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Bank Foreclosures Information at Business.com Advertiser Center · Help Web News People Jobs Search the Business Internet ® Bank Foreclosures Foreclosure property listings and information. Home > Real Estate & Construction > Property Listings > Foreclosure > Bank Owned Sponsored Links Better Than Foreclosures Buy houses pennies on the dollar without any mortgage payments. www.taxliensdirect.com Bank Repo Properties Details, Photos, Location Map and Contact Information, Updated Daily RealEstateForeclosures.net Bank Foreclosure Buy Foreclosures from price Search 600,000 listings for only $1 www.Bargain.com/Foreclosures Find Foreclosed Homes Search 400,000 Properties free. Join RealtyTrac and save big. www.RealtyTrac.com Free List Of Foreclosures Discover foreclosure homes for sale in your neighborhood. Free Service Free-List-of-Foreclosures.com Pre Foreclosure Listings Most up-to-date lists available Az, Ca, Fl, Mi, Nm, Nv, Wa www.defaultresearch.com Popular Searches bank foreclosure bank foreclosures bank homes bank owned bank owned forclosures bank owned foreclosures bank owned homes bank owned properties bank owned property « more more popular searches [x] Bank Owned Property Foreclosure bank-owned forclosures Bank-Owned Property Forclosure Featured Listings RealtyStore: Bank Foreclosures Save 20 - 50% on Foreclosure and HUD real estate. Ideal for investors, bargain hunters and first timers. Free trial membership (Credit Card required). www.realtystore.com Sponsored Links Bank Foreclosure Listings Find Current Bank and Government Foreclosures Nationwide Now. Free! www.BankHouses.com Stop Foreclosure Now 7 Programs That Stop Foreclosure. 20 Years Helping People Keep Homes. US-Loss-Mitigation-Advantage.com I'm Paying Cash For Homes Any Price, Condition, Or Location Sell Your Home Quickly & Easily www.webuyhomesaz.com Free Foreclosure Service No Money Down Homes Search Foreclosure Listings Free iForeclosures.com Bank Foreclosure Search 500,000 National Foreclosure Reos, Auctions & Trustee Sales Free www.bankhomesdirect.com Listings All Foreclosure Information Foreclosure information & database. all-foreclosure.com Bank of America Foreclosure Property Listings. www.bankofamerica.com Bates Foreclosure Report Subscription based service providing lists of real estate foreclosures. www.brucebates.com Fannie Mae-Owned Properties Single family homes available for sale. fanniemae.com Foreclose Foreclosure listings and resources. www.foreclose.com Foreclosure Databank Online foreclosure listings web site provides over 600,000 bank foreclosures listed in its database, making it a convenient marketplace for homeowners and real estate professionals. www.foreclosuredatabank.com Foreclosure Free Search Foreclosure listing service. foreclosurefreesearch.com ForeclosureNet.net: Listings for Bank Owned Foreclosures Offers bank foreclosure and government foreclosured property listings across the US. Includes homes, rental properties, retail, and commercial. Free Trial. Free Trial | Search Listings | Foreclosure Info. | Testimonials www.foreclosurenet.net Freddie Mac Home Steps Real Estate Searchable database of homes for sale-financing options. www.homesteps.com Green Point Financial Official website of Green Point Financial. www.greenpoint.com Intergrated Asset Services Providing nationwide valuation, management and marketing of Bank-owned real estate. www.iasreo.com Maryland HUD www.mdhud.com Pearson - Skaife Real Estate Professional Real Estate Services with John Skaife in Vacaville, California. pearson-skaife.com Premiere Asset Services Offers services to clients who seek professional servicing of REO's. www.premierereo.com RealtyStore: Bank Foreclosures Save 20 - 50% on Foreclosure and HUD real estate. Ideal for investors, bargain hunters and first timers. Free trial membership (Credit Card required). www.realtystore.com Sponsored Links Bank Foreclosure Listings Find Current Bank and Government Foreclosures Nationwide Now. Free! www.BankHouses.com Stop Foreclosure Now 7 Programs That Stop Foreclosure. 20 Years Helping People Keep Homes. US-Loss-Mitigation-Advantage.com I'm Paying Cash For Homes Any Price, Condition, Or Location Sell Your Home Quickly & Easily www.webuyhomesaz.com Free Foreclosure Service No Money Down Homes Search Foreclosure Listings Free iForeclosures.com Bank Foreclosure Search 500,000 National Foreclosure Reos, Auctions & Trustee Sales Free www.bankhomesdirect.com Search the Business Internet ® Advertiser Center | Account Login | About Us | Careers at Business.com | Featured Listings Privacy | Terms Of Use | 2000-2005 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Sell House

Selling Your Home, Sell home, selling a house, selling house, sell your home - Home Services Mortgages Research Moving Zero Down Appraisals -- -- A Simple Guide for Selling a Home on Your Own Preface: Why sell yourself? Selling a home yourself, without an expensive real estate broker is easier than most people think. However, it will take some work on your part. You will be doing a lot of things that a real estate agent might normally do. Just follow the For Sale By Owner.com step-by-step selling guide below, and you'll not only save lots of money, but we'll make the house selling process as effortless as possible It's the money! Sellers save thousands of dollars not paying a 6% or 7% commission. For example, if your home can sell for $250,000, youd save $15,000 to $17,500 in commissions. Sell Your Home Fast. Because you are not paying an outrageous selling commission, you can afford to price your home more aggressively. The lower the price, the more likely it sells fast. You will still walk away with thousands in savings, but you'll just be doing it faster. It's so easy. Despite what a real estate broker may say, selling a house is not rocket science. They know that, and soon you will too. Just follow the simple selling steps below. And, if you have any questions, call us and one of our representatives will try to answer any questions you may have. You are not alone - For Sale By Owner.com will help you every step of the way. We are one of the largest and fastest growing real estate service companies in America. In fact, our web site is one of the top-five most visited real estate sites in America. Thousands of eager home buyers visit us everyday. Perhaps one of them is looking for a home just like yours. Over the past five years, we've helped sell thousands of homes, saving home owners millions of dollars. So let's get started. 