| Giving You Knowledge & Power To Buy And Sell Real Estate. |
Your-Real-Estate-Resources.com |
| Basic Home Loan Terms Explained By Ethan Hunter |
The wonderful world of home buying can sometimes overwhelm the first time home buyer. They are inundated with
information riddled with terms of art. ARMS, points, interest rates, good faith estimates, pay-downs, lock-in dates, so
on and so forth. Though some or all of these terms may seem somewhat foreign to you, do not get overwhelmed,
there are simple explanations for each and every one of them.
Let us start with the different types of loans there are. Typically all home loans fall into two basic categories:
mortgages and home equity loans. Mortgages are simply a loan against property that is secured with a "mortgage".
This "mortgage" is basically a lien against the property until such time that loan is satisfied. So a mortgage is a loan
against property that is secured with a lien against it.
A home equity loan is a loan that is also secured with a lien against the property. The home equity loan lien is
secondary to the first mortgage on the home. This type of loan is based on the amount of equity in the house.
Equity is the difference in dollars between the value of the home and the amount owed on it. Equity can be a
positive number (the house is worth more than what is owed) or can be a negative number (negative equity) which
means that there is more owed on the house than the house is worth.
information riddled with terms of art. ARMS, points, interest rates, good faith estimates, pay-downs, lock-in dates, so
on and so forth. Though some or all of these terms may seem somewhat foreign to you, do not get overwhelmed,
there are simple explanations for each and every one of them.
Let us start with the different types of loans there are. Typically all home loans fall into two basic categories:
mortgages and home equity loans. Mortgages are simply a loan against property that is secured with a "mortgage".
This "mortgage" is basically a lien against the property until such time that loan is satisfied. So a mortgage is a loan
against property that is secured with a lien against it.
A home equity loan is a loan that is also secured with a lien against the property. The home equity loan lien is
secondary to the first mortgage on the home. This type of loan is based on the amount of equity in the house.
Equity is the difference in dollars between the value of the home and the amount owed on it. Equity can be a
positive number (the house is worth more than what is owed) or can be a negative number (negative equity) which
means that there is more owed on the house than the house is worth.
A lien is simply a legal term
that indicates that someone
other than the homeowner
has a legal right and
interest in the property. So,
if the property is ever sold,
all liens need to be
satisfied - any money owed
to anyone with a lien must
be paid, otherwise the new
owner may become
obligated to pay the
amount owed. A lien is
against property, not a
person.
that indicates that someone
other than the homeowner
has a legal right and
interest in the property. So,
if the property is ever sold,
all liens need to be
satisfied - any money owed
to anyone with a lien must
be paid, otherwise the new
owner may become
obligated to pay the
amount owed. A lien is
against property, not a
person.
Typically in all real estate transactions there will be a title search that will reveal any liens against the property. This
title search is basically an examination over anyone and anything that may have some legal interest, obligation or
right to the property.
If there are multiple home loans on a property the order they are paid in is the oldest to the newest. This is only a
factor if the property is being sold for below what is owed. This is either through a "short sale" where the house is
being sold by the homeowner for below the amount that is owed in the house. They will need approval from all lien
holders in order to do this. This is also an issue if a house falls into foreclosure.
Within these two types of loans you will want to know the difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and a variable
rate mortgage. A variable or adjustable rate mortgage is an ARM. Fixed-rate mortgages have the same interest rate
from the first day of the loan to the last day of the loan unless it is refinanced. A fixed rate or variable rate loan will
generally start off for a period of time at a specified rate and then after that period ends, if the loan has not been
paid off or refinanced then the rate becomes adjustable based on specific conditions set forth in advance - typically
tied to the federal interest rate. An ARM loan will have typically a 3 or 5 year period during which the rate is lower
than the going rate. This is used to entice would-be borrowers or help borrowers have lower payments for the initial
period.
"Points" are often discussed in connection with loan packages and interest rates. You can "pay down" an interest
rate by paying points for example. What this means is you can pay for a lower interest rate if you pay a specified
number of points. Points are simply one percent of the loan amount. So a $100,000 loan equates to $1000 for
every point.
