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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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Convertible ARM
An adjustable-rate mortgage that can be converted to a fixed-rate mortgage under specified conditions. |
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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. |
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V.A. Mortgage Funding Fee
A premium assed to the VA borrower in lieu of mortgage insurance. First time VA borrowers have a 3% funding fee included in their loan. When the VA borrower sells their home and uses their VA rights on a new home, the funding fee is 2%. VA borrowers refinancing their home, have a half percent funding fee in their mortgage. Disabled Veterans are not burdened with the funding fee. |
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