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Real Estate Market Glossary

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The yearly cost of a loan, including interest, insurance, and origination fees, expressed as a percentage.
  • Appraisal: A professional evaluation to estimate the value of a property.
  • Appraiser: A professional who estimates the value of a property based on the analysis of similar sales.
  • Annuity: A fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life.
  • Application Fee: A fee charged by lenders to process a loan application.
  • Arbitration: A method of settling disputes outside of court by a neutral third party.
  • Asbestos: A hazardous material once used in building construction that can cause health issues.
  • Assessed Value: The valuation placed on property by a public tax assessor for purposes of taxation.
  • Assessor: An official who calculates the value of property for tax purposes.
  • Asset: Anything of value owned by a person or company.
  • Assignment of Mortgage: A document indicating the transfer of a mortgage from one person to another.
  • Assumable Mortgage: A mortgage that can be transferred from the seller to the buyer.
  • Assumption: Taking over the obligation of an existing mortgage by the buyer of a property.
  • Assumption Fee: A fee charged by a lender to process an assumption of a mortgage.
  • Automated Underwriting: The use of computer algorithms to assess loan applications.
  • Balance Sheet: A financial statement showing a company’s assets, liabilities, and net worth at a specific point in time.
  • Balloon Mortgage: A mortgage with low initial payments that ends with a large lump-sum payment.
  • Balloon Payment: The final large payment that pays off the balance of a balloon mortgage.
  • Bankruptcy: A legal process for people or businesses that cannot repay their outstanding debts.
  • Before-tax Income: Income before taxes is deducted, also known as gross income.
  • Biweekly Payment Mortgage: A mortgage plan where payments are made every two weeks instead of monthly.
  • Bona fide: Genuine; real.
  • Bridge Loan: A short-term loan used until a person or company secures permanent financing.
  • Broker: An individual or firm that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers.
  • Building Code: Regulations that specify minimum standards for construction to ensure safety and health.
  • Buydown: A financing technique where the mortgage interest rate is reduced for a temporary period.
  • Buydown Account: An account where funds are held to reduce the mortgage payment for a temporary period.
  • Cap: A limit on how much the interest rate or mortgage payments can increase in an adjustable-rate mortgage.
  • Capacity: A borrower’s ability to make mortgage payments on time.
  • Cash-out Refinance: A refinancing transaction in which the borrower receives more than the outstanding loan balance.
  • Certificate of Deposit: A savings certificate with a fixed maturity date and fixed interest rate.
  • Certificate of Eligibility: A document from the Veterans Administration that certifies a veteran’s eligibility for a VA loan.
  • Chain of Title: The sequence of historical transfers of title to a property.
  • Change Orders: Modifications to the original construction plans.
  • Clear Title: A title that is free of liens or legal questions regarding ownership of the property.
  • Closing: The final step in executing a real estate transaction where the title is transferred to the buyer.
  • Closing Agent: The person or entity that coordinates the closing activities.
  • Closing Costs: Fees paid at the closing of a real estate transaction.
  • Closing Date: The date on which the sale of a property is finalized.
  • Closing Statement: A document detailing the final financial transaction between buyer and seller.
  • Co-borrower: Any additional borrower whose name appears on loan documents and whose income and credit history are used to qualify for the loan.
  • Collateral: An asset that a borrower offers to a lender to secure a loan.
  • Commission: A fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service.
  • Commitment Letter: A lender’s formal offer to lend money to a borrower under specific terms.
  • Common Areas: Areas on a property that are available for use by all residents.
  • Comparables: Properties used as comparisons to determine the value of a specific property.
  • Concession: Something given up or agreed to in negotiating the sale of a house.
  • Condominium: A building or complex of buildings containing some individually owned apartments or houses.
  • Construction Loan: A short-term loan used to finance the building of a home or another real estate project.
  • Contingency: A condition that must be met before a contract is legally binding.
  • Conventional Mortgage: A home loan that is not insured or guaranteed by the federal government.
  • Conversion Option: A feature of some adjustable-rate mortgages that allows conversion to a fixed-rate mortgage at specified times.
