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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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Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Federal law that requires lenders and other creditors to make credit equally available without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status or receipt of income from public assistance programs. |
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Interest-only payments
Mortgage payments that include only interest. No loan amortization occurs and, thus, the homeowner does not accrue any equity (unless the home value increases). |
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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). |
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