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Extra money included in the monthly payment to help reduce the principal and shorten the term of the loan.

The interest a borrower pays on the principal for the duration of the loan.

A loan with an interest rate that is periodically adjusted to reflect changes in a specified financial index.

The cost of any improvements the seller makes to the property. Deducting the cost from the original sales price provides the profit or loss of a home when it is sold.

The amount of time between interest rate adjustments in an adjustable-rate mortgage.

A person licensed by the state to conduct real estate transactions.

A provision that requires the borrower to pay the balance of the loan in a lump sum after the property is sold or transferred.

Budgets offered by builders of new homes for the purchase of carpeting and fixtures.

The process of paying the principal and interest on a loan through regularly scheduled installments.

The cost of the loan expressed as a yearly rate on the balance of the loan.

A document that details a potential borrower's income, debt and other obligations to determine credit worthiness.

The fee that a lender charges to process a loan application.

An opinion of the value of a property at a given point in time.

An increase in the value of a home or other property.

A tax assessor's determination of the value of a home in order to calculate a tax base.

A mortgage that can be transferred to another borrower.

The price of a home determined by totaling the sales prices of all houses sold in an area and dividing that number by the number of homes.

A mortgage in which monthly installments are not large enough to repay the loan by the end of the term. As a result, the final payment due is the lump sum of the remaining principal.

The final lump sum payment due at the end of a balloon mortgage.

A basis point is one one-hundredth of one percentage point. For example, the difference between a loan at 8.25 percent and a mortgage at 8.37 percent is 12 basis points.

A document that transfers ownership of personal property.

A report issued by a title insurance company that details the condition of a home's title and provides guidelines for a title insurance policy.

A mortgage that requires payments every two weeks and helps repay the loan over a shorter term.

A policy that covers more than one person or piece of property.

A mortgage that covers more than one property owned by the same borrower.

A person licensed by the state to work in real estate.

A limit on the amount the interest rate or monthly payment can increase in an adjustable-rate mortgage.

The cost of making improvements on a property.

The refinancing of a mortgage in which the money received from the new loan is greater than the amount due on the old loan. The borrower can use the extra funds in any manner.

The final procedure in which documents are signed and recorded, and the property is transferred.

Expenses incidental to the sale of real estate, including loan, title and appraisal fees.

A document which details the final financial settlement between a buyer and seller and the costs paid by each party.

An area that is zoned for businesses.

The negotiable percentage of the sales price of a home that is paid to the agents of the buyer and seller.

A federal law that encourages financial institutions to loan money in the neighborhoods where minority depositors live.

The interest paid on the principal balance in a mortgage and on the accrued and unpaid interest of the loan.

Individual units in a building or development in which owners hold title to the interior space while common areas such as parking lots, community rooms and recreational areas are owned by all the residents.

Short-term loans a lender makes for the construction of homes and buildings. The lender disburses the funds in stages.

The conversion of a construction loan to a longer-term traditional mortgage after construction has been completed.

A condition specified in a purchase contract, such as a satisfactory home inspection.

A long-term loan a lender makes for the purchase of a home.

A mortgage which starts as an adjustable-rate loan, but allows the borrower to convert the loan to a fixed-rate mortgage during a specified period of time.

A project in which a corporation holds title and sells shares representing individual units to buyers who then receive a proprietary lease as their title.

A construction contract that determines the builder's profit based on a percentage of the cost of labor and materials.

The money a lender extends to a buyer for a commitment to repay the loan within a certain time frame.

The degree of credit worthiness assigned to a person based on credit history and financial status.

A credit bureau report that shows a loan applicant's history of payments made on previous debts. Several companies issue credit reports, but the three largest are Trans Union Corp., Equifax and Experian (formerly TRW ).

The legal document that transfers ownership of a piece of property.

A document that gives a lender the right to foreclose on a piece of property if the borrower defaults on the loan.

The failure to fulfill a duty or promise or discharge an obligation, such as making monthly mortgage payments.

Any repair or maintenance of a piece of property that has been postponed, resulting in a decline in property value.

A mortgage that involves a borrower who is behind on payments. If the borrower cannot bring the payments up to date within a specified number of days, the lender may begin foreclosure proceedings.

The decline in value of a piece of property.

A statement to a potential buyer listing information relevant to a piece of property, such as the presence of radon or lead paint.

The amount of money a buyer agrees to give the seller when a sales agreement is signed. Complete financing is later secured with a lender.

A payment made to subcontractors or suppliers from a construction loan.

The condition in which buyers can occupy the property before the sale is completed.

The conversion from a construction loan to permanent financing a condominium buyer secures after all units in a project have been completed.

