FAQs & GLOSSARY

Mortgage Questions & Answers

  • It shouldn't be a problem. There are many programs available today that require less than 5% down payment. The best thing to do would be to call us and we can find the right program for you.

  • Yes, the different types of loan programs being offered are changing every day. We find the best loan scenario for all our clients. Unlike big banks that are restricted to using loan programs and rates being offered at that time by the bank, we have access to many lenders. What we do is find the lender that best fits your needs. Call us today and let us show you what we can do for you.

  • Yes, you can. However, the rules regarding this issue are constantly changing. Your best bet would be to contact your accountant. Your accountant can inform you of your best options in regards to this.

  • With a fixed rate mortgage, the interest rate and the amount you pay each month remain the same over the entire mortgage term, traditionally 15, 20 or 30 years. Several variations are available, including five- and seven-year fixed rate loans with balloon payments at the end. With an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), the interest rate fluctuates per the indexes. Initial interest rates of ARMs are typically offered at a discounted ("teaser") interest rate lower than fixed rate mortgage. Over time, when initial discounts are filtered out, ARM rates will fluctuate as general interest rates go up and down. Different ARMs are tied to different financial indexes, some of which fluctuate up or down more quickly than others. To avoid constant and drastic changes, ARMs typically regulate (cap) how much and how often the interest rate and/or payments can change in a year and over the life of the loan. Several variations are available for adjustable rate mortgages, including hybrids that change from a fixed to an adjustable rate after a period of years.

  • It depends. Because interest rates and mortgage options change often, your choice of a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage should depend on: the interest rates and mortgage options available when you're buying a house, your view of the future (generally, high inflation will mean ARM rates will go up and lower inflation that they will fall), and how willing you are to take a risk. When mortgage rates are low, a fixed rate mortgage is the best bet for most buyers. Over the next five, ten or thirty years, interest rates are more apt to go up than further down. Even if rates could go a little lower in the short run, an ARM's teaser rate will adjust up soon and you won't gain much. In the long run, ARMs are likely to go up, meaning most buyers will be best off to lock in a favorable fixed rate now and not take the risk of much higher rates later. Keep in mind that lenders not only lend money to purchase homes; they also lend money to refinance homes. If you take out a loan now, and several years from now interest rates have dropped, refinancing will probably make sense.

  • Private mortgage insurance (PMI) policies are designed to reimburse a mortgage lender up to a certain amount if you default on your loan. Most lenders require PMI on loans where the borrower makes a down payment of less than 20%. Premiums are usually paid monthly or can be financed. Except for some government and older loans, you may be able to drop the mortgage insurance once your equity in the house reaches 22% and you've made timely mortgage payments. The Servicing Lender will have the requirements for canceling the mortgage insurance.

Glossary of Mortgage Terms

Below is a mortgage glossary of terms. There may be words listed that no longer apply in todays market. Please call us if you have any questions.

  • ACTUAL CASH VALUE

    An amount equal to the replacement value of damaged property minus depreciation.

    ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE (ARM)

    Also, known as a variable rate loan, an ARM usually offers a lower initial rate than a fixed rate loan. The interest rate can change at a specified time, known as an adjustment period, based on a published index that tracks changes in the current finance market. Indexes used for ARMs include the LIBOR index and the Treasury index. ARMs also have caps or a maximum and minimum that the interest rate can change at each adjustment period.

    ADJUSTMENT PERIOD

    The time between interest rate adjustments for an ARM. There is usually an initial adjustment period, beginning from the start date of the loan and varying from 1 to 10 years. After the first adjustment period, adjustment periods are usually 12 months, which means that the interest rate can change every year.

    AMORTIZE

    Paying off a debt by making regular installment payments over a set period of time, at the end of which the loan balance is zero.

    AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE

    Provided by mortgage lenders, the schedule shows how, over the term of your mortgage, the principal portion of the mortgage payment increases and the interest portion of the mortgage payment decreases.

    ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR)

    How much a loan costs annually. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees and certain other credit charges a borrower is required to pay.

    APPRAISAL

    A professional analysis used to estimate the value of the property. This includes examples of sales of similar properties.

    APPRECIATION

    An increase in the market value of a home due to changing market conditions and/or home improvements.

    ASSETS

    Everything of value an individual owns.

    ASSUMPTION

    A home buyer's agreement to take on the primary responsibility for paying an existing mortgage from a home seller.

  • BALLOON MORTGAGE

    A mortgage loan with initially low-interest payments, but that requires one large payment due upon maturity (for example, at the end of seven years).

    BUY DOWN MORTGAGE

    A mortgage loan in which one party pays an initial lump sum to reduce the borrower’s monthly payments.

  • CAPACITY

    Your ability to make your mortgage payments on time. This depends on your income and income stability (job history and security), your assets and savings, and the amount of your income each month that is left over after you've paid for your housing costs, debts and other obligations.

    CLOSING (CLOSING DATE)

    The completion of the real estate transaction between buyer and seller. The buyer signs the mortgage documents and the closing costs are paid. Also, known as the settlement date.

    CLOSING AGENT

    A person who coordinates closing-related activities, such as recording the closing documents and disbursing funds.

    CLOSING COSTS

    The costs to complete the real estate transaction. These costs are in addition to the price of the home and are paid at closing. They include points, taxes, title insurance, financing costs, items that must be prepaid or escrowed and other costs. Ask your lender for a complete list of closing cost items.