8 Easy Steps to Selling a Home Yourself Step 1. Preparing your home to sell - make it look great Presentation is everything! Home buyers are attracted to clean, spacious and attractive houses. Your goal is to dazzle buyers. Brighten-up the house and remove all clutter from counter tops, tables and rooms. Scrub-down your house from top to bottom. Make it sparkle. Simple aesthetic improvements such as trimming trees, planting flowers, fixing squeaking steps, broken tiles, shampooing rugs and even re-painting a faded bedroom will greatly enhance the appeal of your house. Also, make sure your house smells good. That's right, clean out the cat box and light mildly scented candles. Invite a neighbor over to walk through your house like a buyer would. Get their opinion on how it "shows." The stuffed donkey in the family room may have to go to your in-laws for a while. Step 2. Pricing your home effectively Do not over price your home. Over-pricing when you sell a home reduces buyer interest, makes competing homes look like better values, and can lead to mortgage rejections once the appraisal is in. Over-pricing when selling a home is the single biggest reason why many "for sale by owner" home sellers don't sell their homes successfully. Remember: the home selling market dictates the price (not what you think it should be worth). One of the best ways to correctly price your house when selling is to find out how much other homes, similar to your own, recently sold for in your neighborhood. Talk to home sellers, buyers and check out the real estate listings in your local newspaper. Typically, if you set the price of your home at 5 to 10 percent above the market price, you are likely to end up with an offer close to your home's true value. Also, you may try calculating the cost per square foot of your home compared to the house selling prices in your area (divide list price by square footage of livable space). If your house has more features or other desirable qualities, you may want to set a slightly higher house selling price. The easiest way to accurately price your home is to contact your local home appraiser . Finally, set your house selling price just under a whole number, such as $169,900 rather than $170,000. Step 3. Get a real estate lawyer Even though it's an additional expense, it may be wise to hire a lawyer who will protect your interests throughout the entire transaction. An experienced real estate lawyer can help you evaluate complicated offers (those with a variety of conditions), act as an escrow agent to hold the down payment, evaluate complex mortgages and/or leases with options to buy, review contracts and handle your home's closing process. They can also tell you what things, by law, you must disclose to buyers prior to a sale and can also help you avoid inadvertently discriminating against any potential buyers. In some areas, title companies will handle all aspects of the transaction and have in-house legal departments that can assist you with legal issues that may arise. To locate a title company in your area, click here . Unless you're significantly experienced in the home selling process, having a real estate lawyer at your side provides peace-of-mind. You know you've got someone looking out for your interests, not just the buyers. To locate a lawyer in your area, click here Step 4. Marketing your home Exposure, exposure, exposure. That's how sellers sell their home fast. For Sale By Owner.com provides extensive home exposure because over 700,000 unique visitors come to the web site each month (that's Internet-speak for new people). In fact, For Sale By Owner.com is one of the top-five most visited real estate web sites in the U.S. getting literally millions of visitors looking to buy or sell a home. We spend tens of thousands of dollars a month to assure that For Sale By Owner.com is prominently placed on Internet search engines so buyers can easily find our site throughout process of selling your home. If your home is in a market where For Sale By Owner.com has a mass-distributed magazine, your home's exposure will be even greater because they can be found at thousands of locations frequented by buyers that include grocery stores, shopping centers, convenience stores and restaurants (the magazine is in over 40 markets nationwide). Writing your sell ad While For Sale By Owner.com allows you a 3,000 word description of your house (try to afford that in a newspaper ad), your advertising copy should be thorough yet short, simple and to-the-point. Long, flowery prose will not make your house sound more appealing. It will simply make it harder for the home buyer to read. Make sure to provide the critical facts buyers are looking for such as the house's number of bathrooms, a re-modeled kitchen, etc. Most home buyers quickly scan ads, so it is important that your house stands out. For example, you may want to add a theme-line such as "Priced below market" or "Great schools." Stay away from industry jargon and use language that makes home buyers comfortable. Survey our web site and see how others have written their ads. You will quickly see which are "buyer friendly." Copy their approach for your ad. Home Photos: Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words If you are taking a photo of your home, be sure that the home's yard/driveway is uncluttered. Remove bikes, garbage cans and parked cars. The same applies for interior shots. People are looking to buy your house, not your possessions. Think of furniture as props and the room a stage. Move things around if you have to. Also, take lots of house photos. Film is cheap...your home deserves quality. The more you shoot, the better the odds are that you'll get a few really good shots. Lawn signs Lawn signs are one the most important marketing tools for home sellers. They attract attention to your home. Professionally-produced signs (like the ones we can send to you) telegraph