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Appraisal In real estate, an estimate of the quality or value of property; the process by which conclusions of the value of property are obtained; also refers to the report setting forth the estimate of value together with the basis for such conclusions. | |
First Mortgage A real estate loan with a lien (i.e., mortgage or deed of trust) on the subject property that has priority over any subsequently lien or financial encumbrances. | |
Origination Fee The fee charged by a lender to prepare loan documents, make credit checks, inspect and sometimes appraise a property; usually computed as a percentage of the face value of the loan. Origination fees are paid by the lender or included in the loan as part of the closing costs. Lender's can also charge an origination fee to the borrower, when funding the mortgage with a table lending mortgage broker. Origination fees are considered tax deductible points. | |
Points Points are also called discount points, mortgage points, loan discount points, loan origination fees, or maximum loan charges. Points are prepaid interest assessed at closing by the lender and or the broker. A point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. Lenders consider mortgage points as interest that you pay in advance. As a result, the more points you pay when you close the loan, the lower your interest rate. The IRS considers points to be a form of prepaid interest. Discount fees are totally tax deductible for the year the loan is closed for tax purposes, while origination points are tax deductible over two years (half for the year the loan is closed, and half in the year following). | |