    COLLATERAL

    Property which is used as security for a debt. In the case of a mortgage, the collateral would be the house and property.

    CONDOMINIUM

    A unit in a multi-unit building. The owner of a condominium unit owns the unit itself and has the right, along with other owners, to use the common areas, but does not own the common elements such as the exterior walls, floors and ceilings or the structural systems outside of the unit; these are owned by the condominium association.

    CREDIT REPORT

    A document used by the credit industry to examine your use of credit. It provides information on money that you've borrowed from credit institutions and your payment history.

    CREDIT SCORE

    A computer-generated number that summarizes your credit profile and predicts the likelihood that you'll repay future debts.

    CREDITWORTHY

    Your ability to qualify for credit and repay debts.

  • DEED

    A legal document under which ownership of a property is conveyed.

    DOWN PAYMENT

    A portion of the price of a home, usually between 3-20%, not borrowed and paid at closing.

  • EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT

    The deposit to show that you're committed to buying the home. The deposit will not be refunded to you after the seller accepts your offer, unless one of the sales contract contingencies is not fulfilled.

    EQUITY

    Ownership interest in a property after liabilities are deducted. Also, referred to as your assets.

    ESCROW

    A lender-held account where a homeowner pays money toward taxes and insurance of a home.

    ESCROW ACCOUNT

    The actual account where the escrow funds are held in trust.

  • FIXED RATE MORTGAGE

    A mortgage loan in which the interest rate remains the same for the life of the loan.

  • GIFT LETTER

    A letter that a family member writes verifying that s/he has given you a certain amount of money as a gift and that you don't have to repay it. You can use this money towards a portion of your down payment with some mortgages.

    GOOD-FAITH ESTIMATE

    A written statement from the lender itemizing the approximate costs and fees for the mortgage.

  • HAZARD INSURANCE

    Insurance coverage that pays for the loss or damage to a person’s home or property.

    HOME INSPECTION

    A professional inspection of a home to determine the condition of the property. The inspection should include an evaluation of the plumbing, heating and cooling systems, roof, wiring, foundation, and pest infestation.

    HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE

    A policy that protects you and the lender from fire or flood, which damages the structure of the house; a liability, such as an injury to a visitor to your home; or damage to your personal property, such as your furniture, clothes or appliances.

    HUD-1 SETTLEMENT STATEMENT

    A final listing of the costs of the mortgage transaction. It provides the sales price and down payment, as well as the total settlement costs required from the buyer and seller.

  • INDEX

    The published index of interest rates used to calculate the interest rate for an ARM. The index is usually an average of the interest rates on a particular type of security such as the LIBOR.

    INTEREST

    The cost you pay to borrow money. It is the payment you make to a lender for the money it has loaned to you. Interest is usually expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed.

    INTEREST ONLY MORTGAGE

    A mortgage where the borrower pays only the interest on the loan for a specified amount of time.

    INVESTMENT PROPERTY

    A property not considered to be a primary residence that is purchased by an investor to generate income, gain profit from reselling or to gain tax benefits.

  • LIABILITIES

    Your debts and other financial obligations.

    LIEN

    A claim or charge on property for payment of a debt. With a mortgage, the lender has the right to take the title to your property if you don't make the mortgage payments.

    LOCK-IN RATE

    A written agreement guaranteeing a specific mortgage interest rate for a certain amount of time.

  • MARGIN

    A percentage added to the index for an ARM to establish the interest rate on each adjustment date.

    MARKET VALUE

    The current value of your home based on what a purchaser would pay. An appraisal is used to determine market value.

    MORTGAGE

    A legal document that pledges property to a lender as security for the repayment of the loan. The term is also used to refer to the loan itself.

    MORTGAGE INSURANCE

    Insurance that protects lenders against losses caused by a borrower's default on a mortgage loan. Mortgage insurance (or MI) typically is required if the borrower's down payment is less than 20 percent of the purchase price.

  • POINTS

    1% of the amount of the mortgage loan. For example, if a loan is made for $50,000, one point equals $500.

    PRINCIPAL

    The amount of money borrowed to buy your house or the amount of the loan that has not yet been repaid to the lender. This does not include the interest you will pay to borrow that money. The principal balance (sometimes called the outstanding or unpaid principal balance) is the amount owed on the loan minus the amount you've repaid.

  • RATE CAP

    The limit on the amount an interest rate on an ARM can increase or decrease during an adjustment period.

    REFINANCE

    Paying off an existing loan with a newer, usually lower rate loan.

    REPLACEMENT COST

    The cost to replace damaged personal property without a deduction for depreciation.

  • SERVICER

    A firm that performs functions in support of a mortgage that include collecting mortgage payments, paying the borrower's taxes and insurance and generally managing borrower escrow accounts.

    SHORT SALE

    The process in which a servicer works with a delinquent borrower to sell the house by a real estate agent prior to the foreclosure sale.

  • TITLE

    The documented evidence that a person or organization has ownership of real property.

    TRUTH-IN-LENDING ACT (TILA)

    Federal law that requires disclosure of a truth-in-lending statement for consumer loans. The statement includes a summary of the total cost of credit, such as the APR and other specifics of the loan.

  • UNDERWRITING

    The process a lender uses to determine loan approval. It involves evaluating the property and the borrower's credit and ability to pay the mortgage.