regarding tax deductibility of interest.) On the funding date, all of the principal is advanced for the benefit of the borrower(s).

Home inspection: An inspection of the condition of a property. It's conducted by a third party who knows what to look for, including all major appliances and structural elements. If an inspector finds something wrong, and your sales contract allows you to, you can request that the seller pay for the repairs. If the seller refuses, and your sales contract allows you to, you may not have to proceed with the purchase of the home.

Homeowners' association: An organization of property owners that administers the rules and upholds the covenants of a subdivision, development or condominium complex.

Homeowners' insurance: Insurance to protect your home against damage from fire, hurricanes and other catastrophes. Usually, homeowners' insurance also covers you against theft and vandalism, as well as personal liability in case someone is hurt or injured on your property. A lender will likely require you to name it as a payee under the insurance if you need to make a claim.

HUD: An acronym for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD is a governmental agency responsible for the implementation and administration of housing and urban development programs.

I

Impound account or escrow account: An account specifically set up by a lender to hold funds that are set aside for the payment of property taxes and insurance. These funds are held in escrow until disbursed on behalf of the borrower to the appropriate parties.

Index: When used in a note or credit agreement, the measurement used to decide how much the annual percentage rate will change at the beginning of each adjustment period. Generally, the index plus margin equals the new rate that will be charged, subject to any caps. Different lenders use different index rates (cost of funds index, prime rate and so forth).

Inflation rate: The increase in price of consumer goods, usually expressed as a percentage over a specific period of time.

Initial rate: The starting interest rate. Some people call this a teaser rate, because it gives you low interest and low monthly payments at the beginning, but may adjust up at the next adjustment period (it will usually adjust even if the index doesn't go up, since it's lower than index plus margin for the initial period).

Interest: A charge paid for borrowing money.

Interest-only payments: Some lenders permit you to pay only the interest due on a loan for a portion of the loan term, which lowers your periodic payment, but does not decrease your principal balance on the loan. See balloon loan and balloon payment.

Interest rate: Cost for the use of a loan, usually expressed as a percentage of the loan, paid over a specific period of time. The interest rate does not include fees charged for the loan. See annual percentage rate.

Interest rate cap: A limit on how much the variable interest rate can increase at any one time. Many real estate loans include annual or semi-annual caps and lifetime caps, which limit the amount your payments can increase in an adjustment period and over the life of the loan.

Investment property: Property that is purchased to generate rental income, or to be sold once it's appreciated in value.

Invoice price: The amount that auto manufacturers charge dealers for new cars, including the options. This is also known as a dealer invoice.

J

Jumbo loan: This is also known as a non-conforming loan. The amount of the loan exceeds standards that would make it eligible for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

L

Late charge: The penalty charged to the borrower when a payment is made past the due date and any allowable grace period.

Lender: An individual or business entity making a loan.

Lien: A legal claim of a creditor on the property of another as security for a debt.

Lien holder: An individual or entity that has placed a lien on real property.

Lifetime adjustment cap: A limit on how much the variable interest rate can increase during the term of a loan.

Line of credit: An agreement by a lender to extend credit up to a maximum amount for a specified time. In a home equity line of credit, the line of credit is secured by the borrower's home.

Listing price: The asking price of the home or the price the home is listed for.

Liquidate: To sell assets for the purpose of accumulating cash.

Loan application: The process of providing financial and other information (such as employment history and proposed collateral) by a prospective borrower in conjunction with a request for credit.

Loan amount: The amount of debt, not including interest.

Loan term: The period of time during which a loan must be repaid. For example, a 30-year fixed loan has a term of 30 years. This is also called term. See maturity date.

Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The ratio between the unpaid principal amount of your loan, or your credit limit in the case of a line of credit, and the appraised value of your collateral. Expressed as a percentage.

Lock-in: A lock period refers to the amount of time prior to closing that you can secure an interest rate for your loan. Generally, lock periods range from 30 days to more than 90 days. Generally, the longer the lock period, the more you pay in points or interest.

M

Manufactured housing: A structure that has been partially or entirely constructed at another location and moved onto the property (on a permanent foundation). A manufactured home may or may not be a mobile home.

