Online Home Equity Loans: A Basic Glossary


Home equity loans can be a great idea for individuals looking to get out of debt or make necessary repairs on their homes. During the process, you will come across a variety of terms and acronyms. We have gathered together some of the basic terms that you come across during your home equity loan. If you have any questions about any of these terms, make sure to consult with your mortgage lender.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): This type of mortgage has an interest rate that will change over time. Typically the interest rate will be lower than fixed mortgage products.

Amortization: Loan payments that will cover both principle and interest in one payment. Your lender will likely give you an amortization schedule outlining your payment schedule.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): This is the cost of credit on a yearly basis.

Appraised Value: An appraiser will determine the value of your home based on experience, market data, and other information.

Cap: This is the limit on how much an interest rate can increase over the life of your loan.

Closing/Closing Costs: This is the final step in the real estate transaction. This would include the delivery of the deed, signing of the notes, and final disbursement of the funds. There will be various fees associated with a closing, such as attorney fees and taxes, that are called closing costs.

Depreciation: An overall loss on a property due to age, physical deterioration, and economic factors.

Discount Point: A buyer can pay the lender a set fee for a lower interest rate. This is usually a percentage of the loan itself.

Equity: This is the amount of money that you have vested in your home. This can be determined by subtracting the lien amount from the property's value.

Equity Loan: A loan or line of credit that is based on the amount of equity that you have in your home. Your home is essentially used as collateral.

Fixed Interest Rate: An interest rate that remains constant throughout the life of the loan. A fixed-rate mortgage will have the same interest rate and payments for the length of the loan.

Home Equity Line of Credit: Similar to a home equity loan, but you receive a line of credit that you can draw upon at any time.

Home Equity Loan: A loan based on the amount of equity you have in your home.

Interest: This is the cost for borrowing money.

Interest Rate: This is the percentage of the loan amount that you must add to your principle, for the privilege of borrowing money.

Loan-To-Value Ratio: This is the ratio between the amount of the loan and the actual value of the home. Some loans can give you up to a 125% Loan-To-Value Ratio.

Market Value: This is the price that buyers would be willing to pay for your home, at the present time. This can vary from the actual sale price of the home.

PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance): This is the usual breakdown for mortgage payments.

Principal: The amount of your original loan before interest was added.

John Ross is a freelance author who writes articles about financial loans including: home equity loans company, online home equity loans, and fixed rate home equity loans. The Loanchbox is a user friendly website designed to inform beginners about home equity loans.







Related News



The Truth About Mortgage Refinancing Revealed By California ... - SBWire (press release)

The Truth About Mortgage Refinancing Revealed By California ...
SBWire (press release), WI -1 hour ago
Bakersfield, California based Mortgage Broker Adolph Gonzales reveals mortgage refinancing secrets at a new web site that is full of free reports, ...

Bally Total Fitness files for bankruptcy again - San Francisco Chronicle

The Associated Press

Bally Total Fitness files for bankruptcy again
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA -14 hours ago
Refinance volume more than tripled, while purchase volume increased 38 percent. Refinances accounted for 69.1 percent of applications, up from 49.3 percent. ...
Thanksgiving week saw rise in mortgage activityYoungstown Vindicator
all 351 news articles

FDIC's Bair warns investors fighting loan changes - The Associated Press

FDIC's Bair warns investors fighting loan changes
The Associated Press -3 hours ago
"Getting mortgage rates down is ... positive, but it doesn't help people that currently have unaffordable mortgages because it doesn't help them refinance," ...

Lower mortgage rates help but jobs, prices key - Reuters

Lower mortgage rates help but jobs, prices key
Reuters -Dec 3, 2008
Applications to buy and refinance homes hurtled higher last week as the lowest rates since the summer of 2005 unleashed pent-up demand. ...

Bernanke Says US Must Step Up Foreclosure Efforts (Update1) - Bloomberg

ABC News

Bernanke Says US Must Step Up Foreclosure Efforts (Update1)
Bloomberg -3 hours ago
... been prodding private mortgage servicers and bond investors to cooperate with government efforts to modify or refinance loans for troubled borrowers. ...
Op-Ed: Fed Throws Refinancing Party; No One Shows UpMinyanville.com
Banks' issuance detracts from short-term bondsMarketWatch
Bernanke calls for measures to stem foreclosuresInternational Herald Tribune
The Australian - Seeking Alpha
all 1,125 news articles

Mortgage Refinance Applications Soar As Rates Fall - EasyBourse.com

Sify

Mortgage Refinance Applications Soar As Rates Fall
EasyBourse.com, France -23 hours ago
The Mortgage Bankers Association's index of refinance applications posted a record 203.3% increase over the previous week. Additionally, the US Treasury ...
Mortgage rates fall, but many borrowers will have trouble qualifyingLos Angeles Times
US move cuts mortgages to lowest rate since FebruaryBaltimore Sun
Last Call for Smart HomeownersMotley Fool
AHN - World Socialist Web Site
all 501 news articles


A Rush Into Refinancing as Mortgage Rates Fall - New York Times

Sify

A Rush Into Refinancing as Mortgage Rates Fall
New York Times, United States -6 hours ago
Mortgage rates immediately dropped, and that led to a surge in mortgage refinancing activity for the week — even with the Thanksgiving holiday. ...
Lower mortgage rates aren't the answerCNNMoney.com
Homeowners' Refinancing Jumps by Record PaceWall Street Journal
Proposal could drop mortgage rates to 4.5 percentSan Jose Mercury News
Danville News - CNNMoney.com
all 623 news articles

US MBA’s Mortgage Applications More Than Doubled Last Week - Bloomberg

Yahoo

US MBA’s Mortgage Applications More Than Doubled Last Week
Bloomberg -Dec 3, 2008
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s index of applications to purchase a home or refinance a loan jumped 112 percent to 857.7, the highest level since March, ...
FINANCIAL STOCKS Bulls outlast bears in Wednesday grudge matchMarketWatch
Mortgage Apps On Rise As Rates DropCBS News
UPDATE 1-US mortgage applications post largest gain everReuters
USA Today - U.S. News & World Report
all 148 news articles

Carmen: Time Is Right to Refinance Your Mortgage - CNBC

Carmen: Time Is Right to Refinance Your Mortgage
CNBC, Englewood Cliffs -3 hours ago
Despite the doom and gloom in the economy, there's actually a glimmer of hope shining through for homeowners looking to refinance. The average interest rate ...

VA Specialty Lender Offers 100% Mortgage Refinancing - PR Web (press release)

VA Specialty Lender Offers 100% Mortgage Refinancing
PR Web (press release), WA -5 hours ago
Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) December 3, 2008 -- iFreedom Direct Corporation, a Salt Lake based mortgage company, is now offering 100% VA refinance"cash ...