  • Convertible ARM: An adjustable-rate mortgage that can be converted to a fixed-rate mortgage under certain conditions.
  • Cooperative (Co-op): A type of residential property owned by a corporation where residents purchase shares representing a unit.
  • Cost of Funds Index (COFI): An index that reflects the weighted average interest rate paid by financial institutions for funds.
  • Counter-offer: An offer made in response to a previous offer.
  • Credit: The ability to borrow money or obtain goods by paying little or no money at the time of purchase.
  • Credit Bureau: A company that collects and provides information about the creditworthiness of individuals.
  • Credit History: A record of an individual’s repayment of debts.
  • Credit Life Insurance: Insurance that pays off a mortgage in the event of the borrower’s death.
  • Credit Report: A detailed report of an individual’s credit history.
  • Credit Score: A numerical expression based on a level analysis of a person’s credit files to represent the creditworthiness of an individual.
  • Creditor: A person or company to whom money is owed.
  • Creditworthy: Having the financial resources and credit rating that make one a desirable borrower.
  • Debt: An amount of money borrowed by one party from another.
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: A personal finance measure that compares an individual’s debt payment to his or her overall income.
  • Deed: A legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights.
  • Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure: A deed instrument in which the borrower conveys all interest in a real property to the lender to satisfy a loan that is in default and avoid foreclosure proceedings.
  • Deed of Trust: A document that embodies the agreement between a lender and a borrower to transfer an interest in the borrower’s land to a neutral third party, a trustee, to secure the payment of a debt by the borrower.
  • Default: Failure to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a court of law.
  • Delinquency: A situation in which a borrower is late or overdue on a payment, such as income taxes, a mortgage, an automobile loan, or a credit card account.
  • Depreciation: A reduction in the value of an asset over time, due in particular to wear and tear.
  • Discount Point: A type of prepaid interest or fees mortgage borrowers can purchase that lowers the amount of interest they have to pay on subsequent payments.
  • Down Payment: An initial payment made when something is bought on credit.
  • Due-on-Sale Clause: A provision in a mortgage or deed of trust that allows the lender to demand immediate repayment of the balance of the loan if the property is sold by the borrower.
  • Earnest Money Deposit: A deposit made to a seller showing the buyer’s good faith in a transaction.
  • Easement: A right to cross or otherwise use someone else’s land for a specified purpose.
  • Employer-Assisted Housing: Programs that help employees purchase homes through special plans developed with lenders.
  • Encroachment: An intrusion on a person’s territory, rights, etc.
  • Encumbrance: A claim against, limitation on, or liability against real estate.
  • Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA): A United States law (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1691) enacted 28 October 1974, that makes it unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant, concerning any aspect of a credit transaction.
  • Equity: The difference between the market value of your home and the amount you owe the lender who holds the mortgage.
  • Escrow: An arrangement in which a third party holds and regulates payment of the funds required for two parties involved in a given transaction.
  • Escrow Account: An account where funds are held in trust whilst two or more parties complete a transaction.
  • Escrow Analysis: The periodic examination of escrow accounts to ensure that the correct amount of money for anticipated expenditures is being collected.
  • Eviction: The action of expelling someone, especially a tenant, from a property; expulsion.
  • Exclusive Right-to-Sell Listing: A contract under which the owner appoints a real estate broker as his exclusive agent for a designated period to sell the property, on the owner’s stated terms, and agrees to pay the broker a commission when the property is sold, regardless of whether the buyer is secured by the broker, the owner or another broker.
  • Exclusive Agency Listing: A contract under which the owner appoints a real estate broker as his exclusive agent for a designated time to sell the property, on the owner’s stated terms, but the owner reserves the right to sell the property himself without paying a commission to the broker.
  • Executor: A person or institution appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of their will.
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): A United States federal law (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1681) that regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information.
  • Fair Market Value: An estimate of the market value of a property, based on what a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured buyer would probably pay to a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured seller in the market.
  • Fannie Mae: A government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) – though it has been a publicly traded company since 1968 – chartered by Congress in 1938 to keep capital flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing.