A government-mandated evaluation of all aspects and effects a development will have on the environment of a proposed site.

A determination of the value of a property after existing liens are deducted.

A policy that pays for any mistakes a builder or architect makes in a project.

A neutral third party holds the documents and money involved in a real estate transaction and ensures that all conditions of a sale are met.. Escrow also refers to a special account that a lender establishes to hold monthly installments from the borrower to cover property taxes and insurance.

Escrow closes when all conditions of a real estate transaction are met and the title of the property is transferred to the buyer.

The total assets of a person, including real property, at the time of death.

A federal law passed in 1971 that regulates the activity of credit bureaus. It is designed to prevent inaccurate or obsolete information from staying in a consumer's credit file and requires credit bureaus to have reasonable procedures for gathering, maintaining and disseminating credit information. The act also requires credit bureaus to show a consumer their credit file if the consumer presents proper identification, although the bureau reserves the right to charge a fee for doing so.

Landmark federal law passed in 1965 and amended in 1988 that makes it illegal to deny rent or refuse to sell to anyone based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The 1988 amendment expanded the protections to include family status and disability.

The official name of the Federal National Mortgage Association, it is a congressionally chartered, shareholder-owned company that buys mortgages from lenders and resells them as securities on the secondary mortgage market.

This government agency operates a variety of home-loan programs. Its most popular is the Sec. 203(b), program, which provides low-rate mortgages to buyers who make a down payment as small as 3 percent.

Mortgages that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA's 203(b) loan program provides low-rate mortgages to buyers who make a down payment as small as 3 percent. The agency also operates loan plans for investors and purchasers of rural property.

The primary mortgage on a property that has priority over all other voluntary liens.

The monthly payment on a home loan.

A home loan with an interest rate that will remain at a specific rate for the term of the loan. About 75 percent of all home mortgages have fixed rates.

A set fee charged by a broker instead of a commission.

Hazard coverage that is required in designated flood areas.

A course of action a lender may pursue to delay foreclosure or legal action against a delinquent borrower.

The legal process reserved by a lender to terminate the borrower's interest in a property after a loan has been defaulted. When the process is completed, the lender may sell the property and keep the proceeds to satisfy its mortgage and any legal costs. Any excess proceeds may be used to satisfy other liens or be returned to the borrower.

The owner acts as the agent to avoid paying a sales commission.

The common name for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a congressionally chartered institution that buys mortgages from lenders and resells them as securities on the secondary mortgage market.

A mortgage that amortizes, or pays down, the balance of a loan.

A cash gift a buyer receives from a relative or other source. Lenders usually require a "gift letter" stating that the money will not have to be repaid.

A specified amount of time to make a loan payment after its due date without penalty.

A mortgage that requires a borrower to make larger monthly payments over the term of the loan. The payment is unusually low for the first few years but gradually rises until year three or five, then remains fixed.

A fixed rate mortgage that increases payments over a specific period of time. The extra funds are applied to the principal.

A loan guaranteed by a third party, such as a government institution.

This provision of homeowners insurance covers damage by fire, wind or other disaster. It is required by all lenders before a loan is approved.

Loans made to older owners who want to convert equity into money. Because borrowers are qualified on the basis of the value of their home, e, the loan is not the same as a home equity loan. Also known as reverse mortgages.

A loan that allows owners to borrow against the equity in their homes.

An examination of a home's construction, condition and internal systems by an inspector or contractor prior to purchase.

A group that governs a modern subdivision or planned community. An association collects monthly fees from all owners to pay for maintenance of common areas, handle legal and safety issues, and enforce the covenants, conditions and restrictions set by the developer.

This insurance includes hazard coverage for any damages that may affect the value of a house, in addition to personal liability and theft coverage.

A type of insurance that covers repairs to certain parts of a house and some fixtures.

Fees collected from developers of new homes to pay for schools, parks and other facilities.

A portion of the monthly mortgage payment that is placed in an account and used to pay for hazard insurance, property taxes and private mortgage insurance.

Property that is not occupied by the owner but is used to generate income.

Financial tables used by lenders to calculate interest rates on adjustable mortgages and on Treasury bills.

The original interest rate on an adjustable mortgage.

The fee borrowers pay to obtain a loan. It is calculated based on a percentage of the total loan.

The rate at which interest accrues on a mortgage.

The pays only the interest that accrues on the loan balance each month. Because each payment goes toward interest, the outstanding balance of the loan does not decline with each payment.

The sum, expressed as a percentage, charged for a loan. Interest payments on most home loans are tax- deductible.

