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Reverse Mortgage Glossary

Important Reverse Mortgage Terms…

Understanding the Reverse Mortgage Loan Terms will help you make a better and informed decision.

203-b limit – the dollar limit in each county for how much of a home’s value can be used to determine the amount of money you can get from a federally insured HECM reverse mortgage; the name comes from Section 203-b of the National Housing Act

A

Acceleration clause 

The part of a contract that says when a loan may be declared due and payable

ACH

Automated Clearinghouse

Adjustable rate

An interest rate that changes, based on changes in a published market-rate index

ADP 

Automated Data Processing

Anchorage

Connection between superstructure and foundation, by means of welds, bolts, and various light gage metal plates. Anchorage does not refer to any type of soil anchor. (Note: soil anchors are acceptable)

Annuity

A monthly cash payment you get from an insurance company for the rest of your life.

Appraisal 

An estimate of how much a house would sell for if it were sold; also called its market value

Appraisal Fee 

While you apply for a reverse mortgage, you need an FHA appraiser to assess the current market value of your home. The FHA appraiser checks for property defects and finds out whether your homes structure complies with the Federal regulations.

Appreciation 

An increase in a home’s value

ARM

Adjustable Rate Mortgage

C 

Cap

A limit on the amount an adjustable interest rate may go up or down during a specified time period

CHUMS

Computerized Home Underwriting Management System

Closing 

A meeting where documents are signed to “close the deal” on a mortgage; the time a mortgage begins

Condemnation

A court action saying a property is unfit for use: also, the government taking private property to use for the public by the right of eminent domain

Construction-Permanent 

A construction-permanent (herein, “CP”) mortgage combines the features of: a) a construction loan (a short-term interim loan for financing the cost of construction) and b)the traditional long-term permanent residential mortgage.

Counseling 

The borrower is required to receive counseling before the HECM application is processed, will be provided by HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and will focus on the different types of home equity conversion mortgages available, the suitability of a home equity conversion mortgage for the borrower, and the alternatives to a home equity conversion mortgage.

Credit line – a credit account that lets a borrower decide when to take money out and also how much to take out; also known as a “line-of-credit” or “credit line.”

CRV – Certificate of Reasonable Value

Current interest rate – in the HECM program, the interest rate currently being charged on a loan; it equals the one-year rate for U.S. Treasury Securities, plus a margin (see below)

D 

DE 

Direct Endorsement

Deferred payment loans (DPLs) 

Reverse mortgages that give you a lump sum of cash to repair or improve a home; usually offered by state or local governments

Depreciation 

Decrease in the value of a home

EEM

Energy Efficient Mortgage

Eminent Domain 

The right of a government to take private property for public use; for example, taking private land to build a highway

Expected Interest Rate 

In the HECM program, the interest rate used to determine a borrower’s loan advance amounts; it equals the 10-year rate for U.S. Treasury Securities, plus a margin (see below)

F 

 

Fannie Mae 

A private company that buys and sells mortgages; a government-sponsored business that is watched over by the federal government

FHA – Federal Housing Administration, the part of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that insures HECM loans

Federally insured reverse mortgage – a reverse mortgage guaranteed by the federal government so you will always get what the loan promises; also, a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)

Fixed monthly loan advances 

Payments of the same amount that are made to a borrower each month

H 

HECM

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, the only reverse mortgage program insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a federal government agency

HOC

Home Ownership Center

Home Equity 

The value of a home, subtracting any money owed on it

Home Equity Conversion 

Turning home equity into cash without having to leave your home or make regular loan repayments.

HUD 

Department of Housing and Urban Development

I

Initial Interest Rate

in the HECM program, the interest rate that is first charged on the loan beginning at closing; it equals the one-year rate for U.S. Treasury Securities, plus a margin.

L 

Leftover Equity 

The sale price of the home minus the total amount owed on it and the cost of selling it; the amount the homeowner or heirs get when the house is sold.

Line of Credit

The borrower will receive the mortgage proceeds in unscheduled payments of in installments, at times and in amounts of the borrower’s choosing, until the line of credit is exhausted.

Loan Advances 

Payments made to a borrower, or to another party on behalf of a borrower.

Loan Balance 

The amount owed, including principal and interest; capped in a reverse mortgage by the value of the home when the loan is repaid.