to home buyers a "quality" image of your house. Directional signs also help drive buyers to your property, especially if you do not live on a busy street. Open houses Open houses are sometimes a good way to attract buyers to your home. Typically, real estate agents conduct open houses for two reasons; 1. Clients expect them 2. They are a good way to attract buyers, not just for the open house but for all houses for sale in the Real Estate Agent's area (yes, your competition). The fact is that very few houses sell due to a open house itself. Home Brochures/Information sheets It is a good idea to create an information sheet (with a photo) about your home to give potential buyers. Consider printing copies of your ad from For Sale By Owner.com to give to people who visit your home. The MLS The MLS or Multiple Listing Service can also help market your home, particularly to real estate agents who may know of buyers seeking a property like yours. The MLS is a directory used by real estate agents to announce to other agents that they have a home for sale. In many selling markets, For Sale By Owner.com can put your house on the MLS (for an additional fee). However, if a real estate agent finds you a buyer after seeing your home on the MLS, you must usually pay that agent a 2.5% to 3% commission (the law states that all commissions are negotiable, however). You are your home's best salesman As every salesman knows, to be effective you have to really know your product. And who knows your home better than you? Certainly not a real estate agent, who, in all likelihood, has spent only a few moments in your house before showing it to prospective buyers. Sell your neighborhood as well as your house. Show enthusiasm, but don't get caught-up talking too much about how "your daughter spent the best years of her life in this very room." Step 5. Negotiating an offer on your home When a home buyer makes an offer (this is often presented to you directly from the buyer or through their lawyer), you should consult with your attorney. Buyers and sellers have an Attorney Review Period, which is usually three days, to cancel or amend the offer. The offer becomes a contract at the end of the Attorney Review Period, and is binding. Many of your home's offers can be complicated and contain special clauses that favor the buyer. Purchase price isn't everything. Carefully consider the purchase contract's other terms and conditions. Too many contingencies can leave loopholes and cause a deal to collapse. Especially avoid contingencies that favor the house's buyer, such as linking the escrow closing date to the buyer's sale of their current home. If the buyer insists on such terms, include a so-called kick-out clause in the contract that will allow you to consider other offers if the buyer isn't able to sell within a certain period of time. Assess your buyer's financial qualifications Is the buyer pre-approved? How much of a loan is the buyer seeking? Unless you are in an active market, lenders tend to shy away from underwriting a deal in which the purchase price is higher than the nearest comparable sale and the buyer is putting less than 10% down. If this is the case, your buyer may not be able to obtain financing. Know the home selling market How you judge an offer also can depend on market conditions. If the selling market is slow, you may feel vulnerable, especially if circumstances are pressing you to sell. Make sure any offer you accept does not keep you in escrow longer than 30 days. In a hot market where multiple offers are likely, be wary of countering more than one offer at a time (you could end up in legal trouble if two buyers both accept your counter offer). Also be wary of offers that promise more money but contain poor contract terms (long escrow, multiple contingencies, etc.). If you feel the home's offer is insufficient, make a counter offer. Rarely is a first offer the buyer's absolute highest price they are willing to pay. Negotiating is part of the home selling process. Again, your lawyer should review the details of all offers. Step 6. Home inspections All standard real estate contracts are going to give the prospective home buyer the right to inspect your property - so be prepared. Under a general inspection you are obligated to make major repairs to appliances, plumbing, septic, electrical and heating systems - or the buyer may cancel the offer. The inspection will also include your property's roof, as well as a termite inspection (in some states, house sellers must provide proof that the home is termite free). If you are concerned about how your home will fair when inspected, you may want to visit your local inspector . They can conduct an inspection for you before a potential buyer has one done. This way, you can address the problems before a buyer stumbles upon them. Once the inspections are complete, the buyer makes an application to a mortgage lender. Step 7. Buyer appraisals and other details The mortgage lender will order an appraisal of your home to make sure they are not paying more than the house is worth. They may also order a surveyor to make sure that the property boundaries are properly laid out. They will also order a title search to determine if there are any liens against your property. These tasks are all the responsibility of the buyer and/or their attorney. At this point too, the mortgage company will issue a commitment . Again, the buyer (and their attorney) must complete all conditions listed on the mortgage commitment. Prior to closing, you should notify your lender that you will be paying off your mortgage. After a closing date has been agreed to, you should contact your utility providers and advise them of your final billing date. Step 8. Closing The day of the closing , the home's buyer will do a "walk through" of the property to make sure all agreed repairs are completed and that the home is in the same condition as when the buyer made their offer. If problems arise that this point, the closing can still take place with funds held in escrow to remedy the problem. Closings usually occur 30 - 45 days after you have signed the sales contract. Depending on what state you reside in, you may close with an attorney, or with a title company. At