Vocabulary...

INDUSTRY TALK:

Adjustable-rate loans, also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates. When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall, your monthly payments may be lowered.

Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the borrower is required to pay.

Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA).

Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance.

Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of the loan.

The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest rates can change because of market conditions.

Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often expressed as a percentage of the loan amount.

Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90 days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing.

A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off the loan.

Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation.

Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs.

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value.

Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations.

Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds, mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys’ fees; recording fees; and notary, appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an amount or a range.

REAL TALK:
These are a few examples of what you will need to qualify for a mortgage in the state of Texas:

Credit – Your credit is based up your payment history, how many open trade lines and how much debt you have.

Income – Your income is based upon your gross wages per month, which means how much you make before taxes. Usually calculated by gathering your W-2 for the past couple of years, your past few paycheck stubs with a year to date or even your bank statements for at least 12 months.

Debt – How much you owe to creditors on a monthly basis. Including your car payment, your credit cards, etc… If it reports on your credit report, the mortgage company counts it!

Debt-To-Income Ratio – Your Debt-To-Income Ratio(DTI) is calculated by finding out how much you make, versus how much your monthly bills are.

Example:
Gross Monthly Income: $1000.00
Total Monthly Debts on Credit Report: $500.00
DTI: 50%

Collateral – As with any loan, mortgage companies require collateral to do your loan. This means in order to receive a mortgage, you need to have a house to loan against.

Equity – Equity is the amount of money you owe on your home versus the appraised value.

For example:
Home Value: $100,000.00
Amount Owed: $75,000.00
Equity: $25,000.00

There are several ways to gain equity, one is to put a large sum of money down, another is to make payments for several years, and the other way is for your house to rise in value.

There are several more factors included in the process, but these are the most widely used. In order for your process to go smooth, try having all of the information you already know your mortgage consultant is going to ask for, ready and able to turn over!