For cash-short buyers, some sellers are willing to advance funds from the sale of the home to buy down the interest rate and reduce the buyer's monthly obligation.

A limit on the amount that can be charged to the monthly payment of an adjustable-rate mortgage during an adjustment period.

The highest interest a lender can charge for an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Real estate that generates income, such as an apartment building or a rental house.

Loans that exceed limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The current limit is $333,700.

A fee a lender imposes on a borrower when the borrower does not make a payment on time.

A bank, savings institution or mortgage company that offers home loans.

A policy that protects owners against any claims of negligence, personal injury or property damage.

A claim laid by one person or company on the property of another as security for money owed.

A limit on the amount that a loan rate can move during the term of the mortgage. For example, the rate on an adjustable-rate mortgage that begins at 5 percent and has a lifetime cap of 6 percentage points cannot rise above 11 percent, even if rates on fixed-rate mortgages soar to 20 percent.

The first step toward submitting a home loan requires the borrower to itemize basic financial information.

A fee charged by lenders to for making a loan application.

A promise by a lender or other financial institution to make or insure a loan for a specified amount and on specific terms.

An official representative of a lending institution who is empowered to act on behalf of the lender within certain limits.

Most lenders charge borrowers an origination fee--or points--for processing a loan. A point is 1 percent of the total loan amount.

A fee charged by some lenders for gathering information to enable the lender to process the loan.

The amount of a time set by the lender for a buyer to pay a mortgage. Most conventional loans have 30-year or 15-year terms.

A technical measure used by lenders to assess the relationship of the loan amount to the value of the property.

A mortgage that requires only minimal verification of income and assets.

A home loan that requires the borrower to make only a small down payment before obtaining the financing needed to purchase a house.

The lender's "retail markup" on the mortgage. For example, if the index rate for an adjustable-rate mortgage is 5 percent but the lender has a 2.5 percentage-point margin, the rate the borrower will pay is 7.5 percent.

The price that a piece of property sells for at a particular point in time.

Subcontractors or suppliers sometimes will file an encumbrance, or mechanic's lien, against a property to seek payment.

A legal document specifying a certain amount of money to purchase a home at a certain interest rate, and using the property as collateral.

A clause which allows a lender to demand that the entire balance of the loan be repaid in a lump sum under certain circumstances. The acceleration clause is usually triggered if the home is sold, title to the property is changed, the loan is refinanced or the borrower defaults on a scheduled payment.

A company that provides home loans using its own money. The loans are usually sold to investors such as insurance companies and Fannie Mae.

A company that matches lenders with prospective borrowers who meet the lender's criteria. The mortgage broker does not make the loan, but receives payment from the lender for services.

Required by lenders in some loans to protect them from a possible default . All conventional loans with less than a 20 percent down payments require private mortgage insurance, or PMI.

The service combines the listings for all available homes in an area, except For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) properties, in one directory or database.

The situation occurs when a borrower's monthly payment is not large enough to cover both the principal and interest of a loan. As a result, the outstanding balance of the loan actually grows larger with each payment rather than smaller. Most fixed-rate loans are not subject to negative amortization, but many adjustable-rate mortgages are susceptible.

A loan application that does not require verification of income but typically is granted in cases of large down payments.

A loan provision that prohibits the transfer of a mortgage to another borrower without lender approval.

Costs that are one-time only fees for such items as an appraisal, loan points, credit report, title insurance and a home inspection.

The legal document that requires a borrower to repay a mortgage at a certain interest rate over a specified period of time.

The interest rate specified in a mortgage note.

A lender's initial action when a mortgage payment is late and attempts to reconcile the issue out of court have failed.

A fee charged by most lenders--also called points--for processing a loan. A point is 1 percent of the total loan amount.

A transaction in which the seller of a property agrees to finance all or part of the purchase.

When a buyer applies for a loan, the lender will calculate the principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The figure is designed to represent the borrower's actual monthly mortgage-related expenses.

Fees charged by lenders at the time a loan is originated. A point is equal to 1 percent of the total loan amount.

A letter from a lender that informs a seller about the amount of money that a potential buyer can obtain.

The costs for taxes, insurance and assessments paid before the due date.

Interest paid before it is due. For example, at the close of a real estate transaction borrowers usually pay for the interest on their loan that falls between the closing period and the first monthly payment.

Lenders can impose a penalty on a borrower who pays a loan off before its expected end date.

Many lenders will prequalify a borrower who is shopping for a loan by completing a preliminary assessment of the buyer's ability to pay for a home.

The amount of money that the borrower owes on a mortgage.

A special type of loan insurance that many lenders require borrowers to purchase if the borrower's down payment is less than 20 percent of the home's purchase price.