the closing, all monies will be collected, any existing loans or liens will be paid, the deed will be transferred, and insurance will be issued insuring a free and clear title. The home seller will receive the proceeds of their home in one to two business days after the closing. Conclusion This step-by-step home selling guide is a general overview of the process when selling a home. Each state has slightly different laws and customs as they relate to the transaction process. Selling a home yourself can be time consuming, but the financial rewards can be tremendous. With help from For Sale By Owner.com , we try to make the process of home selling on your own as easy as possible. For Sale By Owner.com Your experts in selling a home on your own. -- Privacy & Disclaimer Partner With Us Career Opportunities Press Room Contact Us Buying A Home Your Credit Report Terms and Conditions Home Selling Tips Selling Your Home © 1997-2005 For Sale By Owner.com Your source for selling a home on your own. We make the home selling process a cinch. Sell real estate, sell a home, and sell your house, fsbo. Real estate selling, home selling, house selling. Site Map Home

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Ginnie Mae: Your Path to Homeownership -- -- Glossary of Terms Select the first letter of the word from the list below to jump to the appropriate section of the glossary. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z - A - abstract of title A historical summary provided by a title insurance company of all records affecting the title to a property. acceleration clause A clause that allows a lender to declare the entire outstanding balance of a loan immediately due and payable should a borrower violate specific loan provisions or default on the loan. adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) A variable or flexible rate mortgage with an interest rate that varies according to the financial index it is based upon. To limit the borrower's risk, the ARM may have a payment or rate cap. See also: cap . amenities Features of your home that fit your preferences and can increase the value of your property. Some examples include the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or vicinity to public transportation. amortization The liquidation of a debt by regular, usually monthly, installments of principal and interest. An amortization schedule is a table showing the payment amount, interest, principal and unpaid balance for the entire term of the loan. annual cap See: cap . annual percentage rate (A.P.R.) The actual interest rate, taking into account points and other finance charges, for the projected life of a mortgage. Disclosure of APR is required by the Truth-in-Lending Law and allows borrowers to compare the actual costs of different mortgage loans. appraisal An estimate of a property's value as of a given date, determined by a qualified professional appraiser. The value may be based on replacement cost, the sales of comparable properties or the property's income-producing ability. appreciation A property's increase in value due to inflation or economic factors. A.P.R. See: annual percentage rate . ARM See: adjustable rate mortgage . assessment Charges levied against a property for tax purposes or to pay for municipal or association improvements such as curbs, sewers, or grounds maintenance. assignment The transfer of a contract or a right to buy property at given rates and terms from a mortgagee to another person. assumption An agreement between a buyer and a seller, requiring lender approval, where the buyer takes over the payments for a mortgage and accepts the liability. Assuming a loan can be advantageous for a buyer because there are no closing costs and the loan's interest rate may be lower than current market rates. Depending on what is in the mortgage or deed of trust, the lender may raise the interest rate, require the buyer to qualify for the mortgage, or not permit the buyer to assume the loan at all. Go to Top - B - balloon mortgage Mortgage with a final lump sum payment that is greater than preceding payments and pays the loan in full. biweekly mortgage A loan requiring payments of principal and interest at two-week intervals. This type of loan amortizes much faster than monthly payment loans. The payment for a biweekly mortgage is half what a monthly payment would be. bond A certificate serving as security for payment of a debt. Bonds backed by mortgage loans are pooled together and sold in the secondary market . bridge loan A loan to "bridge" the gap between the termination of one mortgage and the beginning of another, such as when a borrower purchases a new home before receiving cash proceeds from the sale of a prior home. Also known as a swing loan. broker An intermediary between the borrower and the lender. The broker may represent several lending sources and charges a fee or commission for services. buy-down A type of mortgage which requires the buyer to pay additional discount points or make a substantial down payment in return for a below market interest rate. Another form of a buy-down is one in which the seller offers 3-2-1 interest payment plans or pays closing costs such as the origination fee. During times of high interest rates buy-downs may induce buyers to purchase property they might otherwise not have purchased. Go to Top - C - cap A limit in how much an adjustable rate mortgage's monthly payment or interest rate can increase. A cap is meant to protect the borrower from large increases and may be a payment cap, an interest cap, a life-of-loan cap or an annual cap. A payment cap is a limit on the monthly payment. An interest cap is a limit on the amount of the interest rate. A life-of-loan cap restricts the amount the interest rate can increase over the entire term of the loan. An annual cap limits the amount the interest rate can increase over a twelve-month period. certificate of reasonable value (CRV) A Veterans Administration appraisal that establishes the maximum VA mortgage loan amount for a specified property. certificate of title A document rendering an opinion on the status of a property's title based on public records. closed-end mortgage A mortgage principal amount that is fixed and cannot