Glossary of Terms
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
AAbandonment - The surrender, relinquishment, disclaimer, or cession of property or of rights to property.
Absolute Auction - Auction with no minimum bid amount. The highest bidder gets the property.
Absolute Net Lease - Also called net-net-net lease that requires payment of all or part of the real estate taxes, insurance, and other expenses.
Acceleration Clause - A provision that allows the lender to call the entire balance of the mortgage loan when the borrower fails to make some installment payments.
Acknowledgement - A formal declaration before a duly authorized officer by a person who has executed an instrument that such execution is his or her act and deed.
Acre - Land of 43,560 square feet
Addendum - An addition or change to a contract that is in place.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - A loan with an interest rate that fluctuates based on a specified financial index. Please review your contact for terms.
Ad Velorum Tax - A real estate tax based on the assessed value of the property.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage - A mortgage loan with an interest rate adjusted periodically (every six months or a year). The rates start at below-market rates to keep the monthly installments low during the initial loan period.
Adverse Possession - Claim of ownership of property based upon open and hostile possession and occupancy; Acquiring title to real property by physical possession of the property for a certain period of time by someone other than the owner.
Aggreement of Sale - An agreement entered into for the sale and purchase of property.
All Inclusive Deed of Trust - A deed of trust securing payment of an obligation owing under a prior deed of trust.
ALTA - American Land Title Association
Amenity - A feature (good schools, architecture, etc.) that increases the value of the property.
Amortization - Payment of principal and interest at stated periods for a stated time until debt is extinguished.
Amortized Loan - A loan that is paid back in installments for its principal and interest.Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - The actual annual interest rate covering the interest and other costs. The Truth in Lending Act requires announcement of APR by lenders. or The cost of the loan expressed as a yearly rate on the balance of the loan amount.
Annuity - A yearly payment of money for life or for a term of years.
Appraisal - A statement of value or estimation of the value of a property as of a certain date conducted by a licensed appraiser with qualifications. Generally, value for single family properties is based upon a review of recent market activity using sales of comparable properties as a basis and then making value adjustments based upon the comparison of comparable property to the subject property.
Appreciation - Increase in value or worth. The difference between the increased value of property and past value estimate.
Appurtuance - A right, privilege or improvement that belongs to and passing with the land.
Arbitration - Binding or nonbonding settlement of a dispute by a third-party arbitrator.
ARM - Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Assessed Value - Value of property for taxation purposes.
Assessment - Real estate tax or fee imposed by a local government against the property; Special taxes imposed to pay for public improvements beneficial to a limited area.
Assessor - County official who determines value of property for taxation purposes
Assign - To transfer all of an interest in personal property.
Automatic Stay - A bankruptcy case automatically prevents continuation of creditor collection activity. Filing bankruptcy is the only way to get this specific protection. Mortgagees may petition the Court to "lift" the stay and permission to resume collection activity if the terms of the Bankruptcy are not met.
Balloon Payment - A lump sum installment payment of a promissory note that is much larger than the regular installment payments.
Bankrupt - A person who is insolvent; one whose total wealth is legally declared insufficient to pay his/her debts.
Bankruptcy - A proceeding in U.S. District Court wherein debtors who can not meet the claims of their creditors may be adjudged bankrupt by the court. There are many different types (and many chapters) of bankruptcy proceedings.
Cancellation Clause - A clause that details the conditions under which each party may terminate the agreement. This should be explained in the agreement.
Charge Off - The process of writing off sums that have been deemed noncollectable. They may forgive the debt but they may still report negatively to the credit bureaus.
Clear Title - A Title that is not encumbered or burdened with defects.
Closing Statement - A document which details the final financial details between a buyer and seller and the costs paid by each party.
Confirmation Hearing - A hearing where the Debtors proposed Bankruptcy plan is reviewed and either approved or denied by the bankruptcy judge.
Contract for Deed - A contract for the sale of real estate wherein the purchase price is paid in periodic installments by the Purchaser, who is in possession of the property even though title is retained by the seller until the final payment.
Conventional Mortgage - A mortgage loan not insured by outside Governmental agencies. It is subject to conditions established by the lending institution and State statutes.
Conversion (Bankruptcy) - The change to a case under a chapter different that the one originally filed under. The court may convert a case on the request of the debtor or the request of a party in interest.Credit- Money a lender extends to a buyer for a commitment to repay the loan within a certain time frame.
