FINANCE TERMINOLOGY
We Call It THE JARGON BUSTER!
Application Fee: The fee charged by a lender to cover or partially cover the costs of setting up or establishing the loan Arrears An overdue loan where the repayments have not been met by the due date
Arrears Fee:A charge for administering the arrears position
Assets:Money, property, vehicles or goods that you own
Body Corporate:A corporation of the owners of units within a building. They form a self-elected council to manage the building and common areas
Borrower: The person being provided funds in the form of a loan Break costsThe costs charged by a lender when the borrower discharges a loan within a certain period of time following settlement
Bridging Finance: A loan that lets you cover the purchase of a new property or other asset, before you sell your existing property
Broker: A person who arranges finance for another person or company
Business Loan: A loan where all monies are used for business purposes
Capital Gain: The financial gain you receive when you sell something for more than you paid for it. You may have to pay tax on the amount gained
Caveat Loan : Short term Business or Investment loan which settles in 24 – 48 hours and is secured against real estate… sometimes known as a short term 2nd mortgage
Centerlink Benefits: Benefits paid by the Government
Certificate of Title : Document from the State Government stating land dimensions, the owners & any encumbrances over property
Co-Borrower : Another person who agrees to go on an application with you
Consumer Credit Code: An Act of Parliament governing the relationship between private borrowers and lenders
Contract of Sale: A written agreement outlining the terms and conditions for the purchase or sale of property
Conveyancing: The legal process for the transfer of ownership of real estate
Debt Service Ratio: The ratio used by lenders when assessing the borrowers capacity to repay a loan
Default: Paid or unpaid credit record blemish
Deposit Bond: A bond that will guarantee that the purchaser of a property will pay the full deposit by the due date, used as surety when cash is not immediately available
Deferred Early Repayment Fee: Fees sometimes charged when a loan is repaid in full and discharged (finalised) within a certain period of time following settlement
Disbursements: A solicitor’s incidental costs involved when dealing with a client on behalf of a lender. (e.g. title searches, certificates, pest reports etc)
Draw Down: The act of transferring money from the lending institution (e.g. bank) to the borrower, after the loan has settled
Early Repayment Fee: Fees sometimes charged when a loan is repaid in full and discharged (finalised) within a certain period of time following settlement.
Encumbrance: An outstanding liability (debt) or charge on a property
Establishment Fee: Fee charged to set up a loan
Equity: The financial interest a person has in a property or business.(The portion of the property or business that is actually owned)
Exchange of contract: The legal point of time when the vendor and purchaser exchange signed documentation in preparation for settlement
Financial Records: Income verification e.g. Tax Returns and financial records from an accountant
Fittings: Items that can be removed from a property without causing damage to it
Fixtures: Items that would cause damage to a property if removed
Fixed Interest Period: The period during which the interest is a set rate
Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party’s debts should they fail to repay them
Interest: The charge for the use of funds
Interest Only Loan: A loan where the repayments do not contain any of the principal
Investment Loan: Funds are used for investment purposes
Joint Nomination: Where 2 or more applicants can nominate 1 person to receive notices and documents on behalf of all borrowers
Judgment: Court Action taken over monies owed for goods/services and has not been repaid in accordance with a contract/timeframe
Lender’s Legal Fees: Fees paid to the lender’s solicitor for establishing the loan and mortgage
Liabilities: A person’s debts and/or obligations
Line of Credit: A flexible loan arrangement with a specified ceiling/maximum amount to be used at a customer’s discretion
Loan to Value Ratio (LVR): The ratio of the amount lent to the valuation of the property expressed as a percentage. E.g. If the property costs $100k and the loan sought is $48k the LVR is 80%
Maturity: The date by which a debt or investment must be paid in full
Mortgage: A form of security for a loan, usually taken over real estate. The lender has the right to take the real estate if the borrower fails to repay the loan
Mortgagee: The lender of funds
Mortgagor: The person/s borrowing money in terms of the mortgage
Mortgage Registration Fee: Government fee payable for the transfer of the title; discharge of a mortgage; registration of a mortgage, caveat and other registrations such as leases
PAYG: “Pay As You Go” – Taxes that are deducted weekly/fortnightly/monthly from wages/salaries of employees
Payslip: Declaration of income earned, taxes paid etc. from employer
Pensioner: A person not in active employment
Personal Loan: Funds not used for real estate purchase or refinance. E.g. debt consolidation, holiday, car, furniture
Principal: The capital sum borrowed on which interest is paid
Principal and Interest: A loan in which the principal is fully repaid during the term of the loan
Privacy Act: A law to protect consumers in regards to their privacy from information being shared. By signing the Privacy Act Authority, the consumer gives the lender authority to access credit reports from credit reference associations
Portability: When a new property can be used as security for an existing loan. E.g. when a new loan is transferred to a new property without needing to repay the original loan, reapply or restructure the existing loan
Purchaser/s: The person/s buying the property or goods
Purchaser Stamp Duty: Government duty payable on a sale of contract
Rates Notice: Local Council Registration particulars of property
Redraw: The borrower is able to draw on pre-paid funds from the loan account
Refinance: To replace or extend an existing loan with funds from the same or another lender
Search: An examination to confirm ownership of a property and that the vendor has the right to sell the property and here are no encumbrances or restrictions on the property
Security: An asset that guarantees the lender their borrowings until the loan is repaid in full. E.g. real estate, vacant land, Motor vehicle
Self Employed: You work for yourself in your own business
Serviceability: Your ability to comfortably afford a new loan as well as meeting existing commitments
Settlement: (1) The finalisation of payment by the buyer to complete the sale and then take possession of the property
Settlement: (2) The date the loan funds are paid into nominated bank account or to nominated party
Stamp Duty: State Government tax – varies from state to state
Strata Title: Right of title or ownership of a section or unit of a larger building
Term: The length of time of a loan or specific portion within that loan
Title Search: Process to ensure that the vendor has the right to sell and transfer ownership of a property
Transfer: A document registered with the Land Titles Office that confirms the change of ownership as noted on the Certificate of Title
Unencumbered: A property or car that has no money owing against it
Utility Bill: Phone, gas, electricity or water bill that shows name and full address
Valuation: A report detailing a professional opinion on the property’s market value
Variable Rate: A rate that can vary during the term of the loan, at the discretion of the lender, generally following trends set by the Reserve Bank
Variation: Changing any part of the original loan contract
Vendor: The person selling the property or car
Zoning: Defines the uses of particular parcels of land, as permitted by the local authority