Common mortgage terms explained

A mortgage requiring periodic payments which include both a partial repayment of the debt and interest on the outstanding balance.

A table showing the amounts of principal and of interest comprising each level payment due at regular intervals and the outstanding principal balance of the loan after each level payment is made

A small unit of measure used to describe yield changes of less than one per cent in debt instruments such as mortgages. One basis point is equal to one-hundredth of one per cent. (For example, a rate change of one quarter of a per cent equals 25 basis points).

A single mortgage registered against two or more individual parcels of real property.

Equal or regular mortgage payments, consisting of both a principal and an interest component.

The interest rate on an increased mortgage which is derived from a formula that takes into account the interest rate on the existing loan and the interest rate on the increase mortgage amount.

When the seller reduces the interest rate on a mortgage by paying the difference between the reduced rate and the market rate directly to the lender or to the purchaser.

A mortgage loan that is 75 per cent or less of the loan-to-value ratio; and does not require insurance by CMHC or other private insurer.

The per centage of a borrower's income that can be used for housing costs. Gross Debt Service (GDS) Ratio is the amount that a lender will permit a borrower to use from his/her gross income in order to qualify for a loan for housing costs, including mortgage payment and taxes (and condominium fees, when applicable). Total Debt Service (TDS) Ratio is the maximum per centage of a borrower's income that a lender will consider for all debt repayment (other loans and credit cards, etc.) including a mortgage.

The difference between the price for which a property can be sold and the mortgage(s) on the property. Equity is the owner's stake in the property.

A legal process by which the lender takes possession and ownership of a property when the borrower doesn't meet the mortgage obligations.

A mortgage that exceeds 75 per cent of the loan-to-value ratio; must be insured by either the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or a private insurer to protect the lender against default by the borrower who has less equity invested in the property.

A contract between a borrower and a lender. The borrower pledges a property as security to guarantee repayment of the mortgage debt.

Government-backed or private-backed insurance protecting the lender against the borrower's default on high-ratio (and other types of) mortgages.

Is a fee paid by the borrower to the lender in exchange for being permitted to break a contract (a mortgage agreement); usually three months' interest, but it can be a higher or it can be the equivalent of the loss of interest to the lender.

A mortgage that can be prepaid or renegotiated at any time and in any amount, without penalty.

A clause inserted in a mortgage, which gives the mortgagor the privilege of paying all or part of the mortgage debt in advance of the maturity date.

The mortgage amount initially borrowed or the portion still owing on the mortgage. Interest is calculated on the principal amount.

A non-amortizing mortgage under which the principal is paid in its entirety upon the maturity date. Sometimes called a straight loan.

A mortgage for which payments are fixed, but whose interest rate changes in relationship to fluctuating market interest rates. If mortgage rates go up, a larger portion of the payment goes to interest. If rates go down, a larger portion of the payment is applied to the principal.

When sellers use their equity in a property to provide some or all of the mortgage financing in order to sell the property.