Credit Bureau - A company that receives information about a consumer's credit history, and keeps records that are available to others seeking information on that consumer. There are several companies that do this.
Credit History - A record of an individual’s current and past debt payments and indebtedness.Credit Rating- The degree of credit worthiness assigned to a person based on past credit performance and current financial status.
Credit Report - A report that shows a loan applicant's history of payments made on all reported debts. Several companies issue credit reports, but the three largest are Trans Union Corp., Equifax and Experian (formerly TRW ).
Cure a Default - With respect to delinquent mortgage payments, all missed payments have been made and loan payments are current.
Debt Collector - The term 'debt collector' applies to collection agencies or lawyers that is collecting debt for others.
Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure (DIL) - Used by owners to voluntarily convey the title of their property to the mortgagee/beneficiary (lender) to avoid the negative credit consequences of a foreclosure. The title must be is free and clear of any other encumbrances and the owners execute an l affidavit acknowledging that they are acting volitionally, with informed consent.
Default - Failure to make the proper loan payments as agreed in the promissory note.
Default Judgment - A judgment in a lawsuit against a defendant who did not meet the legal requirements in connection with a debt.
Deficiency - The amount a debtor owes a creditor after the creditor seizes and sells the collateral. A deficiency arises when the collateral is sold for less than the amount of the debt.
Deficiency Judgment - A personal judgment against a debtor for the amount remaining due after a judicial foreclosure of a mortgage.
Delinquency - A loan payment that is past due. Usually after 90-120 days of delinquency, the lender will initiate foreclosure proceedings against the loan.
Delinquent Mortgage - A mortgage that involves a borrower who is behind on payments.
Demand - The payoff amount necessary to retire a secured debt by the Mortgage Company.
Discharge - A legal document that ends a debtor's legally enforceable obligation to pay a debt.
Encumbrance - A legal right, claim or lien upon real property that diminishes the owner's equity or the land's value. Typical encumbrances are mortgages, trust deeds, judgments, assessments, mechanic's liens, easements, etc. They can also be easements that have less financial importance.
Equity - The property's current value minus the sum of all liens against it.
Eviction - A legal procedure to remove a person (including homeowner) for reasons including failure to pay rent or Mortgage.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - A federal law passed in 1977 which outlaws debtor harassment and other types of collection practices. The act regulates collection agencies, original creditors who set up a separate office to collect debts, and lawyers hired by the creditor to help collect overdue bills.
FANNIE MAE (FNMA) - Federal National Mortgage Association . . . one of the larges secondary-market investor in residential mortgages in the United States. Provides a constant and orderly market for banks to go to when they need to sell mortgages in order to keep their loan portfolios in balance with government-mandated liquidity ratios.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC, Freddie Mac) - A stockholder-owned corporation chartered by Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership. Freddie Mac purchases single-family and multifamily residential mortgages from lenders and packages them into securities that are sold to investors.
FHA (FHA Loan) - Federal Housing Administration (formed in 1934)
Forbearance - A course of action a lender may agree to delay foreclosure or legal action against a delinquent borrower.
Forbearance Agreement - A formal agreement between a borrower and a lender to postpone an ongoing foreclosure.
Foreclosure - The process by which a lender takes back a property on which the mortgagor has defaulted.
Garnishment - A creditor's seizure, to satisfy a debt, of property belonging to the debtor that is in possession of a third party. An example would be the seizure of money from your bank account, or your wages.
Grace Period - A period during in which a debtor may cure a delinquency without a penalty.
HUD-1 Uniform Settlement Statement - A closing statement or settlement sheet that outlines all closing costs and details on a real estate transaction.
Interest - The cost of using borrowed money.
Judgment - The decision of a court. If a court decides that a person must repay a debt, a lien may be placed against that person's property.
Judgment Lien - A general lien created by a court ordering a debtor to pay a certain amount of money to the judgment creditor. The lien will bind to the debtor's real property once an abstract of the judgment is recorded. Thereafter the debtor won't be able to resell, refinance or buy any other property in the county without paying off the lien.
Judicial Foreclosure - A foreclosure that's processed via a court action.
Late Charge - A fee imposed on a borrower when a payment is not made on time.
Late Payment - An amount a lender applies after the due date has passed.