be increased during the life of the loan. See also: open-end mortgage . closing costs Costs payable by both seller and buyer at the time of settlement, when the purchase of a property is finalized. These costs can be up to ten percent of the mortgage amount and usually include but are not limited to the following: Fees Paid to the Lender Fees Paid in Advance Other Charges O rigination fee D iscount points C redit report fee A ppraisal fee A ssumption fee if loan is assumed I nterest from the closing date to the beginning of the 1st payment H azard insurance premium M ortgage insurance premium T itle search and title insurance S ales commissions L egal and recording fees I nspection and survey fees P roperty taxes and other adjustments P rocessing and document preparation fees cloud A claim to the title of a property that, if valid, would prevent a purchaser from obtaining a clear title. collateral Something of value pledged as security for a loan. In mortgage lending the property itself serves as collateral for a mortgage loan. commitment fee A fee charged when a) an agreement is reached between a lender and a borrower for a loan at a specific rate and points and b) the lender guarantees to lock in that rate. co-mortgagor One who is individually and jointly obligated to repay a mortgage loan and shares ownership of the property with one or more borrowers. See also: co-signer . condominium An individually owned unit within a multi-unit building where others or the Condominium Owners Association share ownership of common areas such as grounds, parking facilities and tennis courts. conforming loan A loan that conforms to Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) guidelines. See also: non-conforming loan . construction loan A short-term loan financing improvements to real estate, such as the building of a new home. The lender advances funds to the borrower as needed while construction progresses. Upon completion of the construction the borrower must obtain permanent financing or repay the construction loan in full. consumer handbook on adjustable rate mortgages (C.H.A.R.M.) A disclosure required by the federal government to be given to any borrower applying for an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). conventional loan A mortgage loan that is not insured, guaranteed or funded by the Veterans Administration (VA), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Rural Economic Community Development (RECD) (formerly Farmers Home Administration). convertible mortgage An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) that allows a borrower to switch to a fixed-rate mortgage at a specified point in the loan term. co-signer A person who is obligated to repay a mortgage loan should the borrower default but who does not share ownership in the property. See also: co-mortgagor . covenants Rules and restrictions governing the use of property. CRV See: certificate of reasonable value . curtailments The borrower's privilege to make payments on a loan's principal before they are due. Paying off a mortgage before it is due may incur a penalty if so specified in the mortgage's prepayment clause. Go to Top - D - debt Money owed to repay someone. debt-to-income ratio The ratio between a borrower's monthly payment obligations divided by his or her net effective income (FHA or VA loans) or gross monthly income (conventional loans). deed The legal document that transfers the ownership of real property from one party to another. deed of trust A document, used in many states in place of a mortgage , held by a trustee pending repayment of the loan. The advantage of a deed of trust is that the trustee does not have to go to court to proceed with foreclosure should the borrower default on the loan. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) The U.S. government agency that administers FHA, GNMA and other housing programs. discount points A percentage of the loan amount paid to the lender to buy down the interest rate. Each point is one percent of the loan amount; for example, two points on a $100,000 mortgage is $2,000. down payment The difference between the purchase price and mortgage amount. The down payment becomes the property equity. Typically it comes from cash savings, but it can also be a gift that is not to be repaid or a borrowed amount secured by assets. due-on-sale A clause in a mortgage or deed of trust allowing a lender to require immediate payment of the balance of the loan if the property is sold (subject to the terms of the security instrument). duplex A dwelling divided into two units. Go to Top - E - earnest money A deposit in the form of cash or a note given to a seller by a buyer as good faith assurance that the buyer intends to go through with the purchase of a property. easement The right one party has in regard to the property of another, such as the right of a public utility company to lay lines. Equal Credit Opportunity Act A federal law prohibiting lenders and other creditors from discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, receipt of public assistance or because an applicant has exercised his or her rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. equity The value of a property beyond any liens against it. Also referred to as owner's interest. escape clause A provision allowing one party or more to cancel all or part of the contract if certain events fail to happen, such as the ability of the buyer to obtain financing within a specified period. escrow Money placed with a third party for safekeeping either for final closing on a property or for payment of taxes and insurance throughout the year. Go to Top - F - fair market value The price a property can realistically sell for, based upon comparable selling prices of other properties in the same area. Fannie Mae Nickname for Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) . Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac) A quasi-governmental, federally-sponsored organization that acts as a secondary market investor to buy and sell mortgage loans. FHLMC sets many of the guidelines for conventional mortgage loans, as does FNMA. