Washington Buyer and Seller Guide for Title and Escrow

58 © Ticor Title Company GLOSSARY OF TERMS FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (FNMA): Also known as “Fannie Mae.” A U.S. government sponsored corporation dealing in the purchase of first mortgages for the secondary market. FEE SIMPLE DEED: The absolute ownership of a parcel of land. The highest degree of ownership that a person can have in real estate, which gives the owner unqualified ownership and full power disposition. JOINT TENANCY: An equal undivided ownership of property by two or more persons. Upon death of any owner, the survivors take the decedent’s interest in the property. LIEN: A claim upon a piece of property for the payment or satisfaction of a debt or obligation. LOAN-TO-VALUE RATIO: The relationship between the amount of the mortgage loan and the appraised value of the property expressed as a percentage. MORTGAGE: A conditioned pledge of property to a creditor as security for the payment of a debt. NEGATIVE AMORTIZATION: Occurs when your monthly payments are not large enough to pay all the interest due on the loan. This unpaid interest is added to the unpaid balance of the loan. The danger of negative amortization is that the home buyer ends up owing more than the original amount of the loan. PERSONAL PROPERTY: Any property which is not real property, e.g., money, savings accounts, appliances, cars, boats, etc. POINTS (ALSO CALLED “COMMISSION OR DISCOUNT” POINTS”): Each point is equal to 1% of the loan amount (e.g., two points on a $100,000 mortgage would cost $2000). PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, TAXES AND INSURANCE (PITI): Also called monthly housing expense. PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI): In the event that a buyer does not have a 20% down payment, lenders will allow a smaller down payment—as low as 3% in some cases. With the smaller down payment loans, however, borrowers are usually required to carry private mortgage insurance. Private mortgage insurance will usually require an initial premium payment and may require an additional monthly fee, depending on the loan’s structure. REALTOR®: A real estate broker or an associate holding active membership in a local real estate board affiliated with the National Association of Realtors®. SUBDIVISION: A tract of land surveyed and divided into lots for purposes of sale. TENANCY IN COMMON: An undivided ownership in real estate by two or more persons, without right of survivorship – interests need not be equal. TRUST ACCOUNT: An account separate and apart and physically segregated from the broker’s own, in which the broker is required by law to deposit all funds collected for clients. TRUSTEE: The neutral third party in the deed of trust with limited powers. When the loan is paid in full, the property is reconveyed by the trustee back to the person or persons legally entitled to the land, or if delinquent, the property will be conveyed pursuant to non judicial foreclosure proceedings, to the highest bidder in a public sale. TRUSTOR: The borrower, owner and guarantor of the property conveyed in a deed of trust. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION LOAN (VA LOAN): Housing loan to veterans by banks, savings and loans, or other lenders that are guaranteed by the Veterans Administration, enabling veterans to buy a residence with little or no down payment. WARRANTY: In a broad sense, an agreement or undertaking by a seller to be responsible for present or future losses of the purchaser occasioned by deficiency or defect in the quality, condition or quantity of the thing sold. In a stricter sense, the provision or provisions in a deed, lease or other instrument conveying or transferring an estate or interest in real estate under which the seller becomes liable to the purchaser for defect in or encumbrances on the title.