Manufacturer's rebate: Money you'll get back from the manufacturer if you buy a specific model and otherwise comply with the terms of the rebate program.

Margin: The number of percentage points the lender adds to the index rate to determine the interest rate.

Market value: The likely selling price of a home between a willing buyer and a willing seller on the open market. In a mortgage or a home equity loan, the fair market value is usually determined by an appraisal. This is also called fair market value.

Maturity date: The day on which all outstanding principal, interest and fees must be repaid.

Minimum payment: The minimum amount you must pay (usually monthly) on your account to avoid a delinquency. Some loans may permit a minimum payment of interest only. Other loans may require a minimum payment of principal and interest. Many other variations of minimum payments exist.

Mobile home: A type of residence that's built upon a wheeled chassis that can be transported from site to site.

Modular home: A factory-built home that's erected on-site. This type of home has the appearance and characteristics of a site-built residence.

Monthly payment: The amount paid each month toward the principal and interest amount of a loan. The monthly payment may or may not include taxes and insurance.

Mortgage: A legal document that gives a lender a lien on real estate to secure repayment of a loan. Mortgage loans generally run from 10 to 30 years, after which the loan is required to be paid off. This is also called deed of trust and/or security deed.

Mortgage insurance: Insurance that protects the lender if you default on your loan. This insurance usually costs from 0.15% to 2.5% of the loan amount. If your down payment is less than 20%, most lenders will require you to get mortgage insurance. Also called private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Mortgage points: A point is equal to 1% of the principal amount of your loan. Mortgage points are usually collected at closing. This is also known as points.

Mortgagee: The lender or other party named in the mortgage as the party who's entitled to receive repayment of the home loan.

Mortgagor: The borrower, or other party named in the mortgage as the party obligated to repay the home loan.

Multi-family residence (two to four units): A residential property with two to four individual housing units (duplex, triplex, or four-plex).

N

Negative amortization: The result when monthly payments don't cover all the interest due on the loan. The unpaid interest is added to the unpaid balance, which means the homebuyer will owe increasingly more than the original amount of the loan.

Non-conforming loan: A mortgage loan that's not eligible for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac due to non-standard features. These loans are often sold on the secondary market to private investors or held in the lender's portfolio as an asset.

Non-owner occupied: Properties in which the owner does not live.

Notarize: Act by a notary public who witnesses the signing of documents, authenticating the identity of the signer.

Note: A written agreement in which the signer promises to pay to a named person or company a specific sum of money at a specified date or on demand.

O

Open-end lease: This lease leaves open the amount you may have to pay at the end of the lease term, as opposed to a closed-end lease. At the end of an open-end lease, you will have to pay the difference between the residual value and fair market value of the car, if the fair market value is lower.

Origination date: The date on which a loan was closed. See closing.

Origination fee: A fee imposed by a lender to cover certain processing expenses in connection with making a loan. Usually a percentage of the amount loaned (often 1%).

Outstanding balance: The balance owed on a debt on a given day.

Owner-occupied: A property that the owner occupies either as a principal residence or second home.

P

Payment: The periodic amount of money to be paid by the borrower to reduce the balance of a loan. Sometimes referred to as principal and interest or P& I.

Payment cap: A limit on how much a monthly payment can increase at any one time. Some adjustable-rate mortgages have payment caps in addition to annual (or semi-annual) interest rate caps and lifetime interest rate caps. Payment caps don't limit the amount of interest charged and may cause negative amortization. This is also known as a cap.

P&I: An acronym meaning principal and interest. Principal and interest accounts for the majority of your mortgage payment, but doesn't include escrow payments for taxes, insurance, and any other costs that are paid monthly, or fees that periodically come due.

Per diem interest: The amount of interest that accrues daily on a loan. This is calculated by multiplying the outstanding loan balance by the annual rate of interest and then dividing the result by 365.

PITI: An acronym for principal, interest, taxes and insurance. This is also known as the monthly housing expense.