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) An agency within the Department of Housing and Urban Development that sets underwriting standards and insures residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. One of FHA's objectives is to help make affordable mortgages available to homeowners with low or moderate income. FHA loans may be high loan-to-value, and they are limited by loan amount. FHA mortgage insurance requires a fee of 1.5 percent of the loan amount to be paid at closing, as well as an annual fee of 0.5 percent of the loan amount added to each monthly payment. Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae) A private corporation that acts as a secondary market investor to buy and sell mortgage loans. FNMA sets many of the guidelines for conventional mortgage loans, as does FHLMC. The major purpose of this organization is to make mortgage money more affordable and more available. fee simple The maximum form of ownership, with the right to occupy a property and sell it to a buyer at any time. Upon the death of the owner, the property goes to the owner's designated heirs. Also known as fee absolute . FHA See: Federal Housing Administration . fifteen-year mortgage A loan with a term of 15 years. Although the monthly payment on a 15-year mortgage is higher than that of a 30-year mortgage, the amount of interest paid over the life of the loan is substantially less. fixed-rate mortgage A mortgage whose rate remains constant throughout the life of the mortgage. flood insurance A form of insurance that protects the owner of the insured property against losses stemming from flood damage. The Federal Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 requires that federally-regulated lenders determine if real estate to be used to secure a loan is located in a Specially Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). If the property is located in a SFHA area, the borrower must obtain and maintain flood insurance on the property. Most insurance agents can assist in obtaining flood insurance. FNMA See: Federal National Mortgage Association . Freddie Mac Nickname for Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) . Go to Top - G - gift A sum of money, including amounts from a relative or a grant from the borrower's employer, a municipality, non-profit religious organization, or non-profit community organization that does not have to be repaid. Ginnie Mae Nickname for Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) . good faith estimate The estimate on closing costs and monthly mortgage payments provided by a lender to the homebuyer within 3 days of applying for a loan. Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae) A government organization that participates in the secondary market , securitizing pools of FHA, VA, and RHS loans. graduated payment mortgage (GPM) A fixed-interest loan with lower payments in the early years than in the later years. The amount of the payment gradually increases over a period of time and then levels off at a payment sufficient to pay off the loan over the remaining amortization period. Go to Top - H - hazard insurance A form of insurance that protects the owner of the insured property against losses from physical damage such as fire and tornadoes. Mortgage lenders often require a borrower to maintain an amount of hazard insurance on the property that is equal at least to the amount of the mortgage loan. home equity loan A mortgage on the borrower's principal residence, usually for the purpose of making home improvements or debt consolidation. home inspection A thorough review of the physical aspects and condition of a home by a professional home inspector. This inspection should be completed prior to closing so that any repairs or changes can be completed before the transfer of the home is completed. homeowners insurance A form of insurance that protects the owner of the insured property against loss from theft, liability and most common disasters. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) The U.S. government agency that administers FHA, GNMA and other housing programs. housing affordability index An index that indicates what proportion of homebuyers can afford to buy an average-priced home in specified areas. The most well known housing affordability index is published by the National Association of Realtors. housing expenses-to-income ratio See: debt-to-income ratio . HUD See: Housing and Urban Development . Go to Top - I - income approach to value A method used by real estate appraisers to predict a property's anticipated future income. Income property includes shopping centers, hotels, motels, restaurants, apartment buildings, office space, etc. income-to-debt ratio See: debt-to-income ratio . index A published interest rate compiled from other indicators such as U.S. Treasury bills or the monthly average interest rate on loans closed by savings and loan organizations. Mortgage lenders use the index figure to establish rates on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). insurance As a part of PITI, the amount of the monthly mortgage payment that does not include the principal, interest, and taxes. Also see: homeowners insurance . interest The amount of the entire mortgage loan which does not include the principal. Also, as a part of PITI, the amount of the monthly mortgage payment which does not include the principal, taxes, and insurance. interest cap See: cap interest rate The simple interest rate, stated as a percentage, charged by a lender on the principal amount of borrowed money. See also: Annual Percentage Rate . Go to Top - J - joint tenancy See: tenancy . jumbo loan A nonconforming loan that is larger than the limits set by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) guidelines. Go to Top - K - key lot Real estate deemed highly valuable because of its location. Go to Top - L - lien A claim against a property for the payment of a debt. A mortgage is a lien; other types of liens a property might have include a tax lien for overdue taxes or a mechanic's lien for unpaid debt to a subcontractor. life-of-loan cap See: cap . liquidity The ease with which an asset can be converted into cash. loan discount See: points . loan origination fee See: origination fee . loan-to-value ratio (LTV) The relationship, expressed as a