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How To Pronounce 36 Common Mortgage Acronyms
Buying your first home is an experience filled with abbreviations and acronyms. From MBS to DTI, LTV, HOA, and FHA – be a better home buyer by knowing what each term means and how to pronounce it properly.
This post helps first-time home buyers shop for homes and compare mortgage rates confidently.
Here are 36 mortgage acronyms you’ll hear on your journey to buy your first home
Mortgage & Real Estate Acronyms: A Pronunciation Game
FSBO is a home sale method by which a homeowner sells their home without a real estate agent. Home sellers go FSBO to avoid paying real estate commissions to a listing agent. They will often pay sales commissions to the buyer’s agent.
HMDA is a law that requires banks and mortgage lenders to disclose to whom they’re making mortgage loans and to whom they’re not. Also known as Regulation C, HMDA ensures that mortgage lending stays fair and equitable for all.
Homebuyer.com performs an annual report on HMDA mortgage data and mortgage statistics.
MLS: Multiple Listing Service
How to pronounce it: “em-el-ESS”
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a subscription software platform that lists U.S. homes for sale. The MLS shows each home’s for-sale price, size, location, and other attributes. Real estate agents access the MLS on behalf of their clients to facilitate buying and selling homes.
HUD: Department of Housing and Urban Development
How to pronounce it: “HUHD”
The Department of Housing and Urban Development manages national housing policies and programs. Among other roles, it improves and develops America’s communities, enforces fair housing laws, and offers housing assistance to homeowners.
HUD’s chartered mission is to build strong, sustainable, inclusive communities with quality, affordable homes for all who seek them.
REO: Real Estate Owned
How to pronounce it: “are-ee-OH”
REO is property owned by a mortgage lender. A property becomes REO after its unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction. Mortgage lenders aim to sell their real estate owned to recover some or all of the mortgaged amount on the home. Lenders often sell REO properties at discounted prices.
HELOC: Home Equity Line of Credit
How to pronounce it: “HEE-lock”
A home equity line of credit is an open-ended loan type that uses a homeowner’s home equity as mortgage loan collateral. A HELOC is a revolving credit line similar to a credit card. Homeowners can go into debt on their HELOC and pay interest each month. They can also pay down their HELOC debt and reduce or pay no mortgage interest.
Home equity lines of credit are usually subordinate liens to a primary mortgage.
LE: Loan Estimate
How to pronounce it: “EL-EE”
The Loan Estimate shows the estimated costs of a mortgage loan. It includes the interest rate for the mortgage, the loan amount, and detailed closing costs. Home buyers receive their LE from their mortgage company within three days of giving a mortgage application by law. LEs help buyers compare mortgage rates from multiple lenders.
The LE replaced the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) in 2015. Some mortgage lenders still use the term interchangeably.
PMI: Private Mortgage Insurance
Falling In Love With Mortgage Insurance
How to pronounce it: “pee-em-EYE”
Private mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that protects mortgage lenders from losing money when a homeowner defaults on their mortgage, and the property goes to foreclosure. For many conventional loans, the homeowner pays private mortgage insurance until they have 20 percent equity in their home, which automatically cancels.
APR: Annual Percentage Rate
How to pronounce it: “ay-pee-ARR”
Annual Percentage Rate is a government calculation intended to show a home buyer’s actual cost to borrow. APR is expressed as a percentage. It is a theoretical, look-back interest rate based on the total payments made over time if a homeowner held their mortgage to full term. The APR calculation includes mortgage interest paid, mortgage closing costs, and other loan-related fees.
FHA: Federal Housing Administration
How to pronounce it: “eff-aych-AY”
The Federal Housing Administration is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Since 1934, the FHA has provided mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders, which protects them from a borrower’s mortgage default. FHA loans allow home buyers to make low-down payments with more lenient credit requirements than other loan types.
ARM: Adjustable Rate Mortgage
How to pronounce it: “ARM”
An adjustable-rate mortgage is a mortgage for which the interest rate changes over time. ARMs are generally structured with an introductory, no-change rate that last five or seven years and then a period of annual interest rate adjustments based on the health of the U.S. economy. Adjustable-rate mortgages often start with lower interest rates than comparable fixed-rate loans because ARMs allow lenders to share some of their interest-rate risk with the homeowner.