  • Fannie Mae-Seller/Servicer: A financial institution that sells loans to Fannie Mae and may service loans on behalf of Fannie Mae.
  • Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Loan Limit: The maximum amount that a conforming loan can be for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase.
  • Federal Housing Administration (FHA): A United States government agency created in part by the National Housing Act of 1934.
  • FHA-Insured Loan: A loan that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
  • First Mortgage: A mortgage that is the primary lien against a property.
  • First-Time Home Buyer: Typically defined as a buyer who has not purchased a home within the past three years.
  • Fixed-Period Adjustable-Rate Mortgage: An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that offers a fixed interest rate for an initial period and then adjusts.
  • Fixed-Rate Mortgage: A mortgage that has a fixed interest rate for the entire term of the loan.
  • Flood Certification Fee: A fee charged for the service of determining whether a property is located within a flood zone.
  • Flood Insurance: Insurance that covers property damage from flooding, which is not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies.
  • Foreclosure: The process by which a lender takes back property after the borrower fails to make payments on a loan.
  • Forfeiture: The loss of property or money due to a breach of a legal obligation.
  • Fully Amortized Mortgage: A mortgage in which the monthly payments are designed to retire the debt at the end of the mortgage term.
  • General Contractor: A person or company that contracts to supply materials or labor for buildings.
  • Gift Letter: A letter to a lender stating that a sum of money received by a buyer from a relative is a gift.
  • Good-Faith Estimate: An estimate by the lender of the closing costs a borrower is likely to pay at closing.
  • Government Mortgage: A mortgage loan that is insured or guaranteed by a federal government entity.
  • Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae): A U.S. government corporation within HUD that guarantees securities backed by mortgages.
  • Gross Monthly Income: The total amount of income earned monthly before any deductions.
  • Ground Rent: Payment made for the use of land, typically where the building is owned separately from the land.
  • Growing-Equity Mortgage (GEM): A fixed-rate mortgage that increases payments over a specific period which is used to accelerate the payoff of the loan.
  • Hazard Insurance: Insurance coverage in the event of physical damage to a property from fire, wind, vandalism, or other hazards.
  • Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM): A type of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured reverse mortgage.
  • Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): A line of credit secured by the equity in the borrower’s home.
  • Home Inspection: An examination of the condition of a real estate property.
  • Homeowner’s Insurance: Insurance that covers losses and damages to an individual’s house and assets in the home.
  • Homeowner’s Warranty (HOW): A type of insurance that covers repairs to certain parts of a house and some fixtures.
  • Homeowners’ Association: An organization in a subdivision, planned community, or condominium that makes and enforces rules for the properties and its residents.
  • Housing Expense Ratio: The percentage of gross monthly income that goes toward paying housing expenses.
  • HUD-1 Settlement Statement: A document that provides an itemized listing of the funds that are payable at closing.
  • Hybrid Loan: An adjustable-rate mortgage that offers a fixed interest rate for a set period before becoming adjustable.
  • Income Property: Real estate property that is used or intended to be used as a rental property.
  • Index: A statistical measure of change in an economy or a securities market.
  • Individual Retirement Account (IRA): A form of “individual retirement plan”, provided by many financial institutions, that provides tax advantages for retirement savings in the United States.
  • Inflation: The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and subsequently, purchasing power is falling.
  • Initial Interest Rate: The original interest rate of the mortgage at the time of closing.
  • Inquiry: A request for a copy of your credit report.
  • Installment: The regular periodic payment that a borrower agrees to make to a lender.
  • Installment Debt: A loan that is repaid with a fixed number of periodic equal-sized payments.
  • Interest: The cost of borrowing money.
  • Interest Accrual Rate: The rate at which interest accrues on a mortgage.
  • Interest Rate Cap: A limit on how much the interest rate can change in an adjustable-rate mortgage.
  • Interest Rate Ceiling: The maximum interest rate that can occur on an adjustable-rate mortgage.
  • Interest Rate Floor: The minimum interest rate that can occur on an adjustable-rate mortgage.
  • Investment Property: A property that is not occupied by the owner and is used to generate rental income.
  • Judgment Lien: A lien against the property of a debtor resulting from the decree of a court.
