Whether you’re on the hunt for a new home, considering a refinancing option or casually browsing the current real estate market, it’s good to have a sound understanding of what certain words or phrases relative to your efforts actually mean. We’ve compiled a list of terms you’ll likely encounter in such situations.

1. Land Survey: Instrument that describes, maps and documents boundaries and characteristics of a property.
2. Closing/Settlement: Finalizes the process of transferring ownership of a property from one party to the next.
3. Closing Costs: Monies paid by buyers and sellers in the final settlement of a real estate transaction.
4. CD Form (Closing Disclosure Form): Document that presents mortgage particulars, closing costs and detailed financial responsibility of the home buyer.
5. Title Insurance: Protects the lender’s financial interests (Lender’s Policy) and homeowner’s rights to the property against loss due to title defects.
6. Title Search: Process of reviewing the title history of a property for defects.
7. Loan Discount Points: Also known as pre-paid interest. Allows a home buyer to pre-pay interest to lower the interest rate on a home loan. Each point paid equates to 1% of the loan amount.
8. Mortgage Pre-Approval: Process of becoming approved by a lender to borrow up to a certain loan amount, after submitting financial documents such as bank statements, employment verification and tax returns, among others.
9. Contingency: Clause included in a real estate contract that enables one or both parties to cancel the transaction based on certain circumstances.
10. Buyer’s Agent: Real estate agent representing the home buyer(s) and their interests.
11. Listing Agent: Real estate agent representing the home seller(s) and their interests.
12. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM): Mortgage in which the interest rate fluctuates based on market conditions, causing the monthly loan payments to increase or decrease.
13. Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Mortgage in which the interest rate is fixed over a specified period of time (typically 15 or 30 years).
14. Loan Origination: Performed by the lender, and encompasses all phases of the loan process, from initial application to release of funds.
15. Escrow Agent: Third party responsible for holding and maintaining all funds and documents related to a real estate transaction until closing.
16. Escrow: Type of account established by the lender. Holds a portion of each monthly mortgage payment, the collective funds of which are used to pay property taxes and homeowner’s insurance on an annual basis, or when due.
17. Home Appraisal: Professional third-party assessment performed to determine the fair market value of a property.
18. Home Inspection: Professional third-party service designed to determine the current condition of a home. Finding are produced in a document rendered to the lender and home buyer.
19. Seller Concessions: Certain closing costs paid by the home seller on behalf of the home buyer.
20. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Type of insurance often required on conventional loans, when the borrowers put less than a 20 percent down payment on a home. Remains in effect until loan-to-value reaches less than 80 percent.
21. Short Sale: Real estate sale in which the amount received for a home is less than the loan balance. In this case, the lender agrees to accept less than what is owed on the property.
22. HOA Fees or Assessment: Monthly, yearly or bi-annual fees or one-time payments assessed by a homeowner association, collected for the purpose to maintain, improve, develop or further modify private residential neighborhoods.
23. Amortization: Describes the payment of a loan over time, through a series of regular monthly mortgage payments.

Have questions about other real estate, mortgage or closing terms? Contact our friendly team at Linear Title & Escrow today!