A fuller guide to this term is on the way. In the meantime, the related terms below explain the ideas around it.
Related MoneyPedia terms
- Down PaymentThe upfront cash you pay toward a home's price, with the rest covered by your mortgage loan.
- Home EquityThe share of your home you truly own, equal to its market value minus what you still owe on the mortgage.
- Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)An added monthly fee lenders require when your down payment is under 20 percent, protecting them if you default.
- MortgageA loan used to buy a home, where the property itself acts as collateral the lender can take if you stop paying.
- AppraisalA professional estimate of a home's market value, required by lenders to confirm the price matches the loan amount.
- RefinancingReplacing an existing loan with a new one, usually to get a lower rate, a different term, or a smaller monthly payment.
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Plain-English education — not personalized legal, tax, or investment advice.