|
Annual Percentage Rate (A.P.R.) The actual cost of a mortgage loan expressed as a yearly rate. The APR will be higher than the interest rate stated on the application and note because it includes fees such as: interest, discount points, origination fee, mortgage insurance and other related fees. The truth in lending act requires lenders to disclose an APR to assist the borrower in measuring the actual cost of a loan. | |
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) A tax-paying corporation created by Congress to support the secondary market in mortgages on residential properties. FNMA sells residential mortgages to lenders (Conventional, FHA insured, and VA guaranteed). FNMA also purchases pools of mortgages from lenders with securities, also know as Fannie Mae, the largest single holder of home mortgages in the United States. | |
Index rate An index is a widely used published interest rate that lenders use to set the interest rate on loans. 10-year U.S. Treasury securities are often used for 30-year fixed-rate loans. ARM loans are commonly based upon the, one-, three-, and five-year U.S. Treasury security yields; the monthly average interest rate on loans closed by savings and loan institutions; or the monthly average costs-of-funds incurred by savings and loans. Lenders adjust the interest rate up or down on an adjustable rate mortgage by measuring the difference between a current index rate to the ARM interest rate, and adding a margin. | |
Revolving Loan A loan with a maximum credit limit that provides the borrower with the ability to disburse funds up to the maximum credit line as needed. The line of credit can be accessed repeatedly as the balance is paid down. A revolving loan functions similar to a credit card and may be accessed by writing a check or a using a debit card. | |