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Amortization
The gradual repayment of a mortgage by installments. As you pay back the loan, an increasing amount of each payment is applied to principal and a lesser amount is applied to interest. Amortization is also a process of spreading a cost that is incurred upfront over the term of the loan or life of the asset. |
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Effective interest rate
The effective interest rate is the mortgage cost on a yearly basis expressed as a percentage includes charges paid when closing the loan including compounded interest. Higher closing costs or more frequent compounding result in a higher effective interest rate. |
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Mortgage
A conditional conveyance of property as security for the payment of a debt or the fulfillment of some obligation. Upon payment of the debt or performance of the obligation the mortgage becomes void. |
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Two-Step Mortgage
A mortgage in which the borrower receives a below-market interest rate for a specified number of years (commonly seven or 10 years). At the end of the 10 years for example, the interest rate is adjusted (within certain limits) to market conditions at that time. The lender sometimes has the option to call the loan due with 30 days notice at the end of seven or 10 years. also called Super Seven or Premier mortgage. |
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