REAL ESTATE TERMS

This section helps you understand the various and most commonly used real estate terms. It couldn't be easier!

Glossary

Amortization:The period of time required to reduce the mortgage debt to zero when all regular blended payments are made on time and provided the terms (payment and interest rate) remain the same.

Closing costs: Costs in addition to the purchase price of the home, such as legal fees, transfer fees and disbursements, that are payable on closing day. They range from 1.5 of a home’s selling price.
 

Conventional mortgage: A mortgage loan up to a maximum of 80% of the lending value of the property. Typically, the lending value is the lesser of the purchase price and market value of the property. Mortgage insurance is usually not required for this type of mortgage.

Credit report: The main report a lender uses to determine your credit worthiness. It includes information about your ability to handle your debt obligations and your current outstanding obligations.

Curb appeal: How attractive the home looks from the street.

Deed: A legal document that is signed by both vendor and purchaser, transferring ownership. This document is registered as evidence of ownership.

Delinquency: Failing to make a mortgage payment on time.

Down payment: The portion of the home price that is not financed by the mortgage loan. The buyer must pay the down payment from his/her own funds or other eligible sources before securing a mortgage.

Foreclosure: The legal process where the lender takes possession of your property and sells it to cover the debts you have failed to pay off. When you default on a loan and the lender feels that you are unable to make payments, you may lose your home to foreclosure.

Interest: The cost of borrowing money. Interest is usually paid to the lender in regular payments along with the repayment of the principal (loan amount).

Net worth: Your financial worth, calculated by subtracting your total liabilities from your total assets.

Mortgage: A mortgage is a security for a loan on the property you own. It is repaid in regular mortgage payments, which are usually blended payments. This means that the payment includes the principal (amount borrowed) plus the interest (the charge for borrowing money). The payment may also include a portion of the property taxes.

Mortgage payment: A regularly scheduled payment that is often blended to include both principal and interest.

Offer to Purchase: A written contract setting out the terms under which the buyer agrees to buy the home. If the Offer to Purchase is accepted by the seller, it forms a legally binding contract that binds those who have signed it to certain terms and conditions.

Principal: The amount that you borrow for a loan. Each monthly mortgage payment consists of a portion of the principal that must be repaid plus the interest that the lender is charging you on the outstanding loan balance. During the early years of your mortgage, the interest portion is usually larger than the principal portion.

Property taxes: Taxes charged by the municipality where the home is located based on the value of the home.
 

Vendor take back mortgage: This is when the vendor rather than a financial institution finances the mortgage. The title of the property is transferred to the buyer who makes mortgage payments directly to the seller. These types of mortgages, sometimes referred to as take-back mortgages, can be helpful if you need a second mortgage to buy a home.