Buying Your Home

Home Buying Lingo

A

Amendments

A change – either to alter, add to, or correct – part of an agreement without changing the principal idea or essence.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)

A mortgage in which the interest changes periodically, according to corresponding fluctuations in an index.

Amortization

The repayment of the loan principal over time.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The amount of interest on your total loan amount that you'll pay annually (averaged over the full term of the loan).

Appraisal

An estimate of fair market value of property resulting from analysis of facts about the property; an opinion of value.

Assessments

Special taxes imposed on a property related to local improvements, e.g. street lighting.

Assumption

Taking over another person’s financial obligation; taking title to a parcel of real property with the Buyer assuming liability for paying an existing note secured by a deed of trust against the real property.

B

Beneficiary

The recipient of benefits, often from a deed of trust; usually the lender.

Buy Down

An incentive offered by a builder or lender that allows you to lower your interest rate by putting up a certain amount of money.

C

Cap

The limit on an interest rate for an adjustable rate mortgage.

Cash Reserves

The portion of assets that a borrower will have after the loan closing. Cash reserves may be required as part of the loan process to ensure the borrower has financial flexibility after the transaction.

Close of Escrow

Generally the date the documents are recorded and title passes from Seller to Buyer. On this date, the Buyer becomes the legal owner, and title insurance becomes effective.

Closing Agent

Typically a title agency representative or attorney who oversees the closing and witnesses the signing of the closing documents.

Closing Costs

Money paid by the borrower in connection with the closing of a mortgage loan. This generally involves an origination charge, discount points, and fees for required third-party services, taxes, and government recording fees.

Closing Disclosure

A document provided to customers at least 3 business days before closing that shows the actual terms and costs of the loan. These costs may include hazard and/or mortgage insurance premiums and escrow deposits for property taxes.

Commitment Letter

A formal letter sent by a lender stating the terms and conditions under which the lender agrees to loan money to a potential borrower.

Comparable Properties

Properties used for comparative purposes in the appraisal process that have been recently sold and have characteristics similar to property being appraised, thereby indicating the approximate fair market value of the subject property. Commonly called “comps”.

Compensating Factors

Positive characteristics of a borrower's credit, employment, or savings history which may be used to offset high debt-to-income ratios in the underwriting process.

Conforming Loan

Conventional home mortgages eligible for sale and delivery to either the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA, also known as "Fannie Mae") or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC, also known as "Freddie Mac"). These agencies generally purchase first mortgages up to loan amounts mandated by congressional directive.

Contingency

A condition of sale that must be met before your contract to purchase a new home becomes binding.

Conventional Loan

Home loans other than government loans (VA and FHA).

Conversion Clause

A provision in some ARMs that allows it to change to a fixed-rate loan at some point during the term.

Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)

The rules of your neighborhood that are in place to protect, preserve and enhance the property values of the community.

Credit Report

A report of an individual's credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's creditworthiness.

Curb Appeal

The attractive exterior elements of a home you notice immediately when you first your eyes on it.

Cut-off Dates

Construction deadlines for standard selections and optional upgrades that must be met by the buyer in order for the home to be completed and delivered on schedule.

D

Debt-to-income Ratio

The percentage of a buyer's monthly gross income that goes toward paying debts.

Deed of Trust

An instrument used in many states in place of a mortgage.

Deed Restrictions

Limitations in the deed to a parcel of real property that dictate certain uses that may or may not be made of the real property.

Depreciation

A loss of value in real property brought about by age, physical deterioration, functional, or economic obsolescence.

Discount Points

Discount points are charges paid to the lender voluntarily, usually at closing by the borrower or seller, to reduce the interest rate. One point is equal to 1 percent of the principal amount of the mortgage.

Down Payment

The difference between the sales price and the loan amount, which must be paid in cash by the buyer.

E

Earnest Money

Money given to the seller by the purchaser as a security deposit and evidence of good faith, which gets put towards your down payment when you go into contract.

Easement

A right, privilege or interest limited to a specific purpose that one party has in the land of another.

Equity

The value of a property exceeding the amount of money owed on it.

Escrow

An item of value, money, or documents deposited with a third party to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition.

Escrow Officer

An escrow officer leads the facilitation of your escrow, including escrow instructions preparation, document preparation, funds disbursement, and more.

F

FICO Score

A type of credit score based on a number of criteria and it is a piece information that lenders use to assess an applicant's credit risk.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

A fully amortizing mortgage loan where the interest rate on the note remains the same through the term of the loan.

Float Down Rate

A mortgage rate lock with the option to reduce the locked interest rate if market interest rates fall during the lock period.

Front-end Ratio

Indicates what portion of an individual's income is used to make mortgage payments.

G

Grant Deed

A legal document that transfers real property from the seller to the buyer.

Grantee

The Buyer of a deed.

Grantor

The seller of a deed.

H

Hazard Insurance

Real estate insurance protecting against fire, some natural causes, vandalism, etc. depending upon the policy. Buyer often adds liability insurance and extended coverage for personal property.

Homeowners Association (HOA)

A non-profit association that manages the common areas of a planned unit development (PUD) or condominium project.

Homeowner's Insurance Policy

A multiple-peril insurance policy available to owners of private dwellings that covers the dwelling and its contents, as well as personal liability.

HUD-1 Statement

A document that provides an itemized listing of the funds that were paid at closing.

I

Impounds

A trust type of account established by lenders for the accumulation of borrower’s funds to meet periodic payments of taxes, mortgage insurance premiums and/or future insurance policy premiums, required to protect their security.

