| Maturity |
| The period until the last payment is due. |
| Maximum loan amount |
| The largest loan size permitted on a particular loan program. For programs where the loan is targeted for sale to Fannie Mae or Freddy Mac, the maximum will be the largest loan eligible for purchase by these agencies. On FHA loans, the maximums are set by the Federal Housing Administration, and vary somewhat by geographical area. |
| Maximum loan to value ratio |
| The maximum allowable loan-to-value ratio on the selected loan program. |
| Maximum lock |
| The maximum period for which the lender will provide a rate/point commitment on any program. The most common maximum lock period is 60 days, but on some programs the maximum is 90 days; only a few go beyond 90 days. |
| Minimum down payment |
| The minimum allowable ratio of down payment to sale price on any program. If the minimum is 10%, for example, it means that you must make a down payment of at least $10,000 on a $100,000 house, or $20,000 on a $200,000 house. |
| Monthly debt service |
| Monthly payments required on credit cards, installment loans, home equity loans, and other debts but not including payments on the loan applied for. |
| Monthly total expenses (or Back Ratio) |
| Monthly housing expense plus monthly debt service. |
| Mortgage |
| A lien or claim against real property given by the buyer to the lender as security for money borrowed. Under government-insured or loan-guarantee provisions, the payments may include escrow amounts covering taxes, hazard insurance, water charges, and special assessments. Mortgages generally run from 10 to 30 years, during which the loan is to be paid off. |
| Mortgage broker |
| An independent contractor who offers the loan products of multiple lenders, termed wholesalers. A mortgage broker counsels on the loans available from different wholesalers, takes the application, and usually processes the loan. When the file is complete, but sometimes sooner, the lender underwrites the loan and funds it. In contrast to a correspondent, a mortgage broker does not fund a loan. |
| Mortgage Commitment |
| written notice from the bank or other lending institution saying it will advance mortgage funds in a specified amount to enable a buyer to purchase a house. |
| Mortgage company |
| A lender who sells all loans in the secondary market. As distinguished from a portfolio lender, who retains loans in its portfolio. Mortgage companies may or may not service the loans they originate. |
| Mortgage insurance (PMI-Private Mortgage Insurance) |
| Insurance provided the lender against loss on a mortgage in the event of borrower default. |
| Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) |
| The payment made by a borrower to the lender for transmittal to HUD to help defray the cost of the FHA mortgage insurance program and to provide a reserve fund to protect lenders against loss in insured mortgage transactions. |
| Mortgage Note |
| A written agreement to repay a loan. The agreement is secured by a mortgage, serves as proof of indebtedness, and states the manner in which it shall be paid. The note states the actual amount of the debt that the mortgage secures and renders the mortgagor personally responsible for repayment. |
| Mortgage program |
| A bundle of characteristics of a mortgage including whether it is an FRM, ARM, or Balloon, the term, the initial rate period on an ARM, whether it is FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed, and if is not FHA or VA whether it is "conforming" (eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae of Freddie Mac) or "non-conforming". |
| Mortgagee |
| The lender in a mortgage agreement. |
| Mortgagor |
| The borrower in a mortgage agreement. |
