HB-2-3550

Acceleration. Demand for immediate repayment of the entire balance of a debt if the security 

instruments are breached.

Actual net recovery value. The amount the Agency in fact does recover from the sale of a 

property after accounting for all costs.

Adequate housing. A dwelling that provides complete plumbing and adequate heating; is structurally 

sound; is not overcrowded; and does not contain health or safety hazards.

Adjusted income. Used to determine whether an applicant is income-eligible. Adjusted income is based 

on annual income and provides for deductions to account for varying household circumstances and 

expenses.

Adjustment. An agreement to release a debtor from liability generally upon receipt of an initial lump 

sum representing the maximum amount the debtor can afford to pay and periodic additional payments 

over a period of up to 5 years.

Administrator. The official of the Rural Housing Service within the Rural Development mission area 

(or official of its successor agency) delegated authority by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture to administer the Agency and its programs.

Adverse decision. An administrative decision made by an officer, employee or committee of the Agency 

that has a negative impact on the applicant or borrower.

Affordable Housing Product. Any form of participating funds which have limited restrictions and 

repayment terms. These can include subordinate liens, grants, silent mortgages, forgivable loans and 

community land trusts.

Agency. The Rural Housing Service within the Rural Development mission area of the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture or its successor agency, which administers Section 502 loans and Section 504 loans and 

grants.

Allowable excess costs. The cost of the appraisal fee, tax service fee, homeownership education fee, and 

initial contribution to the escrow account. These costs can be financed even if they cause the total loan 

amount to exceed the area loan limit or the property’s market value.

Amortized payment. Equal monthly payments under a fully amortized mortgage loan that provides for 

the scheduled payment of principal and interest over the term of the loan.

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(05-27-98) SPECIAL PN

Revised (03-31-21) SPECIAL PN

GLOSSARY
HB-2-3550

Annual Income. Used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for assistance. All amounts, monetary or 

not, of the applicant’s household not specifically excluded by regulations, and amounts derived from 

assets any members of the family have access to.

Applicant. An adult member of the household who will be responsible for repayment of the loan.

Assumption. The procedure whereby the transferee becomes liable for all or part of the debt of the 

transferor. An assumption may be at the same rates and terms or at new rates and terms, depending on the 

circumstances.

Best mortgage obtainable. In cases when the borrower is delinquent and the loan is unsecured, the 

Agency will attempt to obtain the best security position possible to secure repayment of the delinquency.

Borrower. A recipient who is indebted under the Section 502 or 504 programs.

Cancellation. A decision to cease collection activities and release the debtor from personal liability for 

any remaining amounts owed.

Case File. A file established for each application to contain all documents used for loan origination.

Servicing and Asset Management Office (Servicing Office). The Agency branch located in St. Louis, 

Missouri that is responsible for servicing Section 502 and 504 loans.

Closing costs. Various fees required to conclude a real estate transaction.

Compromise. An agreement to release a debtor from liability upon receipt of a specified lump sum that 

is less than the total amount due.

Cosigner. An individual or entity that joins in the execution of a promissory note to compensate for any 

deficiency in the applicant's repayment ability. The cosigner becomes jointly liable to comply with the

terms of the promissory note in the event of the borrower's default, but is not entitled to any interest in the 

security or borrower rights.

Cross-collateralized loan. A situation in which a single property secures both Agency and Farm Service 

Agency (FSA) loans.

Custodial property. Borrower-owned real property that serves as security for a loan that has been taken 

into possession by the Agency to protect Government’s interest.

Daily simple interest. A method of establishing borrower payments based on daily interest charged on 

the outstanding principal balance of the loan. Principal is reduced by the amount of payment in excess of 

the accrued interest.

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Debt instrument. A collective term encompassing obligating documents for a loan, including any 

applicable promissory note, assumption agreement, or a grant agreement.

Debt settlement. Actions undertaken to collect at least a portion of debt owed to the Agency in 

conjunction with a voluntary liquidation, forced liquidation, or after the debt is fully matured. Debt 

settlement, when complete, closes the account.

Dedicated Loan Origination and Servicing System (DLOS). The overall automated system used by 

the Agency for originating and servicing loans, which includes UniFi and MortgageServ. It is designed to 

expedite loan making, standardize information collection and record keeping, and facilitate 

communication between the Field Office and Servicing Office.

Deed in lieu of foreclosure. A method of liquidation by which title to the security property is conveyed 

to the Agency by the borrower.

Deferred mortgage payments. A subsidy available to eligible, very low-income borrowers of 

up to 25 percent of their principal and interest payments at 1 percent for up to 15 years. The 

deferred amounts are subject to recapture on sale or nonoccupancy.

