The Real Estate
Encyclopedia: P-T

Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s estate is administered and distributed under the supervision of a court. The process is used to validate a will, identify and inventory the decedent’s assets, pay outstanding debts and taxes, and transfer...

Statutory redemption is a legal right provided under the laws of certain states that allows a borrower whose property has been foreclosed upon to reclaim the property by paying the required amount within a specified period after the foreclosure sale. The redemption...

The TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (“TRID”) rule is a federal mortgage disclosure regulation that combines certain disclosure requirements under the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”). Implemented by the Consumer...

A “Qualified Mortgage” (“QM”) is a category of mortgage loan defined under federal law and Regulation Z that is intended to ensure borrowers receive loans they have a reasonable ability to repay. Established under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer...

The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (“SAFE Act”) is a federal law enacted to establish minimum licensing and registration standards for Mortgage Loan Originators (“MLOs”) throughout the United States. The law was designed to enhance...

Regulation Z is the federal regulation that implements the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) and establishes detailed rules governing consumer credit disclosures and lending practices. Issued and enforced primarily by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”),...

The Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) is a federal consumer protection law enacted in 1968 to promote the informed use of consumer credit by requiring clear and standardized disclosure of key loan terms and costs. Administered primarily through Regulation Z, TILA applies...

A mortgage “pre-approval” is a lender’s conditional determination that a borrower qualifies for a home loan up to a specified amount, based on a detailed review of the borrower’s financial information and creditworthiness. During the pre-approval process, the lender...

A mortgage “pre-qualification” is an initial evaluation by a lender of a prospective borrower’s financial profile to estimate how much the borrower may be eligible to borrow for a home purchase or refinance. The process is generally informal and is often based on...

A “soft pull” (also called a soft inquiry) on a credit report occurs when a person or organization reviews credit information without it being tied to a formal application for new credit. In the mortgage industry, soft pulls are commonly used during the...