PMI: An acronym for private mortgage insurance. If your down payment is less than 20%, most lenders will require you to get private mortgage insurance. This is insurance that protects the lender if you default on your loan. This insurance usually costs from 0.15% to 2.5% of the loan amount. This is also known as mortgage insurance.

Points: Each point is equal to 1% of the loan amount (for example, two points on a $100,000 mortgage would cost $2,000). Points, if charged, are usually collected at settlement with all other closing costs. Negative points reflect the amount that will be credited to you and reduce the amount of closing costs you will pay. This is also referred to as discount points.

Prepaid expenses: The expenses that are usually paid in advance, such as escrows for taxes and insurance, which are paid at closing.

Prepaid interest: The interim interest that's collected at closing of a first mortgage, covering the period from the date of disbursement to the first of the next month.

Prepayment penalty: A penalty assessed by some lenders if a loan is paid off early. This is a lump-sum amount due and payable in addition to the loan balance, and is usually limited to the early years of a mortgage. Not all loans have prepayment penalties.

Preparation charges: The charges you pay the dealer for preparing your new car for delivery. These costs may include fueling and servicing the car as well as any cosmetic changes the dealer makes before the sale.

Prequalification: The process of providing financial and other information (such as employment history and proposed collateral) by a prospective borrower in conjunction with determining how much of a loan the borrower can obtain for the purchase of a home.

Previous balance: The amount you owed at the end of the previous payment period. If your credit card company calculates your finance charge using the previous balance method, you pay interest on that amount. Any payments, credits or new purchases made during the current payment period are not counted.

Primary applicant: The applicant whose name appears first on the application.

Primary residence: This is the home in which a borrower resides most of the time.

Prime rate: The interest rate that banks charge to their most creditworthy customers on short-term loans.

Principal: The amount of money borrowed on a loan.

Processing fee: A fee charged to cover the administrative costs of processing your loan request.

Property tax: A fixed percentage based on the appraised value of your home that you pay to the county in which the home is located. The specific percent varies dramatically from county to county in every part of the country. You pay this tax annually, semi-annually or as part of your monthly mortgage payments. Depending on when you actually close your loan, some of this property tax may be due at the time of closing. The local county assessor's office can give you the rate for your county.

R

Rate: The rate of interest on a loan, expressed as a percentage of 100.

Rate cap: A limit on how much the interest rate can change, either per adjustment period or over the term of the loan.

Reconditioning reserve: An auto leasing term synonymous with a security deposit. This is a deposit you pay in the event a leased auto's condition deteriorates to a point where reconditioning is necessary.

Refinancing: Paying off one loan with the proceeds from another loan, generally using the same property as collateral.

Relocation: The process of moving one's residence from one location to another, often having to do with a change of employment.

Repayment period: In a line of credit, the period when no advances of principal are available and during which the line must be fully repaid, according to the payment terms. In a home equity line of credit, the repayment period is the portion of the loan term that follows the draw period.

Rescission: The cancellation of a contract. In certain real estate-secured transactions that involve the refinance of a primary residence, applicants have three business days to cancel the transaction.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA): The federal law that defines the rules for proper disclosure of fees and information related to residential real estate transactions.

Residual value: The remaining value of your new car at the end of the lease term. This is also called book value, and includes normal depreciation.

Revolving line of credit: A line of credit that allows up to the credit limit amount to be re-borrowed in repeated transactions once it's been repaid. A home equity line of credit is a type of revolving line of credit.

S

Savings rate: The rate of return you receive on your investments, stated as a yearly percentage rate. This is also known as the rate of return.

Secondary market: The market in which lenders and investors buy and sell existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities, which in turn provides greater availability of funds to lenders for additional mortgage lending.

Second mortgage: The traditional term for a home loan that's a subordinate lien and not a first mortgage, such as a home equity loan or line of credit.

Secured loans: Loans for which you've given the lender a lien on property such as an auto, boat or other personal property or real estate that will serve as collateral for the loan.

Secure Socket Layer (SSL): A protocol designed to increase security on the Internet. It allows encrypted files to be transferred from one computer to another.

Security interest: The legal right an owner gives to a lender to use the owner's property as collateral for repayment of a debt to either the owner or another borrower.