Index

The base interest rate (usually from an external source) to which the lender typically adds a margin to determine the interest rate charge.

Installment

The regular payment that a borrower agrees to pay a mortgage lender.

Interest

Amount of money paid for the use of funds provided by another party. Also a right, share, or title in property.

Interest Rate

The percentage of an amount of money that is paid for its use for a specified time.

L

Lender

The financial institution that makes loans directly to borrowers.

Lien

A form of encumbrance that usually makes a specific parcel of real property the security for the payment of a debt or discharge of an obligation. For example, judgments, taxes, mortgages, deeds of trust.

Listing Agent

A key role of the listing agent or broker is to form a legal relationship with the homeowner to sell the property and place the property in the Multiple Listing Service.

Loan Conditions

A list of items that must be met prior to closing a loan.

Loan-to-Value (LTV)

A financial term used to express the ratio of a loan to the value of an asset purchased.

Lock Period

The number of days before a loan closing in which a customer's loan is protected from financial market fluctuations in interest rates.

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

The rate at which banks in the foreign market lend dollars to one another. LIBOR varies by deposit maturity. A common interest rate index; one of the most valid barometers of the international cost of money.

M

Margin

A fixed percentage rate that is added to an index value to determine the fully indexed interest rate of an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). The margin is constant throughout the life of the mortgage, while the index value is variable.

Mello-Roos

A special tax imposed on property owners within a Community Facilities District to ensure that critical services such as schools, electricity, water, and streets are available in newly developing areas.

Monthly Payment

Usually, the amount of PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) paid each month on a mortgage loan.

Mortgage

The instrument by which real property is pledged as security for repayment of a loan.

Mortgage Broker

A company that matches borrowers with lenders for a fee.

Mortgage Commitment

An agreement between lender and borrower detailing the terms of a mortgage loan such as interest rate, loan type, term, and amount.

Mortgage Insurance (MI)

An insurance policy which compensates lenders or investors for losses due to the default of a mortgage loan.

Mortgagee

The Lender.

Mortgagor

The Borrower.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

The MLS is a database of properties listed for sale by Realtors who are members of the local Association of Realtors. Information on an MLS property is available to thousands of Realtors.

N

NMLSR ID

A number or other identifier that permanently identifies a registered residential loan originator.

Non-conforming Loan

A mortgage loan on a home where the loan value exceeds the standard limits for conforming loans set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Note

A legal document that obligates a borrower to repay a mortgage loan at a stated interest rate during a specified period of time.

O

Occupancy

The use of a property as a full-time residence, either by the titleholder (owner-occupied) or by another party through a formal agreement (rental).

Origination Fee

An up-front fee charged by a lender for processing a new loan application, used as compensation for putting the loan in place. Origination fees are quoted as a percentage of the total loan and are generally between 0.5% and 1% on mortgage loans in the United States.

P

PITI

A payment that combines Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance.

Point

A point is a fee equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.

Power of Attorney

A written instrument whereby a principal gives authority to an agent. The agent acting under such a grant is sometimes called an “Attorney-in-Fact”.

Preapproval

A preapproval letter indicates that you have been preapproved for a specified mortgage amount based on a preliminary review of your credit information.

Preliminary Title Report

A report from the title company that details the current condition of a property.

Prepayment Penalty

A fee imposed for paying off part of all of a loan before its maturity date.

Prequalification

The loan officer’s written opinion of the ability of a borrower to qualify for a home loan. Prequalification does not include a credit check and should not be confused with preapproval.

Primary Residence

The residence that the borrower intends to occupy as their principal residence.

Prime Rate

The interest rate that banks charge their preferred customers.

Principal

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

Promissory Note

A written promise to repay a specified sum of money plus interest at a specified rate and length of time.

PUD

A Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a project or subdivision that includes common property that is owned and maintained by a homeowners’ association for the benefit and use of the individual unit owners.

Purchase Agreement

The written contract between the Buyer and Seller that states the terms and conditions under which the property will be sold.

Q

Quitclaim Deed

A deed operating as a release, intending to pass any title, interest, or claim which the grantor may have in the property, but not containing any warranty of a valid interest or title by the grantor.

R

Rate Cap

A clause that sets a limitation on the amount or frequency of rate changes.

Rate Lock

A guarantee that the lender will deliver a specific combination of interest rate and points if the mortgage closes by a specified date.

Recording

Filing documents affecting real property with the County Recorder as a matter of public record.

Realtor®

A Realtor® is a licensed real estate agent and a member of the National Association of Realtors®, a real estate trade association. Realtors also belong to their state and local Association of Realtors.

Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent is licensed by the state to represent parties in the transfer of property. Every Realtor is a real estate agent, but not every real estate agent has the professional designation of a Realtor®.

S

Signing Appointment

The appointment to sign the final documents in order to close escrow and take legal possession of your home.

T

Title Company

These are the people who carry out the title search and examination, work with you to eliminate the title exceptions you are not willing to take subject to, and provide the policy of title insurance regarding title to the real property.

Title Insurance Policy

A loan policy required by most lenders that is usually based on the dollar amount of the loan and its function is to protect the lender's interests in the property should a problem arise with the title.

U

Underwriting

The process a lender uses to determine if the risk of offering a mortgage loan to a particular borrower under certain parameters is acceptable.

V

Vesting Options

Common ways to take title to California residential property.

W

Wire

A method of electronic funds transfer from one person or entity to another.