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Real Estate Dictionary

Welcome > Resources > Real Estate Dictionary - A

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

F

Fair Credit Reporting Act

A federal law that regulates the disclosure of consumer credit reports by consumer/credit reporting agencies, and establishes procedures for rectifying errors on individuals' credit records

Fair Housing Act

A federal law which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status and national origin

Fair market value

The highest price that a buyer, who is willing but not required to buy, would pay for a piece of property or home, and the lowest price that a seller, who is willing but not required to sell, would accept

Fannie Mae

The Federal National Mortgage Association (also FNMA), a private corporation which is federally chartered to provide financial products and services that increase the availability and affordability of housing, by purchasing mortgages from banks and other lending institutions; the FNMA is the largest non-bank financial services company in the world, as well as the largest resource for financing of home mortgages in the U.S.

Farmer's Home Administration (FmHA)

A federal agency that provides credit assistance to farmers and other individuals residing in rural areas of the U.S.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

An independent federal agency that insures the deposits in commercial banks

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC)

A corporation established to purchase primarily conventional mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

An agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), whose function is the insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders; while setting standards for construction and underwriting, the FHA itself does not lend money, or construct housing

FHA insurance

Mortgage insurance provided by the Federal Housing Administration to protect banks, savings and loans, and mortgage companies against loss on real estate loans

FHA loan

A loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration, and made by an approved lender in accordance with the FHA's regulations

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)

A governmental agency established to purchase any kind of mortgage loans in the secondary mortgage market from the primary lenders

Fee simple

The greatest interest in a parcel of land that is possible, or the total interest in real property

Fiduciary relationship

A relationship of trust and confidence, as between principal and agent, trustee and beneficiary, attorney and client

Finder's fee

A commission paid to a mortgage broker for sourcing a mortgage loan for a prospective borrower

First mortgage

A mortgage that is the primary lien against a property

Fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)

A mortgage in which the interest rate remains fixed over the duration of the term of the loan

Fixture

Any item of property that is attached to real property such that it becomes a permanent part of the real property, and therefore is usually sold with it

Foreclosure

A legal proceeding usually initiated by the lender or creditors, involving a forced sale of a property owned by a borrower who has defaulted on payment of, or on the terms of, a loan on said property, and whereby the borrower is deprived of his or her interest in the property

Forfeiture

The loss of money, property, rights, or privileges due to a breach of legal obligation

Forfeiture of Title

The provision in a deed that accounts for title being passed to another, should certain terms not be met or certain circumstances occur

Freddie Mac

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (also FHLMC), a private corporation that is federally chartered to purchases and sells mortgage loans; a major player in the secondary market, along with the Federal National Mortgage Associate (FNMA)

Front ratio

The ratio of a potential borrower's monthly housing costs to their gross monthly income, utilized by lenders to qualify an applicant for a loan; typically 28-40 percent is acceptable

Fully amortized ARM

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with a monthly payment that is sufficient to pay off the remaining balance at the interest accrual rate over the amortization term

Fully indexed note rate

Te index value at the time of application for an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) plus the gross margin stated in the note

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



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Real Estate Tips

Tax Considerations >Your Tax Free Profits

Significant tax reform legislation was signed into law with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. This legislation replaced both the one-time $125,000 tax-free exclusion for homeowners aged 55 and older, and the "rollover" deferment of capital gains tax requiring the purchase of a replacement home of higher or equal cost within two years of the sale of your principal residence.

With this change, a married couple filing their taxes jointly pays capital gains taxes only on that portion of home sales profits that exceeds $500,000. Single taxpayers, heads of households, and married persons filing separately may exclude up to $250,000. The exclusion is available for all sales of homes that occurred on or after May 6, 1997. Homeowners can use this tax-free provision every two years.

You are allowed to keep these tax-free profits only if you have owned and used the home as your principal residence for two out of the five years prior to the sale of the property. Although the regulations do not require continuous occupancy, the IRS specifies that your principal residence must be the home you use for the majority of time during the year. Consult your tax advisor about your personal circumstance.

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Real Estate Trivia

Q 
What country of the world has the highest percentage of private housing?

A 
Mongolia, where 100% of all properties are owner-occupied.
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