MORTGAGE TERMINOLOGY

Sale-Leaseback

A technique in which a seller deeds property to a buyer for a consideration, and the buyer simultaneously leases the property back to the seller.

Sales Concession

Something a seller pays of value to a purchaser in order to entice the purchaser to buy the home. Another term for seller contribution.

Sales Contract

A written agreement between buyer and seller stating terms and conditions of a sale or exchange of property.

Satisfaction of Mortgage

The recorded instrument the lender provides to evidence payment in full of the mortgage debt.

Savings and Loans

Among the customers of Savings and Loans (S&Ls) are individual savers and residential and commercial property mortgage borrowers. Their traditional role for savings and loans is to accept deposits and make mortgage loans, but it has expanded recently to a focus on one- to four-family residential mortgages, multifamily mortgages and commercial mortgages. These institutions are growing bigger, and the lines between S&Ls and commercial banks are not as defined as in the past. Deposit insurance is provided through the Savings Association Insurance Fund, a subsidiary of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Second Home Purchase

A property purchased for occupancy by the owner but is not the primary residence. Usually recreational properties.

Second Mortgage

A market comprising investors like GNMA, FHLMC and FNMA, which buy large numbers of mortgages from the primary lenders and sell them to other investors.

Secondary Mortgage Market

The buying and selling of existing mortgages.

Secured Loan

A loan that is backed by collateral.

Security

The property that will be pledged as collateral for a loan.

Self-Employment

A person who owns at least 25% of the entity for which generates income for that person.

Seller Contributions

Payment by the seller or any other interested party of some or all of the purchaser's usual closing costs. Investors and insurers sometimes limit the amount of seller contribution and require lenders to adjust the property's value if contributions exceed limitations. Undisclosed seller contributions (such as decorating allowances, appliances, or payment of moving expenses) are made to borrowers outside of closing and are also subject to investor and insurer restrictions.

Seller Take-Back

An agreement in which the owner of a property provides financing, often in combination with an assumable mortgage. Also see "Owner Financing"

Seller Versus Buyer Closing Costs

Buyers and sellers often negotiate who will pay certain closing costs, and the results vary depending on the negotiated deal. In fact, it's not uncommon for a sales agreement to state that either the buyer or seller pays all closing costs. The agreement that you and the seller reach must be specified in the sales contract. Your negotiations could depend on a variety of factors, including the quality of the home, how long the home has been on the market, whether there are any other interested buyers, and how motivated the seller is to sell the home.

Servicer

An organization that collects principal and interest payments from borrowers and manages borrowers' escrow accounts. The servicer often services mortgages that have been purchased by an investor in the secondary mortgage market.

Servicing

The collection of mortgage payments from borrowers and related responsibilities of a loan servicer.

Setback Lines

Lines that define the required distances for the location of a structure in relation to the perimeter of the property. They are in accordance with building codes, deed restrictions, and zoning requirements.

Settlement

The final step before you get the keys to your home is a formal meeting called the closing. It is at this meeting in which ownership of the home is transferred from the seller to the buyer. Also called a settlement in some parts of the country, the meeting is typically attended by the buyer(s), the seller(s), their attorneys if they have them, both real estate sales professionals, a representative of the lender, and the closing agent. The purpose is to make sure the property is physically and legally ready to be transferred to you. Several closing costs will be paid at this meeting. These expenses are over and above the price of the property and are incurred when ownership of a property is transferred. Closing costs generally include a loan origination fee, an attorney's fee, taxes, an amount placed in escrow, and charges for obtaining title insurance, and a survey. Closing costs vary according to the area of the country. When working with an approved lender who uses Desktop Underwriter® -- our advanced automated underwriting system -- a number of costs associated with your closing may be reduced, including mortgage insurance, appraisal fees, and credit report fees. Also see "Closing" entry

Settlement Statement

The HUD-1 Settlement Statement itemizes the amounts to be paid by the buyer and the seller at closing. The (blank) form is published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Items on the statement include:

-- real estate commissions,
-- loan fees,
-- points, and
-- escrow amounts.

The form is filled out by your closing agent and must be signed by the buyer and the seller. The buyer should be allowed to review the HUD-1 Settlement Statement on the business day before the closing meeting to know the closing costs in advance. The HUD-1 Settlement Statement is also known as the "closing statement" or "settlement sheet."

Sheriff's Deed

A deed given by court order when a property is sold to satisfy a judgment or tax lien.

Short Sale

A workout program wherein the lender accepts less than the total payoff amount

Single-Family Properties

One- to four-unit properties including detached homes, townhomes, condominiums, and cooperatives.

Single-Family Properties

One- to four-unit properties including detached homes, townhomes, condominiums, and cooperatives.

Special Assessment District

A governmental subdivision with the power to tax and improve property within its jurisdiction. Also called "special improvement district."

Special Deposit Account

An account that is established for rehabilitation mortgages to hold the funds needed for the rehabilitation work so they can be disbursed from time to time as particular portions of the work are completed.

Standard Payment Calculation

The method used to determine the monthly payment required to repay the remaining balance of a mortgage in substantially equal installments over the remaining term of the mortgage at the current interest rate.

Statutes of Fraud

State laws requiring that certain contracts be in writing; including contracts for the sale of real property.

Step-Rate Mortgage

A mortgage that allows for the interest rate to increase according to a specified schedule (i.e., seven years), resulting in increased payments as well. At the end of the specified period, the rate and payments will remain constant for the remainder of the loan.

Subdivision

A housing development that is created by dividing a tract of land into individual lots for sale or lease.

Subordinate Financing

Any mortgage or other lien that has a priority that is lower than that of the first mortgage.

Subordinate Lien

A lien or encumbrance (for example a second mortgage or mechanic's lien) on real estate whose priority is inferior to another's recorded interest in the same property.

Subordination

The act of a party acknowledging, by written record, that a debt is inferior to the interest of another in the same property. Sub-ordination may apply not only to mortgages, but to leases, real estate rights, and any other types of debt instruments.

Subsidized Second Mortgage

An alternative financing option known as the Community Seconds® mortgage for low- and moderate-income households. An investor purchases a first mortgage that has a subsidized second mortgage behind it. The second mortgage may be issued by a state, county, or local housing agency, foundation, or nonprofit corporation. Payment on the second mortgage is often deferred and carries a very low interest rate (or no interest rate). Part of the debt may be forgiven incrementally for each year the buyer remains in the home.

Survey

A drawing or map showing the precise legal boundaries of a property, the location of improvements, easements, rights of way, encroachments, and other physical features. Your lender may require you to have a survey of the property performed. This process confirms that the property's boundaries are correctly described in the purchase and sale agreement. Also called a plot plan, the survey may show a neighbor's fence is located on the seller's property or more serious violations may be discovered. These violations must be addressed before the lender will proceed. The buyer usually pays to have the survey done, but some cost savings may be found by requesting an "update" from the company that previously surveyed the property.

Sweat Equity

Contribution to the construction or rehabilitation of a property in the form of labor or services rather than cash.