Lease Option - A lease that offers the right to purchase the property for a specific price within a certain time frame.
Lien - A claim against real property.
Loan-To-Value (LTV) - The relationship between the dollar amount of the loan and the estimated value of the property.
Modification - A change of the terms of the loan agreement.
Mortgage - A pledge of property that is put up as security for the repayment of a loan. The lender is the mortgagee and the property owner is the mortgagor.
Notice of Default (NOD) - This is required by State Law to initiate a non-judicial foreclosure proceeding involving a public sale of the real property securing the deed of trust, the trustee under the deed of trust records a Notice of Default and Election to Sell ("NOD") the real property collateral in the public records.
Personal Property - Property that is not Real Property, i.e. securities, furniture, cars, promissory notes, clothing, intangibles, etc.
Postponement - An agreement, made in lieu of a scheduled sheriff's or trustee's sale, that reschedules the pending sale.
Prepayment Penalty - A fee charged by a lender if a loan is paid off earlier than outlined in the Loan documents.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) - Insurance against a loss by a lender, due to a default in payments from a borrower. This is often required when a buyer is paying a small down payment (less than 20% of the appraised value of the secured property)
Promissory Note - An instrument of indebtedness between borrower and lender (containing all of the terms of the loan) that is commonly secured by a mortgage (mortgage note) or deed of trust.
Quiet Title - An action at law to remove an adverse claim or cloud from the title of property.
Quit Claim Deed - A form of deed containing no warranties as to the quality or validity of the title being transferred.
Reaffirmation - An agreement in a bankruptcy process to pay back a debt that would otherwise be discharged.
Real Estate Agent – A licensed individual to represent buyers and sellers in real estate transactions for a commission
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act – A law requiring lenders to inform consumers in advance of all closing costs.
Real Property – Land plus appurtenances. Includes all structures, trees, fences, etc.
Realtor – Agent, broker, or associate broker who is a member of a local real estate board that is associated with the National Board of Realtors.
Recording – noting the details of legal transactions, such as real estate sales, mortgage notes, etc, making them a matter of public record.
Redemption Period - A period of time established by state law during in which a property owner has the right to redeem the property from a forced, public foreclosure sale.
Refinancing – process of satisfying one loan with the proceeds of a new loan using the same property as collateral to secure the debt.
Reinstatement - The process of remedying a default so that they lender will treat you as if you had never fallen behind. This brings the loan current immediately.
Relief from Automatic Stay - An order from the bankruptcy court allowing a lender to proceed with his default remedies against a debtor.
Repayment Plan - When a borrower falls behind in mortgage payments, many lenders will negotiate a repayment plan rather than go to initiate foreclosure proceedings.
Repossession - When property is repossessed, it is taken back by the lender holding the mortgage.
Rescission - The cancellation of a contract. You generally have the right to cancel the transaction within three business days. This is called your "right of rescission," and it is guaranteed by the Federal Truth in Lending Act.
Right of Survivorship – In joint tenancy, the right of the surviving parties to inherit the property rights of the deceased party. For example, when a husband dies, the wife would inherit the husband's interest.
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S
Sale Leaseback – an arrangement in which the seller will lease the property back to the seller.
Second Mortgage – a property lien placed in a secondary position to the original mortgage.
Secondary Market – buying and selling of existing mortgages.
Secured Loan – loans backed by collateral.
Security – the collateral for a secured loan.
Statutory Redemption – Click here to find out more about statutory redemption.
Subdivision – housing development where a larger tract of land is subdivided into smaller lots for purchase.
Survey – map of a property outlining the boundaries of a property, location of improvements, easements, and encroachments.
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T
Tenancy in Common – Co-ownership in real property where individual interests may not be equal and is inheritable.
Title – legal document that transfers rights in real property.
Title Insurance – protects lenders and buyers from loss caused by disputes on the title.
Title Search – checking public records to ensure the seller is the legal owner of the property.
Transfer Tax – state tax on the transfer of real property. 1/1000th of the sale price minus any loan assumption.
Trustee – middleman who holds or controls property for the benefit of another.
Truth in Lending (Regulation Z) – federal law requiring lenders to disclose of terms and conditions of a loan
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V
V.A. Loan – mortgages guaranteed by the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs.
Veteran's Administration – department of the federal government to guarantee mortgages to eligible veterans and protects lenders from loss due to default.