Amerisave Logo
Amerisave Logo

Glossary of Mortgage Terms

Explore commonly used mortgage terms that are frequently used by AmeriSave Mortgage.
Loan Principal

The loan principal is the amount you borrow from a lender. It's the part of your debt that gets smaller with each payment you make toward the original balance.

Loan Term

A loan term is the total length of time a borrower has to repay a mortgage, and it directly shapes monthly payments, total interest costs, and how fast you build equity in your home.

Loan-to-Value Ratio

The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is a percentage that lenders use to measure risk and set loan terms. It compares the amount you borrow on a mortgage to the appraised value of the property.

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)

Before it was replaced by more reliable options, LIBOR was a benchmark interest rate that big banks around the world used to set the cost of borrowing money for adjustable-rate loans, like mortgages.

Loss Mitigation

Loss mitigation is the term for the options and strategies that a mortgage servicer gives a homeowner to help them avoid losing their home when they can't make their monthly payments anymore.

Low-Income Home Loan

A low-income home loan is a type of mortgage that helps families with incomes below the area median income level buy a home. It has flexible credit, a lower down payment, and rules about who can get one based on their income.

Recent Articles

Bridge Loan vs. HELOC: How to Choose the Right Way to Fund Your Next Move in 2026

Bridge Loan vs. HELOC: How to Choose the Right Way to Fund Your Next Move in 2026

Why This Choice Trips Up Even Careful Home Buyers The worst advice home buyers get when they are trying to buy and sell at the same time is that a bridge loan...

Closing Costs in California: Your 2026 Home Buyer's Guide to Fees, Taxes, and What You Actually Pay

Closing Costs in California: Your 2026 Home Buyer's Guide to Fees, Taxes, and What You Actually Pay

What Closing Costs Really Mean for a California Home Buyer Buying a home in California is exciting right up until someone hands you a stack of numbers and asks...

California Jumbo Loan Limits for 2026: What Makes a Loan Jumbo, How to Qualify, and How to Decide

California Jumbo Loan Limits for 2026: What Makes a Loan Jumbo, How to Qualify, and How to Decide

What makes a mortgage jumbo in California The most common misunderstanding I've run into about jumbo loans is that they're only for mansions and luxury buyers....