Deficient housing. A dwelling that lacks complete plumbing; lacks adequate heating; is dilapidated or 

structurally unsound; has an overcrowding situation that will be corrected with loan funds; or that is 

otherwise uninhabitable, unsafe, or poses a health or environmental threat to the occupant or others.

Deficiency judgment. A personal judgment against a debtor for the amount remaining due after 

foreclosure.

Delinquency workout agreement. An agreement establishing a new repayment plan for a borrower who 

has delinquent Agency debt.

Disability (individual with a). Any person who has a physical or mental impairment that 

substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is 

regarded as having such an impairment.

Do Not Pay portal. The Department of Treasury’s DNP portal was announced through a Presidential 

Memorandum dated June 18, 2010. At a minimum and before payment and award, the Presidential 

Memorandum and the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 requires a 

check of the following five databases: 1) Social Security Administration’s Death Master File, 2) General 

Services Administration’s Excluded Parties List System, 3) Department of the Treasury’s Debt Check 

Database of the Department of the Treasury, 4) Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Credit 

Alert System, and 5) Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General’s List of 

Excluded Individuals/Entities. The DNP portal allows users to check the above databases required by the 

law using a single-entry point web-based application.

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Glossary, Page 3 of 12

(05-27-98) SPECIAL PN

Revised (03-31-21) SPECIAL PN
HB-2-3550

Due Diligence. The process of inquiring into the environmental condition of real estate in the context of 

a real estate transaction to determine the presence of contamination from hazardous substances, hazardous 

wastes, and petroleum products, and what impact such contamination may have on the market value of 

the property.

Easement. The legal right to use land, or a portion of land, owned by another for a limited purpose.

Elderly family. An elderly family consists of one of the following:

A. A person who is the head, spouse, or sole member of a family and who is 62 years of age or older, or 

who is disabled, and is an applicant or borrower; or 

B. Two or more persons who are living together, at least one of whom is age 62 or older, or disabled, and 

who is an applicant or borrower; or

C. In the case of a family where the deceased borrower or spouse was at least 62 years old or disabled, 

surviving household members shall continue to be classified as an elderly family for the purpose of 

determining adjusted income, even though the surviving members may not meet the definition of 

elderly family on their own, provided:

1. They occupied the dwelling with the deceased family member at the time of the death;

2. If one of the surviving family members is the spouse of the deceased family member, the 

family shall be classified as an elderly family only until the remarriage of the surviving spouse; 

and

3. At the time of the death of the deceased family member, the dwelling was financed under title 

V of the Housing Act of 1949.

Environmental review. An analysis of the potential for environmental impacts from a proposed action 

by the Agency and an examination of alternatives to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on the 

environment.

Equivalent interest rate (EIR). The interest rate charged by the Agency to program borrowers who 

receive payment assistance via method 1. The interest rate varies according to the borrower’s income.

Escrow account. An account to which the borrower contributes monthly payments to cover the 

anticipated costs of real estate taxes, hazard and flood insurance premiums, and other related costs.

Estimated net recovery value. The amount that the Agency could expect to recover from a property if it 

was liquidated after considering all costs associated with liquidating, holding, and selling the property.

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False information. Information that the recipient knew was incorrect or should have known was 

incorrect that was provided or omitted for the purposes of obtaining assistance for which the recipient was 

not eligible.

Fee simple ownership. A form of ownership under which the owner has absolute title to a piece of 

property.

Field Office. An Agency office that originates loans. 

Floor payment. A minimum amount that the borrower must pay for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and 

Insurance (PITI) when payment assistance method 1 is used. The payment amount is determined by the 

borrower’s adjusted income, and its relation to the applicable adjusted median income in the area in 

which the security property is located.

Full-time student. A person who carries at least the minimum number of credit hours considered to be 

full-time by the college or vocational school in which the person is enrolled.

Hazard. A condition of the property that jeopardizes the health or safety of the occupants or members of 

the community, that does not make it unfit for habitation (see also the definition of major hazard).

Household. All persons expected to be living in the dwelling, except for live-in aids, foster children, and 

foster adults.

Housing Act of 1949, as amended. The Act which provides the authority for the direct single family 

housing programs. It is codified at 42 U.S.C. 1471, et seq.

HUD. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD high cost area. An area defined by HUD as having high housing costs.

Inaccurate information. Incorrect information inadvertently provided, used, or omitted without intent to 

obtain benefits for which the applicant was not eligible.

Indian reservation. All land located within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of 

the United States notwithstanding the issuance of any patent and including rights-of-way running through 

the reservation; trust or restricted land located within the boundaries of a former reservation of a Federally 

recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma; or all Indian allotments, the titles to which have not 

been extinguished if such allotments are subject to the jurisdiction of a Federally recognized Indian tribe.

