Real Estate Terms and Definitions

Access Control Power of Government to restrict/control a property owner's right to create entrances and exits on a public road. After a roadway is designed, built, and in use, there will be instances in which someone will request permission to create a driveway or entrance onto the roadway. Appraisal A qualified individual who uses his or her experience and knowledge to prepare the appraisal estimate. Lease A lease is an agreement between a landlord, property owner or property manager and a tenant. The agreement covers issues such as rental amount and length of time the lease is in effect. The rental amount may include or exclude property taxes, garbage pickup fees, utility costs, property maintenance and other expenses. Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) A range of different forums and processes which can be utilized to resolve a dispute. We focus on two forms of ADR in this guide which might be used to negotiate a settlement: administrative settlements and mediation. Debt-to-income ratio A comparison of gross income to housing and non-housing expenses; With the FHA, the-monthly mortgage payment should be no more than 29% of monthly gross income (before taxes) and the mortgage payment combined with non-housing debts should not exceed 41% of income. Equity An owner's financial interest in a property; calculated by subtracting the amount still owed on the mortgage loon(s)from the fair market value of the property. Judgment A legal decision; when requiring debt repayment, a judgment may include a property lien that secures the creditor's claim by providing a collateral source. Cap A limit, such as that placed on an adjustable rate mortgage, on how much a monthly payment or interest rate can increase or decrease. Earnest money Money put down by a potential buyer to show that he or she is serious about purchasing the home; it becomes part of the down payment if the offer is accepted, is returned if the offer is rejected, or is forfeited if the buyer pulls out of the deal. Annual Percentage Rate (APR): Calculated by using a standard formula, the APR shows the cost of a loan; expressed as a yearly interest rate, it includes the interest, points, mortgage insurance, and other fees associated with the loan.

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	Did You Know?
	Stopping foreclosure with Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure can be done This won't save your house, but it is not as damaging to your credit rating as a foreclosure. You can qualify if: you are in default and don't qualify for any of the other options,your attempts at selling the house before foreclosure were unsuccessful, and you don't have another FHA mortgage in default.