A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
It represents the manufacturer's recommended selling price for a vehicle and each of its options.

Manufacturer's Rebate
A program offered directly to the buyer by manufacturers to increase the sales of slow-selling models or to reduce excess inventories.

Margin
The amount a lender adds to the index on an adjustable rate mortgage to establish the adjusted interest rate.

Market Value
The highest price that a buyer would pay and the lowest price a seller would accept on a property. Market value may be different from the price a property could actually be sold for at a given time.

Marketable Title
A title that is free and clear of objectionable liens, clouds, or other title defects. A title which enables an owner to sell his property freely to others and which others will accept without objection.
Mark-up The amount of profit received by the dealer on each car. Mark-up can be calculated by subtracting the selling price from the invoice price.

Material Debt
Liability that is substantial. The debt results from a recent inquiry and could affect the ratios used to make a decision on the loan.

Maximum loan amount
The greatest amount of money that a borrower is qualified to borrow.

Merged Credit Reports
Information issued by one credit reporting company that receives credit history information from more than one credit repository and combines all of it into one concise format. May be individual or joint.

Minimum Down Payment
Minimum down payment is the amount of money you are required to put down at closing. If the minimum is 10%, you must make a down payment of at least $10,000 on a $100,000 house.

Money Factor
This number is set by the lessor and can vary from company to company. This is how the lessor determines their profit. It is a fractional number, such as .0042, and is used to calculate the lease fee, by multiplying it by the sales price of the vehicle you are leasing. The monthly payment combines the resulting fee with the depreciation charge. Consumers should look for a lower money factor number. While lessors are not required by Regulation M to disclose the money factor, you can still insist on knowing it before entering a lease.

Monroney Sticker Price
Required by federal law, this label affixed to the car window shows the base price, the manufacturer's installed options with the manufacturer's suggested retail price, the manufacturer's freight or transportation charge, and the fuel economy (mileage). The label may not be removed by anyone other than the purchaser.

Monthly Payment
The amount paid each month towards the principal and interest amount of a loan. The monthly payment may or may not include taxes and insurance.

Monthly Payment (P&I)

The monthly payment amount shown includes only principal and interest. When comparing with other offers please take this into consideration.

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 (Open-End)
A mortgage with a provision that permits borrowing additional money in the future without refinancing the loan or paying additional financing charges. Open-end provisions often limit such borrowing to no more than would raise the balance to the original loan figure.

Mortgage Broker

A person or entity that specializes in loan originations, receiving a commission to match borrowers and lenders. The Mortgage Broker performs some or most of the loan processing functions such as taking loan applications, ordering credit reports, appraisals, and title reports. Typically the Mortgage Broker does not underwrite the loan and generally does not use its own funds for closing. The Mortgage is generally closed in the name of the lender who commissioned the broker's services. A Mortgage Broker will not service the Mortgage. An entity or individual engaged to handle or perform, for a Seller or correspondent, part of the mortgage application processing, underwriting, funding or postclosing functions, but not any activities related to obtaining an application for a wholesale origination. This entity is typically paid on a fee basis for services performed, with the payment of fees not being contingent on Mortgage approval or closing.

Mortgage Commitment

A 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 Insurance
Money paid to insure the mortgage when the down payment is less than 20 percent.

Mortgage Insurance Premium
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. In FHA insured mortgages this represents an annual rate of one-half of one percent paid by the mortgagor on a monthly basis.

Mortgage Note

A written agreement to repay a loan. The agreement is secured by a mortgage, serves as proof of an 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.

Mortgagee
The lender.

Mortgagor
The borrower or homeowner.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
A computer database that compiles information on houses listed for sale in a particular area by participating real estate agents. It is maintained and accessed by agents who use the listings to match their clients' needs with property descriptions on the database.

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