Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM): A mortgage in which the  interest rate is adjusted periodically according to a pre-selected index.

Alternative Financing: A home financing program that accommodates borrowers with special qualifying factors, including  unique employment, income or credit issues.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): A yearly percentage rate that expresses the total finance charge on a loan over its entire term. The APR includes the interest rate, fees, points and mortgage insurance,  and is therefore a more complete measure of the loan’s cost than the interest rate alone. The loan’s interest rate, not its APR, is used to  calculate the monthly principal and interest payment.

Appraisal: A report made by a qualified person setting forth and opinion or estimate of property value. The term also applies to the  process by which this estimate is obtained.

Bridge Loan: A form of second deed of trust or mortgage that is collateralized by the borrower’s present home (which is usually for  sale) in a manner that allows the proceeds to be used for closing on  a new home before the present home is sold.

Closing: The consummation of a real estate transaction. The closing  includes the delivery of a deed, financial adjustments, the signing of  notes and the disbursement of funds necessary to complete the sale and loan transaction.

Closing Costs: The costs paid by the mortgage borrower (and sometimes the seller) in addition to the purchase price of the property. These include the origination fee, discount points, appraisal, credit report, title insurance, attorney’s fees, survey and prepaid items such as tax and insurance escrow payments.

Commitment Letter: A formal offer by a lender stating the terms  under which it agrees to loan money to a home buyer.

Conventional Loan: A mortgage not obtained under a government  insured program (such as FHA or VA).

Debt-to-Income Ratio: A formula lenders use to determine the loan amount for which you may qualify. Also known as “backend  ratio”. Guidelines may vary depending on the loan program.

Deed: The legal document conveying title to a real property.

Escrow: An item of value, money or documents, deposited with a third party, to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition. For example,  the deposit by a borrower with the lender of funds to pay taxes and  insurance premiums when they become due, or the deposit of funds or documents with an attorney or escrow agent to be dispersed upon the closing of a sale of real estate. In some parts of the country, escrows of  taxes and insurance premiums are called impounds or reserves.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage: A mortgage which the interest rate and payments remain the same for the life of the loan.

Float the Rate: This term is used when a mortgage applicant chooses not to secure a rate lock, but instead allows the rate pricing to fluctuate until the applicant decides to lock in, usually no later than five days prior to closing.

Front-End Ratio: Also known as the housing expense-to-income ratio, it compares your proposed monthly home payment (PITI) to  your household gross monthly income.

Good Faith Estimate: A document which tells borrowers the approximate cost they will pay at or before settlement, based on common practice in the locality. Under requirements of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the mortgage banker or  the mortgage broker, if any must deliver the GFE to the applicant.

Government Loan: A mortgage insured by a government agency, such as FHA, VA, Farmers Home Administration, or a state bond program. The loans are generally made by private lenders, such as Academy Financial Services.

Home Mortgage Consultant: The Academy Financial Services  The Academy Financial Services representative to a homebuyer. Sometimes called a loan officer, account executive or sales representative.

Homeowners Insurance (also called Hazard Insurance): A real estate insurance policy required of the buyer protecting the property against loss caused by fire, some natural causes, vandalism, etc. The homeowners insurance policy may also include added coverage such as personal liability and theft away from the home.

HUD-1 Settlement Statement: A standard form used to disclose costs at closing.

Index: A published interest rate, such as the prime rate, LIBOR, T-Bill rate, or the 11th District COFI. Lenders use indexes to  establish interest rates charged on mortgages or to compare investment returns. On ARMs, a predetermined margin is added to  the index to compute the interest rate adjustment.

Interest Rate: The percentage of an amount of money which is paid for a specific time.

Interim Interest: The interest that accrues, on a per-diem basis, from the day of closing until the end of the month.

Leverage: Using credit or borrowed money to increase the rate of return for an investment. For example, by purchasing a $100,000 with 10% down, you are using just $10,000 to control the investment.

Lien: A legal claim or attachment against property as security for payment of an obligation.

Loan Conditions: These are the terms under which the lender agrees to make the loan. They include the interest rate, length of loan agreement, and any requirements the borrower must meet prior to closing.

Loan Payment Reserves: A requirement of many loan programs that, in addition to funds for the down payment and other purchase-related costs, you have saved enough money to cover one or two months of mortgage payments after your closing. Reserve requirements for loan programs may vary.

Loan Settlement: The conclusion of the mortgage transaction. This includes the delivery of a deed, the signing of notes, and the disbursement of funds necessary to the mortgage loan transaction.

Loan-to-Value (LTV): The ratio between the amount of a given mortgage loan and the lower sales price or appraised value.

Margin: The set percentage the lender adds to the index rate to determine the interest rate of an ARM.

Mortgagor: The borrower in a mortgage transaction who pledges property as security for a debt.

Mortgage Specialist: The Academy Financial Services employee responsible for collecting the completed application with all supporting documents before the entire loan packet is submitted to underwriting. Also known as the “processor”.

Non-Conforming Loan: Conventional home mortgages not eligible for sale and delivery to either FNMA or FHLMC because of various reasons, including loan amount, loan characteristics or underwriting guidelines.

Note: A general term for any kind of paper or document signed by a borrower that is an acknowledgement of the debt, and it, be inference, a promise to pay. When the note is secured by a mortgage, it is called a mortgage note and the mortgagee (lender) is named as the payee.

Origination Fee: The amount charged for services performed by the company handling the initial application and processing of the loan.

Points: A one-time charge by the lender to increase the yield of the loan, a point is 1% of the amount of the mortgage.

Pre-approval: A written commitment from a lender, subject to a property appraisal and other stated conditions, that lets you know exactly how much home you can afford.

Prepaids: Closing costs related to the mortgage loan which are collected at loan closing – including per diem pre-paid interest and initial deposits of monthly escrows of taxes and insurance.

Primary Residence: A residence which the borrower intends to occupy as the principal residence.

Principal: The amount borrowed or remaining unpaid; also, the part of the monthly payment that reduces the outstanding balance of the mortgage.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI):  Insurance written by a private company protecting the mortgage lender against loss resulting from a mortgage default.

Rate Cap: The limit of how much the interest rate may change on ARM at each adjustment and over the life of the loan.

Rate Lock: The borrower or lender agree to protect the interest rates points, and term of the loan while it is processed.

Title Insurance: An insurance policy that protects a lender and/or homebuyer (only if the homebuyer purchases a separate policy, called owner’s coverage) against any loss resulting from a title error or dispute.

Truth-In-Lending Statement: A Federal law requiring full disclosure of credit terms using a standard format. This is intended to facilitate comparisons between the lending terms and financial institutions.

Underwriting: Analysis of risk, determination of loan eligibility, and setting of an appropriate rate and terms for a mortgage on a given property for given borrowers.