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Glossary of terms -- Letter H

Harbor Line

An arbitrary line set by authorities on navigable rivers, beyond which wharves and other structures may not be built, also designated as line of navigation.

Heir

One who might inherit or succeed to an interest in land under the rules of law applicable where an individual dies without leaving a will.

Hiatus

A gap or space unintentionally left between, when attempting to describe adjacent parcels of land.

Home Repair Loan

Used for repairs and additions to existing structures without affecting existing mortgage. Typically 10 years or less in length.

HUD 1

A form settlement (closing) statement required by HUD where federally related mortgages are being made on residential properties. It is a balance sheet showing the source of funds and the distribution of funds in connection with the purchase and/or mortgaging of residential property.

Glossary of terms -- Letter I

Improvements

Those additions to raw lands tending to increase value such as buildings, streets, sewer, etc.

Inchoate Dower

The imperfected interest which the law gives a wife in the lands of her husband. This is an interest which upon the death of the husband may ripen into possession and use.

Inchoate Curtesy

The imperfected interest which the law gives a husband in the lands of his wife. "This is an interest which upon the death of the wife may ripen into possession and use."

Indemnify

To make payment for a loss.

Ingress

The right to enter a tract of land. Often used interchangeably with access. (See Access)

Insurance

A contract of indemnity against specified perils.

Insurance Loan

When cash value of life insurance policy is borrowed by insured.

Interim Financing

Temporary or short term loans. Often used with new construction. Usually replaced with a permanent, long term mortgage.

Intestate

Designates the estate or condition of failing to leave a will at death. "To die intestate.

Glossary of terms -- Letter J

Joint Tenancy

Where two or more persons hold real estate jointly for life, the survivors to take the interest of the one who dies.

Judgment

A decree of a court. In practice this is the lien or charge upon the lands of a debtor resulting from the Court's award of money to a creditor. (See Judgment Lien)

Judgment Docket

The record book of a County Clerk where a judgment is entered in order that it may become a lien upon the property of the debtor.

Judgment Lien

The charge upon the lands of a debtor resulting from the decree of a court properly entered in the judgment docket.

Glossary of terms -- Letter L

Land Contract

See Contract for Deed above.

Landmark

Any conspicuous object that helps establish land boundaries.

Lease

A grant of the use of lands for a term of years in consideration of the payment of a monthly or annual rental.

Lender's Policy

See Mortgagee's Policy

Lessee

One who takes lands upon a lease.

Lessor

One who grants lands under a lease.

Lien

A hold, a claim or a charge allowed a creditor upon the lands of a debtor. Some examples are mortgage liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens.

Life Estate

A grant or reservation of the right of use, occupancy and ownership for the life of an individual.

Link

A term of land measurement being 1/100th of a chain or 66/100ths of a foot.

Lis Pendens

A notice recorded in the official records of a county to indicate that a suit is pending affecting the lands where the notice is recorded.

Loss Payable Clause

Provision added to a Fire and Casualty Policy which says any loss will be paid to two or more parties as their interest may appear. Usually the owner and the mortgage lender.

Lot

A measured parcel of land having fixed boundaries.

Glossary of terms -- Letter M

Majority

The age at which a person is entitled to handle his own affairs.

Marketable Title

A good title about which there is no fair or reasonable doubt.

Mechanic's Lien

A lien allowed by statute to contractors, laborers and material-men on buildings, or other structures upon which work has been performed or materials supplied.

Metes and Bounds

A description of land by courses and distances.

Minor

One who because of insufficient age or status is legally incapable of making contracts.

Monument of Survey

Visible marks or indications left on natural or other objects indicating the lines and boundaries of a survey. May be posts, pillars, stones, cairns, and other such objects, but may also be fixed natural objects, blazed trees, roads and even a water course.

Mortgage

An instrument used to encumber land as security for a debt.

Mortgage-Backed Security

A security evidencing either the ownership of an interest in a mortgage loan or pools of mortgage loans, or a separate obligation secured by a mortgage loan or pool of mortgage loans.

Mortgage Banker

A specialized lending institution that lends money solely with respect to real estate and secures its loans with mortgages on the real estate.

Mortgage Broker

A person or company that buys and sells mortgages for another on commission or who arranges for and negotiates mortgage contracts.

Mortgage Revenue Bonds

Issued by communities as a means of providing lower cost mortgage funds to certain qualified borrowers.

Mortgagee

A designation for the mortgage lender on lands.

Mortgagee's Policy

A form of title insurance policy which insures the validity, enforceability and priority. This form does not provide protection for the owner.

Mortgagor

A designation for the mortgage borrower on lands.

Glossary of terms -- Letter N

Negative Amortization

An actual increase in the principal amount of a real estate loan because of the addition of matured but unpaid interest to the loan balance. Usually the result of monthly payments which are temporarily set at a lower than needed level.

Notary

One authorized to take acknowledgments. (See Acknowledgments)

Glossary of terms -- Letter O

Owner's Policy

A policy of title insurance which insures a named owner against loss by reason of defects, liens and encumbrances or lack of marketability of the title. The company also agrees to defend covered claims made against the title.