DTI: Debt-to-Income Ratio
How to pronounce it: “dee-tee-EYE”
Debt-to-income ratio is a calculation that measures how maxed out a consumer is. DTI is calculated by taking the sum of a buyer’s monthly recurring debts and dividing it into gross income. Non-recurring payments such as auto and student loans nearing the end of their respective terms are not included in the DTI calculations. Many mortgage programs enforce a maximum debt-to-income ratio.
HOA: Homeowners Association
How to pronounce it: “aych-oh-AY”
A homeowners association is a legal organization within a residential community – usually a condominium building or a PUD. HOAs are led by an elected board of directors who make and enforce rules for the association residents, who must join the HOA.
HOA rules may include instructions about lawncare rituals, yard sign displays, and choice of fencing.
HOA members pay dues to the association for shared amenities and community services, including landscaping, utilities, and cleaning services.
PUD: Planned Unit Development
How to pronounce it: “PUHD”
A planned unit development is a community type that incorporates a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and includes open space for parks and schools. PUDs are governed by a homeowners association, offering flexibility in traditional zoning and design rules.
LTV: Loan-to-Value Ratio
How to pronounce it: “el-tee-VEE”
Loan-to-value is the ratio of how much a homeowner borrows with a mortgage and how much the homeowner’s home is worth. LTV is expressed as a percentage where 100 percent represents a no-money-down mortgage. A home buyer’s loan-to-value, along with their credit score and debt-to-income ratio, is a key mortgage approval component.
NAR: National Association of Realtors
How to pronounce it: “NAHR”
The National Association of REALTORS® is a trade organization for U.S. real estate professionals. NAR provides resources and educational opportunities for its members and promotes their interests. NAR also sets ethical standards for buying and selling real estate and advocates for home ownership with Congress and other political bodies.
COE: Certificate of Eligibility
How to pronounce it: “see-oh-EE”
A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a document that verifies eligibility for a VA loan. It is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs and communicates to mortgage lenders that a home buyer has successfully met the VA’s service requirements. Home buyers don’t need their COE to start their VA mortgage application; COEs are required at final approval only.
LOX: Letter of Explanation
How to pronounce it: “ehl-oh-EX”
A letter of explanation is a document that clarifies specific, non-obvious items in a mortgage application. Home buyers can use a letter of explanation to explain credit report discrepancies, non-linear job histories, and uneven deposits into a bank account. A well-written LOX is factual, brief, and precise.
Mortgage-backed securities are linked to the direction of today’s mortgage rates. When demand for mortgage-backed securities increases, mortgage rates tend to go down. When demand for mortgage-backed securities decreases, mortgage rates tend to go up.
CMA: Comparative Market Analysis
How to pronounce it: “see-em-AY”
A Comparative Market Analysis is a document that compares a residential property for sale to similar, recently-sold properties. CMAs match homes by size, condition, and location to help home sellers make informed listing-price decisions.
VA: Department of Veterans Affairs
How to pronounce it: “VEE-AY”
Department of Veterans Affairs is a U.S. government agency that serves military veterans and assists in their transition to civilian life. The VA provides benefits and services to its members, including health care, education, and home loan assistance. It also cares for veterans’ dependents, providing resources and support.
PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance
How to pronounce it: “PEE-eye-TEE-eye”
PITI refers to the total monthly cost of a mortgage.
Principal is the amount of the original amount that gets paid back
Interest is the cost of borrowing money
Taxes are the monthly portion of the annual real estate tax bill
Insurance is the sum of homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance, when applicable
A home buyer’s PITI should agree with their monthly budget for housing.
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
How to pronounce it: “yoo-ES-dee-AY”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the government agency that oversees farming, forestry, and food. The group supports affordable housing in non-urban U.S. communities through its USDA mortgage program, Section 502 lending. The USDA improves the quality of life in rural America while ensuring a safe, sustainable supply of food and other agricultural products.
