Mortgage Terms To Know

Mortgage Terms to Know

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Here's a handy guide for you.

Mortgage terms can be confusing? Terms such as Fixed Rate and Adjustable Rate seem to have opposite meanings? This glossary explains mortgage terms in an easy-to-understand way.

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Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan (sometimes called a HEL) allows you to borrow money using the equity in your home as collateral. Equity is the amount … Read more

Freddie Mac

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) is a private corporation founded by Congress. Its mission is to promote stability and affordability in the … Read more

Foreclosure

Foreclosure is when the lender or servicer takes back property after the homeowner fails to make mortgage payments. In some states, the lender has to … Read more

Force-Placed Insurance

Your servicer may require force-placed insurance when you do not have your own insurance policy or if your own policy doesn’t meet your servicer’s requirements. … Read more

Forbearance

Forbearance is when your servicer allows you temporarily to pay your mortgage at a lower rate or temporarily to stop paying your mortgage. Your servicer … Read more

Government Recording Charges

Government recording charges are fees assessed by state and local government agencies for legally recording your deed, mortgage, and documents related to your home loan.  … Read more

HOA Dues

If you’re interested in buying a condo, co-op, or a home in a planned subdivision or other organized community with shared services, you usually have … Read more

Deed-in-lieu of Foreclosure

A deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is an arrangement where you voluntarily turn over ownership of your home to the lender to avoid the foreclosure process. A … Read more

FHA Mortgage Limits

FHA mortgage limits are the dollar amount limits for qualifying mortgages that the FHA will insure as part of its single-family home mortgage program. These … Read more

FHA Loan

FHA loans are loans from private lenders that are regulated and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA loans differ from conventional loans because … Read more

FHA Funding Fee

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires an FHA funding fee and a monthly insurance premium (MIP) for most of its single-family programs. This upfront mortgage … Read more

Earnest Money

Earnest money is a deposit a buyer pays to show good faith on a signed contract agreement to buy a home. The deposit is held … Read more

Down Payment Programs or Grants

A down payment grant or program typically refers to assistance provided by an organization such as a government or non-profit agency, to a homebuyer to … Read more

Demand Feature

The Closing Disclosure has a statement that reads “Your loan has a demand feature,” which is checked “yes” or “no.” A demand feature permits the lender to … Read more

Delinquent

Delinquency is another term for being late on your payments. Your loan can become delinquent when you miss a payment or don’t make full payment … Read more

Finance Charge

A finance charge is the total amount of interest and loan charges you would pay over the entire life of the mortgage loan. “Mortgage Key … Read more

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage is a type of home loan for which the interest rate is set when you take out the loan and it will … Read more

First-Time Home Buyers (FTHB) Loan Programs

First-time home buyers (FTHB) may use a number of different types of loan programs to purchase their first home. Popular FTHB loans include programs offered … Read more

Fannie Mae

The Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) purchases and guarantees mortgages from lending institutions in an effort to increase affordable lending. Fannie Mae is not … Read more

Escrow

An escrow account is set up by your mortgage lender to pay certain property-related expenses, like property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. A portion of your … Read more