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Glossary, Page 5 of 12

(05-27-98) SPECIAL PN

Revised (03-31-21) SPECIAL PN
HB-2-3550

Interest credit. A payment subsidy available to certain eligible Section 502 borrowers that reduces the 

effective interest rate of the loan. Borrowers receiving interest credit will continue to receive it on all 

current and future loans for as long as they remain eligible for and continue to receive a subsidy. 

Borrowers who cease to be eligible for interest credit can never receive interest credit again, but may 

receive payment assistance method 2 if they again qualify for a payment subsidy.

Junior lien. A security instrument or a judgment against the security property to which the Agency debt 

instrument is superior.

Legal alien. For the purposes of these programs, legal alien refers to any person lawfully admitted to the 

country who meets the criteria in Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, 

as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1436a.

Leveraged loan. An affordable housing product loan or grant to an Agency borrower property, closed 

simultaneously with an RHS loan. Affordable leveraged loans are characterized by long term (not less 

than 30 years), amortized payments with a note interest rate equal to or less than 3 percent. 

Liquidation. A forced sale or voluntary disposition of the security property to obtain funds to repay 

outstanding debt. The proceeds from the sale are given to leinholders in order of priority, with any 

remaining funds returned to the borrower.

Live-in aide. A person who lives with an elderly person or disabled person and is essential to that 

person’s care and well-being, not obligated for the person’s support, and would not be living in the unit 

except to provide the support services.

Loan Approval Official. An Agency employee who has the authority to approve loans. Unless 

otherwise indicated, each State Director may determine which approval actions may be made by the Loan 

Approval Official, and which must come to the State Office for approval.

Loan docket. The legal documents and forms developed during loan origination that must be provided to 

Servicing Office for servicing purposes.

Loan Originator. An Agency employee who works with the loan applicant, conducts the basic 

underwriting analysis, and makes the loan approval or credit denial recommendation to the Loan 

Approval Official.

Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio. LTV ratio is the relationship between the amount to be financed and the

market value of the security property.

Lockbox. The service that receives and processes borrower payments.

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Glossary, Page 6 of 12
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Loss draft. A payment from an insurance company to a borrower to cover the borrower’s adjusted losses 

due to damages covered under the insurance policy.

Low income. An adjusted income developed in consultation with HUD under 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(D)

Major hazard. A condition so severe that it makes the property unfit for habitation. (See also the 

definition of hazard.)

Market value. The value of the property as determined by a current appraisal; the Agency may authorize 

the use of a Broker’s Price Opinion (BPO) or similar instrument to determine market value in limited 

servicing situations.

Mineral lease. A granting of rights to a third party to mine, drill or otherwise access oil, gas or other 

valuable natural resources on a property.

Minor. Any individual under 18 years of age, except that a recipient or spouse may never be 

considered a minor.

Moderate income. An adjusted income that does not exceed the moderate income limit for the 

guaranteed single family housing loan program authorized by Section 502(h) of the Housing Act of 1949, 

as amended

Modest housing. A property that is considered modest for the area, with a market value that does not 

exceed the applicable area loan limit as established by RHS in accordance with §3550.63. In addition, the 

property must not be designed for income producing activities nor have an in ground swimming pool.

Moratorium. A period of up to two years during which scheduled payments for principal, interest and 

deposits to the escrow account are not required, but are subject to repayment at a later date.

Mortgage. A form of security instrument or consensual lien on real property including a real estate 

mortgage or deed of trust.

MortgageServ. The mainframe-based computer application that is used by the Field Office to 

electronically communicate with, and transmit information to SO, and by SO to service and track a 

borrower’s loan. 

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(05-27-98) SPECIAL PN

Revised (03-31-21) SPECIAL PN
HB-2-3550

National Appeals Division (NAD). The organization within the United States Department of 

Agriculture that is responsible for the Department’s administrative appeals procedures which must be 

followed by participants who desire to appeal an adverse decision made by the Agency.

National Office. The headquarters of the Agency located in Washington, DC where the Administrator’s 

office and the national policy-making staff are located.

Net family assets. The value of assets are available to a household that could be used towards housing 

costs. Net family assets are considered in the calculation of annual income and are used to determine 

whether the household must make additional cash contributions to improve or purchase the property.

Net recovery value. The market value of the security property minus anticipated expenses of liquidation, 

acquisition, and sale as determined by the Agency.

Nonprogram interest rate. The interest rate offered by the Agency for loans made on nonprogram 

terms.

Nonprogram property. Property that does not meet the program’s requirements.

Nonprogram terms. Credit terms available from the Agency when the applicant or property is not 

program-eligible.

Note only loan. See “unsecured loan.”

Note rate. See “promissory note rate.”

Offset. Deductions to pay a debt owed to the Agency from a borrower’s retirement benefits, salary, 

income tax refund, or payments from other Federal agencies to the borrower. Deductions from retirement 

benefits and salary generally apply only to current and former Federal employees.

