Glossary

A fee charged by title companies in some states to cover the cost of searching the public record for court orders against the current owner or proposed purchaser that could affect the title of the property. For our comparison purposes, the name search fee is considered to be a third party fee.

This prices-paid index gives insight into inflation in the manufacturing sector. A reading above 50% generally indicates that the manufacturing sector is expanding, and below 50% signifies contraction. Frequency: monthly. Source: National Association of Purchasing Management.

An Organization Of Realtors®, Devoted To Encouraging Professionalism In Real Estate Activities.

A lessee with a presence and established reputation in most of the United States. These tenants are typically well-known and usually have better credit than local tenants.

A gradual increase in mortgage debt that occurs when the periodic monthly payment is not sufficient to cover the monthly principal and interest due. The amount of the deficit is added to the remaining principal balance to create negative amortization.

The income that remains for an investment property after the monthly operating income is reduced by the monthly housing expense, which includes principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

For our comparison purposes, the net closing costs are the total closing costs quoted by a lender, less any credit or rebate that is offered.

The total value of all of a person's or company's assets, minus all liabilities.

Reports the number of new single-family homes sold, expressed on an annual basis. Can be combined with Existing Home Sales to determine the total volume of home sales, a strong predictor of future national mortgage origination volume. Frequency: monthly. Source: Commerce Department.

A refinance loan is an amount that pays off the existing mortgage balance on the property and does not provide the borrower with any cash at closing.

A mortgage that exceeds the maximum loan amount for the most common mortgage investors. The cost of obtaining a non-conforming mortgage is generally higher than the cost of obtaining a conforming mortgage. Also known as a jumbo loan.

Any assets that cannot easily be converted into cash.

A fee for a licensed notary public to certify your signature on the loan documents.

The written agreement signed by the borrower at closing that contains the promise to repay the loan. The note also contains the terms of the loan, such as interest rate, payment, and term.

The interest rate stated on a mortgage note. Also called nominal rate or face interest rate.

Formal written notice to a borrower that a default on a loan has occurred and that legal action may be taken.

To apply for an online mortgage, an applicant is asked to provide personal and financial data about themselves. In order to help you compare one site to another, we have estimated the number of questions that must be answered to complete an application at each site.

A fee charged by New York title companies or attorneys to cover the cost of searching the public record for court orders against the current owner or proposed purchaser that could affect the title of the property. The tax records are searched as well. For our comparison purposes, the NY Tax & Title Search fee is considered to be a third party fee.