  • Jumbo Loan: A loan amount above the conforming loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
  • Junior Mortgage: A mortgage that is subordinate to the primary lien/mortgage.
  • Keogh Funds: A tax-deferred pension plan available to self-employed individuals or unincorporated businesses for retirement purposes.
  • Late Charge: A charge a borrower pays when a payment is made after its due date or after the grace period for the payment has passed.
  • Lease-Purchase Option: An option that allows the lessee to purchase the leased premises.
  • Liabilities: A person’s debts or financial obligations.
  • Liability Insurance: Insurance that protects from claims arising from injuries or damage to other people or property.
  • LIBOR-Index: An interest rate at which banks can borrow funds from other banks in the London interbank market.
  • Lien: A legal right or interest that a lender has in the borrower’s property, until the debt obligation is paid in full.
  • Lifetime Cap: A provision of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that limits the total increase in interest rates over the life of the loan.
  • Liquid Asset: An asset that can easily be converted into cash.
  • Loan Origination: The process by which a borrower applies for a new loan, and a lender processes that application.
  • Loan Origination Fees: Fees charged by the lender for processing a new loan application, expressed as a percentage of the loan amount.
  • Loan-To-Value (LTV) Ratio: A lending risk assessment ratio that financial institutions and other lenders examine before approving a mortgage.
  • Lock-In Rate: A guarantee from a lender to a borrower for a specified interest rate for a specified period with a set number of points to be paid.
  • Low-Down-Payment Feature: A feature of some mortgages that allows the borrower to make a smaller down payment.
  • Manufactured Housing: A type of prefabricated housing that is largely assembled in factories and then transported to sites of use.
  • Margin: For an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the percentage that is added to the index to determine the interest rate on each adjustment date.
  • Market Value: The most probable price that a property should bring in a competitive and open market.
  • Maturity Date: The date on which the principal balance of a loan becomes due and payable.
  • Merged Credit Report: A credit report that contains information from three major credit bureaus.
  • Modification: Any change to the terms of a mortgage loan, including changes to the interest rate, loan balance, or loan term.
  • Money Market Account: A savings account that offers a higher interest rate in return for larger than normal deposits.
  • Mortgage: A loan to purchase a home or other real estate.
  • Mortgage Broker: An individual or company that charges fees or commissions for executing loan transactions.
  • Mortgage Insurance (MI): Insurance that protects lenders against losses caused by a borrower’s default on a mortgage loan.
  • Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP): The amount paid by a borrower for mortgage insurance, either to a government agency such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or to a private mortgage insurance (PMI) company.
  • Mortgage Lender: The lender that provides funds for a mortgage.
  • Mortgage Life Insurance: A type of insurance specifically designed to protect a repayment mortgage.
  • Mortgage Rate: The interest rate charged on a mortgage.
  • Mortgagee: The lender in a mortgage agreement.
  • Mortgagor: The borrower in a mortgage agreement.
  • Multifamily Mortgage: A mortgage on a multifamily dwelling, with more than four families, typically an apartment complex.
  • Multifamily Properties: Property used as a residence for more than four families.
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS): A service that compiles available properties for sale by member brokers.
  • Mutual Funds: An investment program funded by shareholders that trades in diversified holdings and is professionally managed.
  • Negative Amortization: An increase in the mortgage balance when a house payment is less than the interest due.
  • Net Monthly Income: Your take-home pay after all deductions have been taken from your gross salary.
  • Note: A legal document that obligates a borrower to repay a mortgage loan at a stated interest rate during a specified time.
  • Note Rate: The interest rate stated on a mortgage note.
  • Offer: A formal bid from the home buyer to the home seller to purchase a home.
  • Open House: A scheduled period in which a house or other dwelling is designated to be open for viewing by potential buyers.
  • Original Principal Balance: The total amount of principal owed on a mortgage before any payments are made.
  • Origination Fee: A fee paid to a lender on entering into a loan agreement to cover the cost of processing the loan.
  • Owner Financing: A property purchase transaction in which the property seller provides all or part of the financing.
  • Owner-Occupied Property: A property that is the principal residence of the owner.