Property taxes are calculated at about 1.5 percent of the current market value.

The value of a piece of property is based on the price a buyer will pay at a certain time.

A document which details the purchase price and conditions of the transaction.

Lenders compute qualifying ratios to determine how much a potential buyer can borrow.

A document that releases a party from any interest in a piece of real estate.

A loan with a clause that entitles a borrower to a one-time cut in the interest rate without going through refinancing.

When interest rates are volatile, many borrowers want to "lock in" an interest rate and many lenders will oblige, setting a limit on the amount of time the guaranteed interest rate is in effect.

Land and anything permanently affixed to it, including buildings, fences and other items attached to the structure.

A real estate agent has a state license to represent a buyer or a seller in a real estate transaction in exchange for a commission. Most agents work for real estate brokers.

A real estate agent who is licensed by the state to represent a buyer or seller in a real estate transaction in exchange for a commission. Most brokers also have agents working for them, and are entitled to a portion of their commissions.

The trusts are publicly traded companies that own, develop and operate commercial properties.

A federal law designed to make sellers and buyers aware of settlement fees and other transaction-related costs. RESPA also outlaws kickbacks in the real estate business.

A fee charged by real estate agents for conveying the sale of a piece of property into the public record.

The process of replacing an older loan with a new mortgage that has better terms.

The federal code issued under the Truth-in-Lending Act which requires that a borrower be advised in writing of all costs associated with the credit portion of a financial transaction.

A mortgage that provides for the costs of repairing and improving a resale home or building.

The amount of unpaid principal on a home loan.

The original loan term minus the number of payments made.

The future value of a piece of property that can be affected by many factors, including the surrounding neighborhood, school scores, and economic and housing market conditions.

All homeowners associations set aside a certain amount of money for major repairs or improvements.

A mortgage in which new terms are negotiated.

The amount of profit a property generates.

A special type of loan available to equity-rich, older owners. Repayment is not necessary until the borrower sells the property or moves into a retirement community.

An agreement by a property owner to give another person the right to buy or rent the property before it goes on the open market.

A provision in the federal Truth-in-Lending Act that allows borrowers to cancel certain kinds of loans within three days of signing.

Another loan placed upon a piece of property.

Any loan backed by collateral.

A firm that collects mortgage payments and manages borrowers' escrow accounts.

A document that details who has paid what to whom.

A loan that allows a lender or other party to share in the borrower's profits when the home is sold.

A transaction in which two buyers purchase a property, one as a resident co-owner and the other as an investor co-owner.

When a homeowners' association needs or wants extra funds, it levies a special assessment upon the owners.

A loan that allows a gradual increase in the interest rate during the first few years of the loan.

A second or third mortgage.

The non-cash value put into a piece of property by the owner, such as do-it-yourself home improvements.

An low, short-term rate offered on a mortgage to entice the borrower.

Ownership that involves the acquisition of a specific period of time, or that percentage of interest, in a vacation home or resort.

The actual legal document conferring ownership of a piece of real estate.

Firms that ensure that the title to a piece of property is clear and provide title insurance.

A policy issued to lenders and buyers to protect any losses because of a dispute over the ownership of a piece of property.

The percentage of monthly debt obligations relative to gross monthly income.

An attached home that is not a condominium.

Another term for a production home, a mass-produced house constructed by one builder in a project.

Any legal means by which a piece of real estate changes hands.

A federal law that protects consumers in a variety of ways. One of its key provisions allows a consumer to cancel a home-improvement loan, second mortgage or other loan if the home was pledged as security (except for a first mortgage or first trust deed) until midnight of the third business day after the contract was signed.

An adjustable mortgage with two interest rates, one for the first five or seven years of the loan, and the other for the remainder of the loan term.

The process that lenders go through to evaluate the risks posed by a particular borrower and to set appropriate conditions for the loan.

A federal agency that oversees the Federal Housing Administration and a variety of housing and community development programs.

Any loan that is not backed by collateral.

An interest rate that changes with fluctuations in such indexes as the U.S. Treasury bill index.

Part of the loan process, in which a lender will ask a borrower's bank to sign a statement verifying the borrower's account balances and history.

Part of the loan process, in which a lender asks the borrower's employer for confirmation of the borrower's position and salary.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates a variety of programs to help veterans. One of the key plans it oversees is the VA loan program, which allows most veterans to purchase a house without a down payment.

A program that allows most veterans to purchase a house without a down payment.

A loan to a buyer for the remaining balance on a seller's first mortgage and an additional amount requested by the seller. Payments on both loans are made to the lender who holds the wraparound loan.