Ownership

The right to possess and use property to the exclusion of others.

Glossary of terms -- Letter P

Patent

A document or grant by which the Federal or State government originally transferred title to public lands to an individual. The first in the series of transfers by which title comes down to present owners.

Plat / Plot

A map representing a piece of land subdivided into lots with streets shown thereon.

Private Mortgage Insurance [PMI]

An insurance contract which insures that the named lender will recover a specific percentage of the loan amount from the insurer in the event the loan goes bad. Many lenders require this on higher percentage loans.

Points

A one-time special fee or extra charge paid to a lender in order to secure a loan. Expressed as a percentage of face amount of mortgage.

Policy

A written contract of title insurance.

Policyowner

One who owns a title insurance policy.

Power of Attorney

An instrument authorizing another to act on one's behalf as his agent or attorney.

Power of Sale

A clause inserted in a will, mortgage, deed or trust or trust agreement authorizing the sale or transfer of land in accordance with the terms of the clause.

Pro-rate

To allocate between seller and buyer their proportionate share of an obligation paid or due. For example, a pro-rate of real property taxes or fire insurance premiums.

Glossary of terms -- Letter Q

Quiet Title

An action in a proper Court to remove record defects or possible claims of other parties named in the action.

Glossary of terms -- Letter R

Range

A part of the government survey, being a strip of land 6 miles in width, and numbered east or west of the principal meridian.

Real Property

Land and that which is affixed to it.

Realtor®

A federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Realty

A brief term for real property.

Redeem

Literally "to buy back." The act of buying back lands after a mortgage foreclosure, tax foreclosure, or other execution sale.

Registered Land

See Torrens Title below

Reinsurance

To insure again by transferring to another insurance company all or part of an assumed liability, thus spreading the loss risk any one company has to carry.

Real Estate Investment Trust [REIT]

A product of federal tax legislation formed as a business trust, under a special state REIT statute or as a corporation for the purpose of investing in real estate or mortgages on real estate.

Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit [REMIC]

A product of 1986 federal tax legislation in which a business entity such as a corporation partnership or trust in which substantially all of the assets consist of qualified mortgages and permitted investments elects to be treated as an REMIC. Qualification avoids treatment as a corporation for tax purposes.

Right-of-Way

The right which one has to pass across the lands of another. An easement.

Riparian

Rights to use of water and waterways in adjoining lakes or rivers.

Glossary of terms -- Letter S

Second Mortgage

A second loan on real estate that already has a mortgage. It is subordinate to the first mortgage. Usually of shorter term and often at higher interest rate.

Section (Section of Land)

A parcel of land comprising one square mile or 640 acres.

Set Back Lines

Those lines which delineate the required distances for the location of structures in relation to the perimeter of the property.

Sub-surface Right

The right of ownership to things lying beneath the physical surface of the property.

Survey

The process of measuring land to determine its size, location and physical description and the resulting drawing or map.

Glossary of terms -- Letter T

Tenancy in Common

An estate or interest in land held by two or more persons each having equal rights of possession and enjoyment but without any right of survivorship between the owners.

Tenant

Any person in possession of real property with the owner's permission.

Testament

Another term for a will. Commonly referred to as "last will and testament."

Testate

The estate or condition of leaving a will at death.

Testator

A man who makes or has made a testament or will.

Testatrix

A woman who makes or has made a testament or will.

Title

The evidence or right which a person has to the ownership and possession of land. Commonly considered as a bundle or history of rights.

Title Defect

Any legal right held by others to claim property or to make demands upon the owner.

Title Insurance

Insurance against loss or damage resulting from defects or failure of title to a particular parcel of real property.

Title Plant

The total facilities: records, equipment, fixtures, and personnel: required to function as a title insurance operation. Technically, the organization of official records affecting real property into a system which allows quick and efficient recovery of title information.

Title Search

An examination of public records laws and court decisions to disclose the current facts regarding ownership of real estate.

Torrens Title

A system whereby, after court proceedings, a certificate is issued setting forth the extent of the applicant's estate in land subject to the exceptions shown. Most popular in the early 1900's, the system was adopted in 19 states. It is presently used only in parts of six states.

Township

A division of territory 6 miles square, containing 36 sections or 36 square miles.

Tract

A particular parcel of land.

Trust

A property right held by one for the benefit or another.

Trustee

A person holding property in trust.

Glossary of terms -- Letter V

VA Guarantee

An insurance contract in which the Veterans Administration (VA) insures that the named lender will recover a specific percentage of the loan amount from the insurer in the event the loan goes bad.

Variable Rate Mortgage

A loan in which the interest rate fluctuates with the cost of funds or some other index.

Vendee

A purchaser of real property under land contract.

Vendor

A seller of real property under land contract.

Vest

To pass to a person an immediate right or interest. Title may be said to vest in John Brown.

Vestee

A non-legal term used by title insurers to indicate the owner of real property in a policy or report.


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