Debt An amount owed to another. See installment loan and revolving liability.
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.
A deed given by a mortgagor to the mortgagee to satisfy a debt and avoid foreclosure. Also called a "voluntary conveyance."
The document used in some states instead of a mortgage; title is conveyed to a trustee. In some
states, a "deed of trust" is used instead of a mortgage.
When homeowners sign a deed of trust, they receive title to the property
but convey title to a neutral third party -- called a trustee -- until
the loan balance is paid in full.
Failure to make mortgage payments on a timely basis or to comply with other requirements of a mortgage.
Failure to make mortgage payments when mortgage payments are due.
An agency of the federal government that guarantees residential mortgages made to eligible veterans of the military services. The guarantee protects the lender against loss and thus encourages lenders to make mortgages to veterans. The Veterans Administration is a federal government agency authorized to guarantee loans made to eligible veterans under certain conditions. To obtain more information, you can contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA guarantee allows qualified veterans to buy a house costing up to $417,000 with no down payment. Moreover, the qualification guidelines for VA loans are more flexible than those for either the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or conventional loans. If you are a qualified veteran, this can be an attractive mortgage program. To determine whether you are eligible, check with your nearest VA regional office.
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. See earnest money deposit.
A decline in the value of property; the opposite of appreciation.
Desktop Underwriter is Fannie Mae's innovative, computer-based, automated underwriting system. After you complete a loan application with a Fannie Mae-approved lender, your loan will be underwritten -- using Desktop Underwriter -- by the lender. Underwriting is the process used to determine whether borrowers can afford the mortgage payment on the loan for which they are applying and their ability to repay the mortgage on a timely basis. In the past, underwriting was a manual process. An underwriter would review the information, analyze the data, and approve or deny the loan. The process typically took between 30 and 60 days. With Desktop Underwriter, the underwriting process can take minutes. Desktop Underwriter automates the process for lenders by requesting information online and then analyzing the borrower's loan application and credit history data, as well as the property information. Desktop Underwriter performs this objectively and without bias, and returns the results of the analysis to the lender in the form of a recommendation. The lender then uses the recommendation returned by the system to decide whether to approve or deny the loan.
The most traditional type of single-family home is one that is "detached." This type of home stands separate from any other housing structure and serves as a place of residence for the occupants.
The Direct Leveraging Loan Program makes it easier and more economical for rural residents to own a home through lower interest rates and no down payment. Under this program, the lender offers up to 50 percent of the mortgage amount as a conventional 30-year, fixed-rate first mortgage and the Rural Housing Service (RHS) offers the balance as a second mortgage at an interest rate that is generally below market. The RHS is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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.
The rights of a widow in the property of her husband at his death.
The part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a mortgage. Saving for a down payment is usually one of the most difficult parts of preparing to buy a home. If you believe you have the needed funds, you are in a better position to seek pre-qualification from a lender to get the mortgage that is right for you. Most homeowners rely on a mortgage from a financial institution, and most mortgage products require buyers to include a portion of their own funds towards the purchase of the home. This is called the down payment. Lenders feel more secure when buyers include a down payment, indicating they are less likely to walk away from their investment if their finances take a downturn. Historically, buyers usually made a down payment that totaled 20 percent of the home's purchase price. Under this scenario, a down payment for a $100,000 home is $20,000. But today, new mortgage products allow buyers to put down as little as 3 percent to 5 percent, provided private mortgage insurance is obtained. The down payment for a $100,000 home with 5 percent down payment is just $5,000. Sources for down payments may come from buyers' savings accounts, checking accounts, stocks and bonds, life insurance policies, and gifts. When you select your lender, ask about Fannie Mae's low down payment
mortgages.
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.
This terminology is usually used for second mortgages. See due-on-sale provision. |