Fair Credit Reporting Act
A consumer protection law that regulates the disclosure of consumer
credit reports by consumer/credit reporting agencies and establishes
procedures for correcting mistakes on one's credit record.
Fair market value The highest price that a buyer, willing
but not compelled to buy, would pay, and the lowest a seller, willing
but not compelled to sell, would accept.
Fannie Mae Fannie Mae is a New York Stock Exchange company
and the largest non-bank financial services company in the world. It
operates pursuant to a federal charter and is the nation's largest
source of financing for home mortgages. Over the past 30 years, Fannie
Mae has provided nearly $2.5 trillion of mortgage financing for over 30
million families.
Fannie Mae's Community Home Buyer's Program
SM An income-based community
lending model, under which mortgage insurers and Fannie Mae offer
flexible underwriting guidelines to increase a low- or moderate-income
family's buying power and to decrease the total amount of cash needed to
purchase a home. Borrowers who participate in this model are required to
attend pre-purchase home-buyer education sessions.
Fannie 97®
A financing option for a fixed-rate
mortgage that offers home buyers a 3 percent down payment loan with
either a 25- or 30-year term. The mortgage features a loan-to-value
(LTV) percentage of 97 percent, and is designed to expand homeownership
opportunities for people with modest incomes. Borrowers must take a
pre-purchase home-buyer education session to qualify for a Fannie 97
mortgage.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) An agency of the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its main activity is
the insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. The
FHA sets standards for construction and underwriting but does not lend
money or plan or construct housing.
Fee simple The greatest possible interest a person can have
in real estate.
Fee simple estate An unconditional, unlimited estate of
inheritance that represents the greatest estate and most extensive
interest in land that can be enjoyed. It is of perpetual duration. When
the real estate is in a condominium project, the unit owner is the
exclusive owner only of the air space within his or her portion of the
building (the unit) and is an owner in common with respect to the land
and other common portions of the property.
FHA coinsured mortgage A mortgage (under FHA Section 244)
for which the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the originating
lender share the risk of loss in the event of the mortgagor's default.
FHA mortgage A mortgage that is insured by the Federal
Housing Administration (FHA). Also known as a government mortgage.
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Finder's fee A fee or
commission paid to a mortgage broker for finding a mortgage loan for a
prospective borrower.
Firm commitment A lender’s agreement to make a loan to a
specific borrower on a specific property.
First mortgage A mortgage that is the primary lien against
a property.
Fixed installment The monthly payment due on a mortgage
loan. The fixed installment includes payment of both principal and
interest.
Fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)
A mortgage in which the interest rate does not change during the entire
term of the loan.
Fixture Personal property that becomes real property when
attached in a permanent manner to real estate.
Flood insurance Insurance that compensates for physical
property damage resulting from flooding. It is required for properties
located in federally designated flood areas.
Foreclosure The legal process by which a borrower in
default under a mortgage is deprived of his or her interest in the
mortgaged property. This usually involves a forced sale of the property
at public auction with the proceeds of the sale being applied to the
mortgage debt.
Forfeiture The loss of money, property, rights, or
privileges due to a breach of legal obligation.
401(k)/403(b) An employer-sponsored investment plan that
allows individuals to set aside tax-deferred income for retirement or
emergency purposes. 401(k) plans are provided by employers that are
private corporations. 403(b) plans are provided by employers that are
not for profit organizations.
401(k)/403(b) loan Some administrators of 401(k)/403(b)
plans allow for loans against the monies you have accumulated in these
plans -- monies must be repaid to avoid serious penalty charges.
Fully amortized ARM An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with
a monthly payment that is sufficient to amortize the remaining balance,
at the interest accrual rate, over the amortization term.
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