F Flashcards
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION (FREDDIE MAC)
A government-sponsored enterprise created by Congress that purchases conforming mortgage loans and resells them in the secondary market.
FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION (FHA)
A division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its main activity is insuring residential mortgage loans made by private lenders.
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (FANNIE MAE)
A government-sponsored enterprise created by Congress that purchases conforming mortgage loans, as well as those insured by the FHA, and resells them in the secondary market.
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC)
A federal agency with responsibilities that include enforcing compliance with federal lending laws.
FEE SIMPLE
The most basic form of real estate property rights. Fee simple means that when a buyer acquires a property, it includes the land and all improvements to the land.
FEES
Any kind of money that is paid in conjunction with a mortgage loan, other than the actual loan amount and interest. Might include third-party fees, such as those for credit reports or appraisals, or origination/broker fees. Fees affect the total cost of credit when obtaining a loan.
FIDUCIARY DUTY
A duty of loyalty, good faith, and the obligation to prioritize the interests of the principal over the interests of the agent. Some state laws provide that mortgage professionals owe a fiduciary duty to borrowers; other states do not.
FINANCE CHARGE
Any kind of fees or charges associated with obtaining credit, expressed in a dollar amount. Finance charges can include many items, including loan fees, miscellaneous fees, per diem interest, escrows for mortgage insurance, etc.
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE
A mortgage with an interest rate that will remain the same for the entire term of the loan.
FLOAT
The opposite of locking an interest rate. Following formal application and identification of a loan program, a mortgage loan applicant may elect to wait to lock an interest rate in anticipation of interest rates falling. See Rate Lock.
FRAUD
An intentional misrepresentation or concealment of a fact that deceives another and causes him/her to act upon the false representation or concealment, to his/her detriment.
FRAUD FOR HOUSING
A type of fraud in which an individual misrepresents his or her employment history, credit history, intention to occupy a property as a primary residence, or income in order to improve his or her chances of securing a mortgage.
FRAUD FOR PROFIT
The focus of most anti-fraud efforts. Fraud for profit typically involves the conspiratorial involvement of individuals throughout the mortgage industry, such as bankers, brokers, loan originators, processors, underwriters, appraisers, and others.
a.k.a.: Industry insider fraud
FRONT-END RATIO
A comparison of a person’s income to the monthly housing expenses that he or she will be taking on through the mortgage loan.
a.k.a.: Housing debt ratio.
FULL DISCLOSURE
A requirement to reveal all information pertinent to a transaction.