Reverse Mortgage Glossary
203-b limit - the dollar terminus ad quem in each county for how much of a house value may be used to ascertain the sum of cash you are able to acquire from a federally insured HECM reverse mortgage; the name comes from Section 203-b of the National Housing Act
AARP model specifications - rules recommended by AARP for analyzing and comparing reverse mortgages
acceleration clause - the component of a contract that states when a loan could be held owed and collectable
adjustable rate - a rate of interest that varies, based upon changes in a published market-rate index
annuity - a monthly cash payment you receive from an insurance firm for the remainder of your lifetime.
appraisal - an approximation of what amount a home would sell for if it were sold; also known as its market value
appreciation - an increase in a house value
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) - a local or regional nonprofit organization that supplies data on services and programs for elderly adults
cap - a limit on the amount an adjustable rate of interest may rise or down during a fixed period of time
closing - a gathering where documents are signed to "close the deal" on a mortgage; the time a mortgage starts
condemnation - a court action stating a property is unfit for use: also, the government taking private property to use for the public by the right of eminent domain
creditline - a credit account that allows a borrower to determine when to withdraw cash out and also how much to take out; also known as a "line-of-credit" or "credit line."
current interest rate - in the HECM program, the interest rate presently being charged on a loan; it equals the one-year rate for U.S. Treasury Securities, plus a margin (see below)
deferred payment loans (DPLs) - reverse mortgages that give you a lump sum of money to fix or improve a house; generally provided by state or local governments
depreciation - a fall in the value of a house
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 decide a borrower's loan advance amounts; it equals the 10-year rate for U.S. Treasury Securities, plus a margin (see below)
Fannie Mae - a private company that buys and sells mortgages; a government-sponsored business that is watched over by the federal government
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - 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 receive what the loan promises; also, a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)
fixed monthly loan advances - installments of the same amount of money that are paid to a borrower every month
home equity - the value of a house, deducting any cash due on it
home equity conversion - turning home equity into money without being forced to leave your house or make steady loan repayments
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) - the only reverse mortgage program insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a federal government agency
initial interest rate - in the HECM program, the interest rate that is first billed on the loan starting at closing; it equals the one-year rate for U.S. Treasury Securities, plus a margin
leftover equity - the sale price of the house minus the total amount outstanding on it and the cost of selling it; the sum the homeowner or heirs acquire when the home is sold.
loan advances - installments made to a borrower, or to a different party on behalf of a borrower
loan balance - the total owed, including principal and interest; capped in a reverse mortgage by the value of the house when the loan is repaid.
lump sum - a single loan advance at closing
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 collectable"
mortgage - an official document making a house available to a lender to pay back a debt
non-recourse mortgage - a home loan in which the borrower can never owe more than the home's value at the time the loan is repaid
origination - the process of setting up a mortgage, including preparing documents
property tax deferral (PTD) - reverse mortgages that pay annual property taxes; usually offered by state or local governments
proprietary reverse mortgage - a reverse mortgage product owned by a private company
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 recission - 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
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
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