Settlement: The completion of a property's sale or purchase. Or the completion of all necessary steps to receive the proceeds of and create an obligation to repay a loan. This is also known as a closing.

Settlement costs: Fees paid at, or before the closing of your loan. They may include attorneys' fees, as well as fees for preparing and filing a mortgage, and for taxes, title search, and insurance. They're all the expenses incurred in obtaining the loan and in transferring the ownership of property from the seller to the buyer. Generally, settlement costs range from 2% to 5% of the mortgage amount. This is also known as closing costs.

Single-family residence (SFR): A detached individual housing unit. The property shares no common ground with neighboring properties and shares no wall or roof, but can be part of a planned unit development (PUD).

T

Tax rate: The percentage of your income that you owe in income taxes.

Tax savings: The amount you may save in taxes by itemizing deductions on income tax returns. Mortgage interest and property taxes are two expenses that you may realize tax savings on, since you may be able to deduct these expenses from your income. Always check with your tax advisor for advice on tax deductibility.

Term: The number of years it will take to pay off a loan. The loan term is used to determine the payment amount, repayment schedule and total interest paid over the life of the loan. For example, the terms of a $200,000 loan with a 7.500% APR would have the following payments and total interest paid:

15-year mortgage: 180 monthly payments of $1,854 each and total interest paid of $133,724.
20-year mortgage: 240 monthly payments of $1,611 each and total interest paid of $186,886.
30-year mortgage: 360 monthly payments of $1,398 each and total interest paid of $303,435.

Example assumes an 80% loan-to-value ratio, based on an APR of 7.500% and no points. Amounts may be rounded up. Closing costs apply. If the down payment is less than 20%, mortgage insurance may be needed, which could increase the monthly payment and APR. For adjustable rate loans, rates are subject to increase after the initial fixed-rate period. Loans are subject to credit approval. Flood and/or property insurance may be required. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice and may vary depending upon your credit history. A 15-year mortgage compared to a 30-year mortgage, using this information, would save you $169,711 in interest.

Third-party fees: Fees charged for services rendered by parties other than the borrower or the lender. Such fees may include appraisal, credit report, title and flood certifications.

Title: Written evidence of ownership in property.

Title insurance: Insurance that protects an interested party, either the owner or the lender, against defects that would affect legal ownership of the property.

Title search: An examination of records used to determine the legal ownership of property and all liens and encumbrances on it. Usually performed by a title company or attorney.

Titleholder: The legal owner of real property, including a home or automobile.

Total cash required to close: The total of all closing costs, points, prepaid expenses, down payment and any other fees or adjustments due at closing.

Total housing expense: The total of all of your combined expenses due to the ownership of property, including, principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners' insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowners' association dues and any special assessments.

Townhome: A type of residence that shares common walls with other dwellings. Typically, the homeowner pays association fees.

Transaction fee: A fee that may be charged each time you draw on your credit line.

Truth-in-Lending Act: A federal law requiring disclosure of credit terms using a standard format. This is intended to facilitate comparisons between the lending terms of different financial institutions.

Types of loans: Major types of loans include:

Mortgage loans: Loans you take out to pay for your home.
Home equity loans and lines of credit: Loans you take out using the equity in your home as collateral.
Consolidation loans and refinancing: Loans you take out to repay other loans.
Personal property secured loans: Loans you take out to pay for an auto, boat or other personal property that will serve as collateral for the loan.

U

Underwriting: The lender's process of deciding whether to make a loan to a potential borrower based on credit, employment, assets and other factors, and the matching of this risk to an appropriate rate, term and loan amount.

Unsecured lines of credit: A revolving line of credit that is not secured, typically accessed with a check or credit card.

Upfront costs: The costs you must pay when applying for a loan. Typically these include loan application fees. Some lenders require some of your closing costs also be paid when you apply.

V

VA: An acronym for the Veterans Affairs, a branch of the federal government that provides home loan guarantees for qualified veterans of U.S. military forces.

Variable rate: An interest rate that can fluctuate or change periodically. Variable rates are often in relation to an index, such as the prime rate or other criteria. Payments may increase or decrease accordingly.