AMORTIZED LOAN - A loan which is paid off in equal installments during its term.

ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE - A calculated, gross loan cost disclosure -- shows the borrower's "effective" total cost of obtaining credit when all the upfront costs and the loan interest rate are considered together. APR is not the loan rate and does not affect the amount of the monthly payments. It is a calculated disclosure only, required under Federal lending laws.

BALLOON MORTGAGE - A mortgage with installments of principal and interest that, at the end of the agreed loan term, have not fully repaid the loan. The remaining balance is usually paid in a lump sum at that time (a "balloon" payment).

CLOSING - Also called "Settlement" or "Close of Escrow" - The process of signing the final loan documents (note, mortgage, settlement statements, deed, etc.), recording of legal paperwork at the county courthouse, and disbursement of loan funds for benefit of the borrower. At closing, the settlement agent (often an attorney or title insurance company) collects funds from the buyer and/or the lender, pays the expenses of the transaction (appraisal fees, Realtor's commission, document recording fees, etc.) and pays the seller for the net proceeds of the sale.

CLOSING COSTS - The costs involved in obtaining services necessary to process, approve and close a loan. These services can include attorney fees, title insurance, survey fees, recording fees, appraisal and credit report fees and termite inspections. They are usually required for anyone purchasing or financing a home, regardless of the loan type, amount or lender. Depending on the type of loan and details of the property, other services may also be required. These services are usually obtained from independent providers who are not affiliated with your lender.

CONVENTIONAL LOAN - A loan that is offered by the private business sector, as opposed to those insured or guaranteed by the US Government (FHA or VA loans, for example). A conventional mortgage loan may or may not require Private Mortgage Insurance, depending on the size of the loan relative to the value of the property. Conventional loans are generally underwritten based on the qualifying guidelines set by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA, or Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC, or Freddie Mac), both of which are private corporations supervised by, but not a part of, the Federal Government.

DOWN PAYMENT - The difference between the loan amount and the sales price of the home you are purchasing. The down payment is paid in cash by the buyer at closing, and is often expressed as a percentage of the sales price (a 5% down payment on a $150,000 home would be $7,500).

FHA LOAN - A loan that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a division of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This type of loan is available to the general public, and is often popular with first-time buyers because of the small down-payment requirement and generous qualifying guidelines. FHA charges the buyer a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) for this loan insurance.

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE - A loan where the interest rate is not subject to change for the entire term of the loan.

GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE - A listing of estimated closing costs, usually given to the borrower by the lender at the time of loan application.

HOME EQUITY LOAN - A loan which uses the borrower's residence as collateral and allows a line of credit against which funds can be drawn, up to a pre-arranged amount.

INTEREST RATE - The regular and recurring fee charged by the lender as "rent" on the money borrowed. Interest is usually expressed as a percentage of the loan balance, calculated on an annual basis, and is often tax-deductible.

LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO (LTV) - The ratio of the loan amount to the value or selling price of the property. LTV ratios over 80% often require loan insurance, and sometimes also involve higher interest rates.

MIP - also called “Mortgage Insurance Premiums” - the insurance premiums paid on an FHA mortgage loan. Similar to PMI paid on a conventional loan.

MORTGAGE BROKER - A licensed lending professional who represents several different lenders, and usually offers more loan options than a commercial bank.

ORIGINATION FEE - A one-time fee sometimes charged by a lender to cover the overhead costs of issuing a loan commitment. This fee is usually part of the normal closing costs incurred for most types of mortgage loans, but may be waived by the lender depending on the type of loan and the interest rate charged.

POINT(S) - Also called “Discount Point(s)” - A prepaid finance charge, usually optional, sometimes paid by the borrower in order to lower the interest rate on the loan. Points affect your total cost of borrowing, and are often considered deductible interest for tax purposes. One point equals one percent of the loan amount.

PMI - also called “Private Mortgage Insurance” - Required on conventional loans representing 80% or more of the value of the property. PMI insures the lender against financial loss in the event of a default in the repayment of the loan.

SUBPRIME LOAN - A loan made to a borrower who does not qualify for the lowest market interest rates due to credit problems or other underwriting deficiencies. Because of the greater risk to the lender, the borrower is charged a higher rate and/or greater fees.

UNDERWRITING - In mortgage lending, the process of approving or denying a loan based on an evaluation of the property as collateral and the ability and willingness of the borrower to repay the loan. The underwriter analyzes the risks involved, and sometimes modifies the requested loan terms. The underwriter can also stipulate conditions to be met prior to, or at, loan closing.

VA LOAN - A loan that is guaranteed by the Department of Veteran's Affairs. This type of loan is available only to eligible veterans, and usually requires no down payment.