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Closing costs Closing costs are the total expenses that the buyer pays at the time a real estate transaction is completed. closing costs generally range between 3 and 6 percent of the home purchase price. With conventional loans, the following closing costs cannot be paid by the Seller for the Buyer: Pre-paid interest, Hazard insurance impounds, or Property tax impounds. | |
Deed of Trust An instrument used in many states in place of a mortgage. The property is transferred to a trustee by the borrower (trustor), in favor of the lender (beneficiary) and re-conveyed upon payment in full. | |
Home Owners Association (HOA) A nonprofit organization that manages the common areas and services of a planned unit development or condominium project. In a condominium project it has no ownership interest in the common areas; in a planned unit development it holds title to common areas. | |
VA Loan (Veterans Affairs) These loans are made by a lender, such as a mortgage company, savings and loan or bank. VA's guaranty on the loan protects the lender against loss if the payments are not made, and is intended to encourage lenders to offer veterans loans with more favorable terms. The amount of guaranty on the loan depends on the loan amount and whether the veteran used some entitlement previously. With the current maximum guaranty, a veteran who hasn't previously used the benefit may be able to obtain a VA loan up to $240,000 depending on the borrower's income level and the appraised value of the property. The local VA office can provide more details on guaranty and entitlement amounts. Formerly referred to as G.I. guaranteed mortgage | |