AVM: Automated Valuation Model
How to pronounce it: “ay-vee-EM”
Automated valuation modeling is a real estate technology that estimates residential home values using mathematical modeling. AVMs combine property records, location, and current market conditions to determine a home’s fair market value quickly and cost-effectively. Mortgage lenders use AVMs to verify a home appraiser’s findings or as standalone software.
HECM: Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
How to pronounce it: “HECK-um”
A home equity conversion mortgage is a type of reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages let homeowners 62 years or older extract their home equity as cash with no monthly payments required. Reverse mortgages defer all payments until the homeowner sells, moves out, or passes away. Homeowners use home equity conversion mortgages to supplement monthly income or make lump sum withdrawals for other purposes.
FICO: Fair Isaac Corporation
How to pronounce it: “FY-koh”
FICO is shorthand for “FICO Score.” FICO scores are a product of the Fair Isaac Corporation, a U.S.-based company specializing in credit scoring services. FICO scores range from 300 to 850. The minimum FICO to get a mortgage approval is 500. FICO scores, along with loan-to-value and debt-to-income, are the key components in a mortgage approval.
NMLS: Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System
How to pronounce it: “en-em-el-ESS”
The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System is the mortgage industry’s centralized state and federal licensing system. The State Regulatory Registry, a Conference of State Bank Supervisors subsidiary, manages the NMLS, which requires every mortgage company to register. The NMLS promotes uniformity and transparency in financial services licensing.
COO: Certificate of Occupancy
How to pronounce it: “see-oh-OH”
A Certificate of Occupancy is a government-issued document that certifies a home is habitable and suitable for occupancy. It attests that the home meets local building codes and laws and ensures compliance with local regulations. Mortgage lenders require COOs as a condition for closing for all new homes, flipped homes, and renovated homes.
CFPB: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
How to pronounce it: “see-eff-pee-BEE”
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a government agency that regulates financial products and services, including student loans, credit cards, and mortgages. The CFPB enforces federal consumer financial laws and educates consumers about their rights.
LAR: Loan Application Register
How to pronounce it: “LAR”
The Loan Application Register, authorized by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), is an official record of U.S. mortgage applications. The LAR includes loan data, applicant demographics, and loan decision information – stripped of personally-identifiable information – for every mortgage application nationwide. LAR helps enforce fair lending laws.
A single-family residence is a home that is zoned for one household. Single-family residences include standalone homes with no shared walls, attached homes with shared walls such as townhomes and rowhomes, and condominiums and co-ops.
Single-family homes are sometimes called 1-unit homes.
MIP: Mortgage Insurance Premium
How to pronounce it: “em-aye-PEE”
MIP is the annual mortgage insurance policy for FHA loans. Homeowners pay MIP to the FHA as part of their monthly PITI. Suppose a homeowner falls behind on their mortgage and defaults on their loan. In that case, the FHA uses the mortgage insurance premiums to protect the lender against loss.
UPMIP: Mortgage Insurance Premium
How to pronounce it: “UP-front em-aye-PEE”
UFMIP is the portion of FHA mortgage insurance policy paid at settlement. UFMIP is a one-time expense. Upfront mortgage insurance is partially refundable for FHA-backed homeowners who refinance into a new FHA mortgage within the loan’s first 36 months.
P&I: Principal and Interest
How to pronounce it: “pee-an-EYE”
P&I is the principal and interest component of a homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment. The principal is the original loan amount that gets paid back in the payment, and the interest is the accrued cost of borrowing money.
RESPA: Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
How to pronounce it: “RES-puh”
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act is a federal law to protect home buyers. The law prohibits kickbacks and referral fees and requires lenders to provide detailed information about home-buying costs. RESPA ensures transparency and fairness in real estate transactions.
Citations
This article, "How To Pronounce 36 Common Mortgage Acronyms" draws on the author's professional mortgage experiences and references information found at these authoritative websites:
March 18, 2024: Added new video; Rewrote introduction; Added citations; Changed title; Updated URL
August 1, 2023: Original publish date
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