Another term you will often here is PMI, private mortgage insurance. PMI is insurance for your lender when the
amount you borrow is more than 80% of the value of the property. In these cases the borrower needs to pay for this
insurance policy. The calculation for your monthly PMI payment is 0.5% of your loan amount divided by twelve.
Tied to the calculation of PMI, as well as many other factors of the loan is an appraisal. An appraisal is a
determination by a real estate professional of what the value of the property is. They will evaluate the property and
similar properties in the area. They will consider market trends, recent sales and other factors to give an estimate
on what the property is worth and would sell for.
Another potential add-on to your monthly payments is escrow payments. Escrow is money that is being held typically
to pay taxes. Your lender will collect 1/12 of your yearly taxes every month in order to be assured that your taxes
are paid. Your lender then makes your required tax payments. Typically your lender will have a cushion in the
escrow account of 2 - 3 months in case you fall behind in your payments.
Though there are many more terms you may encounter these are the most often used, misunderstood terms.
During the home loan process, however, you should never feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask what a term
means. The more you know the better off you will be.
About the author:
Ethan Hunter is the author of many credit related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans or any type of credit issue please
visit us at http://www.homeloanave.com
title search is basically an examination over anyone and anything that may have some legal interest, obligation or
right to the property.
If there are multiple home loans on a property the order they are paid in is the oldest to the newest. This is only a
factor if the property is being sold for below what is owed. This is either through a "short sale" where the house is
being sold by the homeowner for below the amount that is owed in the house. They will need approval from all lien
holders in order to do this. This is also an issue if a house falls into foreclosure.
Within these two types of loans you will want to know the difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and a variable
rate mortgage. A variable or adjustable rate mortgage is an ARM. Fixed-rate mortgages have the same interest rate
from the first day of the loan to the last day of the loan unless it is refinanced. A fixed rate or variable rate loan will
generally start off for a period of time at a specified rate and then after that period ends, if the loan has not been
paid off or refinanced then the rate becomes adjustable based on specific conditions set forth in advance - typically
tied to the federal interest rate. An ARM loan will have typically a 3 or 5 year period during which the rate is lower
than the going rate. This is used to entice would-be borrowers or help borrowers have lower payments for the initial
period.
"Points" are often discussed in connection with loan packages and interest rates. You can "pay down" an interest
rate by paying points for example. What this means is you can pay for a lower interest rate if you pay a specified
number of points. Points are simply one percent of the loan amount. So a $100,000 loan equates to $1000 for
every point.
Another term you will often here is PMI, private mortgage insurance. PMI is insurance for your lender when the
amount you borrow is more than 80% of the value of the property. In these cases the borrower needs to pay for this
insurance policy. The calculation for your monthly PMI payment is 0.5% of your loan amount divided by twelve.
Tied to the calculation of PMI, as well as many other factors of the loan is an appraisal. An appraisal is a
determination by a real estate professional of what the value of the property is. They will evaluate the property and
similar properties in the area. They will consider market trends, recent sales and other factors to give an estimate
on what the property is worth and would sell for.
Another potential add-on to your monthly payments is escrow payments. Escrow is money that is being held typically
to pay taxes. Your lender will collect 1/12 of your yearly taxes every month in order to be assured that your taxes
are paid. Your lender then makes your required tax payments. Typically your lender will have a cushion in the
escrow account of 2 - 3 months in case you fall behind in your payments.
Though there are many more terms you may encounter these are the most often used, misunderstood terms.
During the home loan process, however, you should never feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask what a term
means. The more you know the better off you will be.
About the author:
Ethan Hunter is the author of many credit related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans or any type of credit issue please
visit us at http://www.homeloanave.com
| Terms and Conditions, Privacy Statement, Disclaimer © Copyright Market Leaders Ebooks. All Rights Reserved. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
Home Mortgage Loans >> Mortgage Refinancing \ Home Loan Lending \ Home Loan Mortgages \ Home Loans Terms \
Mortgage Bridge Loans \ Mortgage Refinance Loans \ Home Equity Loans \ Mortgage Terms Explained
Mortgage Bridge Loans \ Mortgage Refinance Loans \ Home Equity Loans \ Mortgage Terms Explained