LTV 

Loan to Value

Lump sum  

A single loan advance at closing

M 

Margin 

In the HECM program, the amount added to the one-year Treasury rate to determine the initial and current interest rates, and to the 10-year Treasury rate to determine the expected interest rate.

Maturity 

When a loan must be repaid; when it becomes “due and payable”

Maximum Claim Amount 

Is the lesser of the appraised value of the property or the maximum mortgage amount for a one-family residence that HUD will insure in an area under Section 203(b) (2) of the National Housing Act.

MIC 

Mortgage Insurance Certificate

MIP 

Mortgage Insurance Premium

Modified Tenure 

The borrower may combine a line of credit with monthly payments for life, or for as long as the borrower continues to live in the home as a principal residence. In exchange for reduced monthly payments, the borrower will set aside a specified amount of money for a line of credit, on which he or she can draw until the line of credit is exhausted.

Modified Term 

The borrower may combine a line of credit with monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower. In exchange for reduced monthly payments, the borrower will set aside a specified amount of money for a line of credit, on which he or she can draw until the line of credit is exhausted

Mortgage 

A legal document making a home available to a lender to repay a debt

Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) 

The HECM program requires borrowers to pay the mortgage insurance premium which ensures that you receive the loan advances even when your lender or loan servicer is out of business. This premium amounts to 2% of the maximum loan amount or home value, whichever is less, along with an annual premium equal to 0.5% of the loan balance. The MIP guarantees that you will never owe more than your home value while you pay off the reverse mortgage.

Mortgagee 

The Lender

Mortgagor 

The Borrower

N

 

Non-Recourse Mortgage 

A home loan in which the borrower (or his or her estate) will never owe more than the loan balance of the value of the property, whichever is less: and no assets other than the home must be used to repay the debt.

Origination 

The process of setting up a mortgage, including preparing documents

Origination Fee 

The origination fee covers a lender’s operating expenses for making the reverse mortgage…i.e. office overhead, marketing costs, etc. Under the HECM / Reverse Mortgage loan program, the origination fee equals 2% on the initial $200,000 of maximum claim amount (lesser of the home value or county lending limit) and 1% on the balance thereafter with a cap of $6,000.

Other Closing Costs – Apart from the origination fee, mortgage insurance premium (MIP) and appraisal fee, there are various costs that are paid at the time of closing. These comprise of credit report fee, escrow fee, courier fee, pest inspection fee, recording fee, document preparation fee, survey fee and title insurance fee.

PFGMH 

Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing

PITI

Principal, Interest, Tax, Insurance

Proprietary reverse mortgage – a reverse mortgage product owned by a private company

PTD

Property Tax Deferral, reverse mortgages that pay annual property taxes; usually offered by state or local governments

PUD 

Planned Unit Development

Reverse Annuity Mortgage 

A reverse mortgage in which a lump sum is used to purchase an annuity that gives the borrower a monthly income for life.

Reverse mortgage – a home loan that gives cash advances to a homeowner, requires no repayment until a future time, and is capped by the value of the home when the loan is repaid.

Right of rescission 

A borrower’s right to cancel a home loan within three business days of the closing

Servicing 

Administering a loan after closing, such as maintaining loan records and sending statements

Servicing set-aside fee 

This includes an amount which is deducted from the loan limit at the time of closing and makes up for the costs of servicing your reverse mortgage account. The reverse mortgage loan servicer may charge a monthly fee that can range from $30 to $35. The amount set-aside is dependent upon the borrower’s age and life expectancy.

Shared equity 

An itemized loan cost based on a percent of a home’s value at loan maturity; for example, a 5% shared equity fee on a home worth $200,000 at maturity would be $10,000

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

 

A federal monthly income program for low-income persons who are aged 65+, blind, or disabled.

T 

Tenure Advances 

Fixed monthly loan advances for as long as a borrower lives in a home

Term Advances 

Fixed monthly loan advances for a specific period of time

Total Annual Loan Cost (TALC) Rate

The projected annual average cost of a reverse mortgage including all itemized costs

T-rate

The rate for U.S. Treasury Securities; used to determine the initial, expected, and current interest rates for the HECM program

 

Uninsured Reverse Mortgage 

A reverse mortgage that becomes due and payable on a specific date

V 

VA

Department of Veteran Affairs

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