  • Partial Payment: A payment that is not sufficient to cover the scheduled monthly payment on a mortgage loan.
  • Payment Change Date: The date when a new monthly payment amount takes effect on an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or a graduated-payment mortgage (GPM).
  • Payment Cap: A limit on how much a monthly payment can increase or decrease during the adjustment period.
  • Personal Property: Movable property that is not affixed to real estate.
  • PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance – the main elements of a monthly mortgage payment.
  • PITI Reserves: A cash amount that a borrower must have on hand after making a down payment and paying all closing costs for the purchase of a home.
  • Planned Unit Development (PUD): A planned combination of diverse land uses, such as housing, recreation, and shopping, in one contained development or subdivision.
  • Point: A fee equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.
  • Power of Attorney: A legal document authorizing one person to act on behalf of another.
  • Pre-Approval: A lender’s conditional agreement to lend a specific amount to a borrower under certain terms.
  • Pre-Approval Letter: A letter from a lender stating that a borrower qualifies for a certain loan amount.
  • Pre-Qualification: An evaluation by a lender that determines if the borrower qualifies for a loan.
  • Pre-Qualification Letter: A letter from a lender stating that a borrower may qualify for a certain loan amount based on an initial review of the borrower’s credit information.
  • Predatory Lending: Unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices of some lenders during the loan origination process.
  • Prepayment: Payment of a mortgage loan or part of it before the due date.
  • Prepayment Penalty: A charge imposed by a lender on a borrower who wants to pay off the loan before its due date.
  • Principal: The amount of money borrowed or the amount still owed on a loan, separate from interest.
  • Private Mortgage Insurance: Insurance provided by a private mortgage insurance company to protect lenders against loss if a borrower defaults.
  • Promissory Note: A financial instrument that contains a written promise by one party to pay another party a definite sum of money either on demand or at a specified future date.
  • Property Appreciation: An increase in the value of a property due to changes in market conditions or other causes.
  • Purchase and Sale Agreement: A written contract signed by the buyer and seller stating the terms and conditions under which a property will be sold.
  • Purchase Money Mortgage: A mortgage issued to the borrower by the seller of the home as part of the purchase transaction.
  • Qualifying Guidelines: Criteria used by lenders to determine if a borrower is eligible for a loan.
  • Qualifying Ratios: Guidelines are applied by lenders to determine how much a borrower can borrow.
  • Quality Control: Measures taken by a lender to ensure that loans are made by its standards.
  • Radon: A radioactive gas found in some homes that in sufficient concentrations can cause health problems.
  • Rate Cap: A limit on how much the interest rate can increase on an adjustable-rate mortgage.
  • Rate Lock: An agreement by a lender to lock in an interest rate for a certain period at a certain cost.
  • Ratified Sales Contract: A contract that shows both the buyer and seller of a house have agreed to the offer and terms.
  • Real Estate Professional: An individual who provides services in buying and selling homes.
  • Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA): A federal law that allows consumers to review information on known or estimated settlement costs once a settlement service is applied for and again at closing.
  • Real Property: Land and anything permanently affixed to it, such as buildings and trees.
  • Recorder: The public official who keeps records of transactions that affect real property.
  • Recording: The act of entering documents concerning title to a property into the public records.
  • Refinance: The process of paying off one loan with the proceeds from a new loan using the same property as security.
  • Rehabilitation Mortgage: A mortgage that covers the costs of rehabilitating (repairing or improving) a property.
  • Remaining Term: The amount of time left until a loan is due to be paid off.
  • Repayment Plan: An arrangement made to repay delinquent installments or advances.
  • Replacement Cost: The cost to replace damaged property with materials of similar kind and quality.
  • Rescission: The cancellation of a contract.
  • Revolving Debt: A credit arrangement that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved line of credit when purchasing goods and services.
  • Right of First Refusal: A contractual right that gives its holder the option to enter a business transaction with the owner of something, according to specified terms, before the owner is entitled to enter into that transaction with a third party.
  • Rural Housing Service (RHS): An agency within the USDA that provides financing to farmers and other qualified borrowers buying property in rural areas who are unable to obtain loans elsewhere.