percentage, between the amount of the proposed loan and a property's appraised value. For example, a $75,000 loan on a property appraised at $100,000 is a 75% loan-to-value ratio. lock-in The guaranty of a specific interest rate and/or points for a specific period of time. Some lenders will charge a fee for locking in an interest rate. Go to Top - M - maintenance costs The cost of the upkeep of the house. These costs may be minor in cost and nature (replacing washers in the faucets) or major in cost and nature (new heating system or a new roof) and can apply to either the interior or exterior of the house. margin The amount a lender adds to the index of an adjustable rate mortgage to establish an adjusted interest rate. For example, a margin of 1.50 added to a 7 percent index establishes an adjusted interest rate of 8.50 percent. market value The price a property can realistically sell for, based upon comparable selling prices of other properties in the same geographical area. modification A change in the terms of the mortgage note, such as a reduction in the interest rate or a change in maturity date. mortgage A legal instrument in which property serves as security for the repayment of a loan. In some states, a deed of trust is used rather than a mortgage. mortgage banker A lender that originates, closes, services and sells mortgage loans to the secondary market . mortgage broker An intermediary between a borrower and a lender. A mortgage broker's expertise lies in helping borrowers find financing that they might not otherwise find themselves. mortgage insurance Money paid to insure the lender against loss due to foreclosure or loan default. Mortgage insurance is required on conventional loans with less than a 20 percent down payment. FHA mortgage insurance requires a payment of 1.5 percent of the loan amount to be paid at closing, as well as an annual fee of 0.5 percent of the loan amount added to each monthly payment. mortgage interest The interest rate charge for borrowing the money for the mortgage. It is used to calculate the interest payment on the mortgage each month. mortgage term The length of time that a mortgage is scheduled to exist. Example: a 30-year mortgage term is for 30 years. mortgagee The lender. mortgagor The borrower. Go to Top - N - negative amortization A situation in which a borrower is paying less interest than what is actually being charged for a mortgage loan. The unpaid interest is added to the loan's principal. The borrower may end up owing more than the original amount of the mortgage. non-assumption clause In a mortgage contract, a statement that prohibits a new buyer from assuming a mortgage loan without the approval of the lender. non-conforming loan A loan that does not conform to Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) guidelines. Jumbo loans are nonconforming. See also: conforming loan . note A signed document that acknowledges a debt and shows the borrower is obligated to pay it. Go to Top - O - open-end mortgage A mortgage allowing the borrower to receive advances of principal from the lender during the life of the loan. See also: closed-end mortgage . origination fee The amount charged by a lender to originate and close a mortgage loan. Origination fees are usually expressed in points . Go to Top - P - payment cap See: cap . P&I Abbreviation for principal and interest. PITI Abbreviation for p rincipal, i nterest, t axes and i nsurance. PITIO Abbreviation for p rincipal, i nterest, t axes, i nsurance and o ther monthly non-housing costs. points Charges levied by the lender based on the loan amount. Each point equals one percent of the loan amount; for example, two points on a $100,000 mortgage equals $2,000. Discount points are used to buy down the interest rate. Points can also include a loan origination fee, which is usually one point. pre-qualification Tentative establishment of a borrower's qualification for a mortgage loan amount of a specific range, based on the borrower's assets, debts, income, employment status and credit history. prime rate The interest rate commercial banks charge their most creditworthy customers. principal The amount of the entire mortgage loan, not counting interest. Also, as a part of PITI, the amount of the monthly mortgage payment which does not include the interest, insurance, and taxes. private mortgage insurance (PMI) See: mortgage insurance . property appraisal See: appraisal . property tax The amount which the state and/or locality assesses as a tax on a piece of property. prorate To proportionally divide amounts owed by the buyer and the seller at closing. Go to Top - Q - qualification As determined by a lender, the ability of the borrower to repay a mortgage loan based on the borrower's credit history, employment status, assets, debts and income. Go to Top - R - rate cap See: cap . RESPA Abbreviation for the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. This act allows consumers to review settlement costs at application and once again prior to closing. reverse annuity mortgage A type of mortgage loan in which the lender makes periodic payments to the borrower. The borrower's equity in the home is used as security for the loan. RHCDS Rural Housing and Community Service right of first refusal The right to purchase a property under conditions and terms made by another buyer and accepted by the seller. right of rescission The right to back out of a transaction, given automatically by law to the borrower in a real estate purchase transaction. When a borrower's principal dwelling is going to secure a loan, the borrower has three business days following signing of the loan documents to rescind or cancel the transaction. Any and all money paid by the borrower must be refunded upon rescission. The right to rescind does not apply to loans to purchase real estate or to refinance a loan under the same terms and conditions where no additional funds will be added to the existing loan. rollover The process by which a construction loan becomes a mortgage. At the end of the construction loan period, the borrower's file is delivered to Bank One Mortgage Loan Servicing Dept. Prior to delivery, CLD contacts the borrower and obtains funds for the tax and insurance escrows, a final