Deed of Trust: A legal document that conveys title to real estate to a disinterested third 
party (trustee) who holds the title until the owner of the property has repaid 
the debt. In states where it is used, a Deed of Trust accomplishes essentially 
the same purpose as a Mortgage. 
Down Payment: A percentage of the cost of the home that is paid up front. 
Earnest Money: The deposit you make on the home when you submit the offer. This 
money is intended to show the seller that you are serious about wanting  
to purchase the property. Earnest money goes into an escrow account, 
and if the offer is accepted, the earnest money amount will be applied  
to either the down payment or closing costs. If the offer is not accepted, 
you will get the money back. 
Escrow: An account where money is held, either for earnest money or by the  
lender for fees due for taxes or insurance. 
Equity: The difference in what you owe on the home and its fair market value. 
FHA: Mortgages that are extended by private lenders, but insured by the  
Federal Housing Administration, often requiring a significantly lower  
down payment and lower incomes to qualify. 
Fixed Rate: The interest rate stays the same for the mortgage term. 
Foreclosure: The legal process by which an owner’s right to a property is terminated, 
usually due to default. Typically involves a forced sale of the property at 
public auction, with the proceeds being applied to the mortgage debt. 
Hybrid: A loan that starts with a fixed rate period and then converts to an 
adjustable rate. 
HUD: U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development 
Interest: The payment you make to the lender for the money you borrow. 
Interest-Only: A loan in which the borrower pays only the interest on the principal 
balance for a set period. 
Mortgage: The written instrument used to pledge a title to real estate as security for 
repayment of a Promissory Note. 
Mortgage Insurance: Insurance written in connection with a mortgage loan that indemnifies the lender in the event of borrower default. In connection with conventional 
loan transactions, this insurance is commonly referred to as Private 
Mortgage Insurance (PMI). 
Mortgage (Promissory) Note: A written promise to pay a sum of money at a stated interest rate during a specified term. It is typically secured by a mortgage. 
Net Income: The difference between effective gross income and expense including 
taxes and insurance. The term is qualified as net income before 
depreciation and debt. 
PMI: Private Mortgage Insurance – may be required for first-time buyers. 
Pre-Approval: A process in which a customer provides appropriate information on 
income, debts and assets that will be used to make a credit only loan 
decision. The customer typically has not identified a property to be 
purchased, however, a specific sales price and loan amount are used to 
make a loan decision. (The sales price and loan amount are based on 
customer assumptions) 
 
Pre-Qualification: A process designed to assist a customer in determining a maximum 
sales price, loan amount and PITI payment they are qualified for. A pre- 
qualification is not considered a loan approval. A customer would provide 
basic information (income, debts, assets) to be used to determine the 
maximum sales price, etc. 
Principal: The amount of your loan that you actually borrow.  
REO: Real estate (bank-) owned properties. 
Short Sale: When the seller’s lender accepts less than the amount owed to  
release the mortgage. 
Title: The evidence to the right to or ownership in property. In the case of real 
estate, the documentary evidence of ownership is the title deed, which 
specifies in whom the legal state is vested and the history of ownership 
and transfers. Title may be acquired through purchase, inheritance, devise, 
gift or through the foreclosure of a mortgage. 
Underwriting:  The process of evaluating a loan application to determine the risk involved for the lender. It involves an analysis of the borrower’s creditworthiness and 
the quality of the property itself. 
VA: Loans administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs for Americans 
who have served in the armed forces.
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