  • Securities: Financial instruments that represent an ownership position in a publicly traded corporation (stock), a creditor relationship with a governmental body or a corporation (bond), or rights to ownership as represented by an option.
  • Sale-Leaseback: A transaction in which the seller of a property leases back the same property from the purchaser.
  • Second Mortgage: A mortgage made after another mortgage and subordinate to the first one.
  • Secondary Mortgage Market: The market where mortgage loans and servicing rights are bought and sold between mortgage originators, mortgage aggregators (securitizers), and investors.
  • Secured Loan: A loan in which the borrower pledges some asset (e.g. a car or property) as collateral.
  • Security: The property that will be pledged as collateral for a loan.
  • Seller Take-Back: An agreement in which the seller of a property provides financing to the buyer for the purchase of that property.
  • Servicer: An organization that collects principal and interest payments from borrowers and manages borrowers’ escrow accounts.
  • Servicing: The collection of payments and management of operational procedures related to a mortgage loan.
  • Settlement: The process of completing a loan transaction at which time the mortgage documents are signed and then recorded, funds are disbursed, and the property is transferred to the buyer.
  • Settlement Statement: A document that lists all closing costs on a consumer mortgage transaction.
  • Single-Family Properties: Properties designed to house one family, including detached homes and townhouses.
  • Soft Second Loan: A second mortgage with payments that are forgiven, deferred, or subsidized in some fashion, generally used to bridge the gap between the price of the home and the maximum first mortgage loan amount that can be borrowed.
  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: A federal law that provides protections for military members as they enter active duty.
  • Subordinate Financing: Any mortgage or other lien that has a priority lower than that of the first mortgage.
  • Survey: A measurement or map of land made by a licensed surveyor showing the location of the land about known points, its dimensions, and the location and dimensions of any buildings.
  • Sweat Equity: Equity created by a purchaser performing work on a property being purchased.
  • Taxes and Insurance: Funds collected as part of the borrower’s monthly payment and held in escrow for the payment of the borrower’s, or funds paid by the borrower for, state and local property taxes and insurance premiums.
  • Termite Inspection: An inspection to determine whether a property has termite infestation or termite damage.
  • Third-Party Origination: A process by which a lender uses another party to completely or partially originate, process, underwrite, close, fund, or package a mortgage loan.
  • Title: A legal document evidencing a person’s right to or ownership of a property.
  • Title Insurance: Insurance that protects the lender and/or homebuyer against loss resulting from title defects.
  • Title Search: A check of the title records to ensure that the seller is the legal owner of the property and to discover any liens or claims against the property.
  • Trade Equity: Equity that results from a property purchaser giving to the seller an existing property as part of the down payment on the property being purchased.
  • Transfer Tax: State or local tax payable when title passes from one owner to another.
  • Treasury Index: An index used to determine interest rate changes for certain adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) plans based on the movements in the rates paid on United States Treasury issues.
  • Truth-In-Lending Act (TILA): A federal law that requires lenders to provide borrowers with detailed information about the true cost of obtaining credit.
  • Two-to-Four-Family Property: A property that consists of a structure that provides living space (dwelling units) for two to four families, although ownership of the structure is evidenced by a single deed.
  • Underwriting: The process of evaluating a loan application to determine the risk involved for the lender.
  • Uniform Residential Loan Application: A standardized loan application form required by Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac for mortgage loans.
  • Unsecured Loan: A loan that is issued and supported only by the borrower’s creditworthiness, rather than by any type of collateral.
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: A federal cabinet-level agency that provides near-comprehensive healthcare services to eligible military veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.
  • VA Guaranteed Loan: A mortgage loan guaranteed by the Veterans Administration, which protects the lender against loss if the borrower defaults on the loan.
  • Walk-Through: A final inspection of a home before closing to ensure that all conditions noted in the offer to purchase have been met.
  • Warranties: Legal guarantees by the seller to the buyer that the property being sold is in the condition represented.
  • Wetlands: Areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods during the year, including during the growing season.
  • Zoning: Government (usually municipal) laws that control the use of land within a jurisdiction.