title policy and homeowner's policy. This process is called a rollover. Rural Housing and Community Development Service A federal agency that administers mortgage loans for buyers in rural areas. Go to Top - S - second mortgage A loan that is junior to a primary or first mortgage and often has a higher interest rate and a shorter term. secondary market A market comprising investors like GNMA, FHLMC and FNMA, who buy large numbers of mortgages from the primary lenders and resell them to other investors. servicing The responsibility of collecting monthly mortgage payments and properly crediting them to the principal, taxes and insurance, as well as keeping the borrower informed of any changes in the status of the loan. settlement costs See: closing costs . survey A physical measurement of property done by a registered professional showing the dimensions and location of any buildings as well as easements, rights of way, roads, etc. Go to Top - T - tax deed A written document conveying title to property repossessed by the government due to default on tax payments. tax savings The deduction a taxpayer can take on their tax form for interest paid on a home mortgage. The amount of money that the homeowner is not required to pay the government in taxes because he or she owns a home. taxes As a part of PITI, the amount of the monthly mortgage payment which does not include the principal, interest, and insurance. tenancy joint tenancy - equal ownership of property by two or more parties, each with the right of survivorship. tenancy by the entireties - ownership of property only between husband and wife in which neither can sell without the consent of the other and the property is owned by the survivor in the event of death of either party. tenancy in common - equal ownership of property by two or more parties without the right of survivorship. tenancy in severalty - ownership of property by one legal entity or a sole party. tenancy at will - a license to use or occupy a property at the will of the owner. title A formal document establishing ownership of property. title insurance A policy issued by a title insurance company insuring the purchaser against any losses resulting from errors in the title search. The cost of title insurance may be paid for by the buyer, the seller or both. trust deed See: deed of trust . Truth In Lending Act The Truth In Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the Annual Percentage Rate and other associated costs to homebuyers within three working days of the loan application. Go to Top - U - underwriter A professional who approves or denies a loan to a potential homebuyer based on the homebuyer's credit history, employment status, assets, debts and other factors such as loan guidelines. Uniform Settlement Statement A standard document prescribed by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act containing information for closing which must be supplied to both buyer and seller. utility costs Periodic housing costs for water, electricity, natural gas, heating oil, etc. Go to Top - V - VA loan See: Veterans Administration . variable rate mortgage (VRM) See: adjustable rate mortgage . Veterans Administration (VA) The federal agency responsible for the VA loan guaranty program as well as other services for eligible veterans. In general, qualified veterans can apply for home loans with no down payment and a funding fee of 1 percent of the loan amount. Go to Top - W - walk-through An inspection of a property by the prospective buyer prior to closing on a mortgage. warranty deed A document protecting a homebuyer against any and all claims to the property. Go to Top - X - No entries for "X". Go to Top - Y - yield The rate of earnings from an investment. Go to Top - Z - zoning The ability of local governments to specify the use of private property in order to control development within designated areas of land. For example, some areas of a neighborhood may be designated only for residential use and others for commercial use such as stores, gas stations, etc. Go to Top -- PRIVACY POLICY HOME | ABOUT GINNIE MAE | FOR ISSUERS | FOR INVESTORS HOMEOWNERSHIP GUIDE AND CALCULATORS | HOMEZONE (KIDS' SITE)

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Find Mortgage Calculators, Today's Rates on Mortgages, Refinance Loans and Home Equity Loans on Yahoo! Real Estate This tool will only function with browsers which support JavaScript version 1.1 or later. Find Mortgage Calculators, Today's Rates on Mortgages, Refinance Loans and Home Equity Loans Choose Location Home Homes For Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Home Loans > Calculators > Mortgage Payment Calculator Tools & Resources • Mortgage Payment Calculator • Affordability Calculator • Amortization Calculator • Rent vs. Own Calculator • Refinance Calculator • First-Time Buyer's Guide to Mortgages Next Steps: • Search Local Rates • Online Rate Quotes • Graph Interest Rates • Refinance Loans & Rates • Home Equity Loans & Rates Mortgage Payment Calculator Provided by Bankrate.com This mortgage calculator shows monthly mortgage payments for different home loan amounts, interest rates and amortzation terms. You can view the amortization schedule by selecting to show the amortization table below. Loan Amount: $ Interest Rate: % Term (years): years Show Amortization Table?: Yes No See more calculators Visit our partners' sites Sponsored Links Home Refinancing ChoiceOne Mortgage offers a variety of home refinancing options. Fill out the quick app for a rate quote. www.choiceonemortgage.net Your Guide to Refinancing - Homestore Find information, articles and quotes for home refinance loans in your area. We have the loan that's right for you. Complete our easy form and get free, competitive quotes. homestore.com Home Mortgage Refinance Refinance your home mortgage to lower your payment now. Complete four easy steps and get matched to four qualified brokers. www.mortgages.root.net Capital One Home Refinance Lower your payments an avg. $400 a month. A personal home loan consultant will work with you to find a loan that fits your needs. Apply online and receive a call back within 30 minutes. www.capitalone.com (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages