Real Estate Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Third Party Origination: a process by which a lender uses another party to completely or partially originate, process, underwrite, close, fund, or package the mortgages it plans to deliver to the secondary mortgage market.
Terms: The period of time and the interest rate agreed upon by the lender and the borrower to repay a loan.
Title: a legal document establishing the right of ownership and is recorded to make it part of the public record. Also known as a Deed.
Title 1: an FHA-insured loan that allows a borrower to make non-luxury improvements (like renovations or repairs) to their home; Title I loans less than $7,500 don’t require a property lien.
Title Company: a company that specializes in examining and insuring titles to real estate.
Title Defect: an outstanding claim on a property that limits the ability to sell the property. Also referred to as a cloud on the title.
Title Insurance: insurance that protects the lender against any claims that arise from arguments about ownership of the property; also available for homebuyers. An insurance policy guaranteeing the accuracy of a title search protecting against errors. Most lenders require the buyer to purchase title insurance protecting the lender against loss in the event of a title defect. This charge is included in the closing costs. A policy that protects the buyer from title defects is known as an owner’s policy and requires an additional charge.
Title Search: a check of public records to be sure that the seller is the recognized owner of the real estate and that there are no unsettled liens or other claims against the property.
Transfer Agent: a bank or trust company charged with keeping a record of a company’s stockholders and canceling and issuing certificates as shares are bought and sold.
Transfer of Ownership: any means by which ownership of a property changes hands. These include purchase of a property, assumption of mortgage debt, exchange of possession of a property via a land sales contract or any other land trust device.
Transfer Taxes: State and local taxes charged for the transfer of real estate. Usually equal to a percentage of the sales price.
Treasury Index: can be used as the basis for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) It is based on the results of auctions that the U.S. Treasury holds for its Treasury bills and securities.
Truth-in-Lending: a federal law obligating a lender to give full written disclosure of all fees, terms, and conditions associated with the loan initial period and then adjusts to another rate that lasts for the term of the loan.
Two Step Mortgage: an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) that has one interest rate for the first five to seven years of its term and a different interest rate for the remainder of the term.
Trustee: a person who holds or controls property for the benefit of another.