Partial release of security. An action by the Agency under which it releases a portion of the security 

property from the security instrument.

Participant. For the purpose of reviews and appeals, a participant is any individual or entity who has 

applied for or whose right to participate in or receive a payment, loan, or other benefit is affected by an 

Agency decision.

Payment assistance. A payment subsidy available to eligible Section 502 borrowers that reduces the 

effective interest rate of a loan.

Payment moratorium. A period of up to 2 years during which scheduled payments for principal, interest 

and deposits to the escrow account are not required, but are subject to repayment at a later date.

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Glossary, Page 8 of 12
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Payment subsidy. A general term for subsidies which reduce the borrower’s scheduled payment. It 

refers to either payment assistance method 1 or 2, or interest credit.

Person with a disability. Any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits 

on or more major life activities, including functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual 

tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working; has a record of such an 

impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment.

PITI ratio. The amount paid by the borrower for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, divided by 

repayment income.

Principal reduction attributable to subsidy (PRAS). Accelerated principal reduction that may occur 

when a borrower receives a reduced interest rate through interest credit assistance.

Prior lien. A security instrument or a judgment against the security property that is superior to the 

Agency’s debt instrument.

Program-eligible applicant. Any applicant meeting the eligibility requirements of the Section 502 or 

Section 504 programs.

Program-eligible property. A property eligible to be financed under the Section 502 or Section 504 

programs.

Program terms. Credit terms that are available only to program-eligible applicants for program-eligible 

properties.

Promissory note rate. The unsubsidized interest rate offered by the Agency for loans made on program 

terms.

Property. The land, dwelling, and related facilities for which the applicant will use Agency assistance.

Protective advances. Costs incurred by the Agency to protect the security interest of the Government 

that are charged to the borrower’s account.

Real Estate Owned (REO). Property for which the Agency holds title (formerly known by the Agency 

as “inventory property”).

Real estate taxes. Taxes and the annual portion of assessments estimated to be due and payable on the 

property, reduced by any available tax exemption.

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Glossary, Page 9 of 12

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Revised (03-31-21) SPECIAL PN
HB-2-3550

Reamortization. The establishment of a new, revised schedule of equal monthly payments of principal

and interest over the remaining term of a mortgage loan.

Recapture amount. An amount of subsidy to be repaid by the borrower upon disposition or 

nonoccupancy of the property.

Recipient. An individual who has received an Agency loan or grant.

Refinancing with private credit. An Agency requirement under which program borrowers who appear 

to qualify for private credit must seek such credit (formerly known by the Agency as “graduation”).

Repayment income. Used to determine whether an applicant has the ability to make monthly loan 

payments. Repayment income is based only on the income attributable to parties to the note and includes 

some income sources excluded for the purpose of adjusted income.

Rural area. The definition of “rural area” is found in section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended.

Scheduled payment. The monthly or annual installment on a promissory note plus escrow (if required), 

as modified by any payment subsidy agreement, delinquency workout agreement. other documented 

agreements between the Agency and the borrower, or protective advances.

Secured loan. A loan that is collateralized by property so that in the event of a default on the loan, the 

property may be sold to satisfy the debt (see also “unsecured loan”).

Security instrument. The written instrument that legally records the Agency’s security interest in the 

property.

Security property. All the property that serves as collateral for an Agency loan.

Servicing and Asset Management Office (Servicing Office). The Agency branch located in St.

Louis, Missouri that is responsible for servicing Section 502 and 504 loans.

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). An area having special flood, mudslide and/or flood related 

erosion hazards as shown on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain maps.

State Director. The highest Agency decision making official at the State level.

State Supplement. Additional guidance provided by the State Director when State, local or tribal laws 

affect how Agency requirements are implemented in a particular State.

Subordination. Moving a lien position to a lower priority.

Subsequent loans. Additional Agency credit that is extended to an existing program borrower.

Subsidy. Interest credit, payment assistance method 1, payment assistance method 2, or deferred 

mortgage assistance received by a borrower under the Section 502 program.

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Glossary, Page 10 of 12
HB-2-3550

Subsidy repayment agreement. An agreement under which a borrower agrees to repay to the Agency 

any subsidy received under the Section 502 program upon disposition or nonoccupancy of the security 

property.

Supervised funds. Funds deposited in an Agency supervised bank account on behalf of a borrower.

Tax service. A contractor hired by the Agency to secure tax information about borrower properties.

Temporarily absent. A person is considered temporarily absent from a household for reasons 

such as seasonal or migratory employment, military callup, hospitalization.

Total debt ratio. The amount paid by the borrower for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance and any 

recurring monthly debt, divided by repayment income.

Tribal allotted land. Tribal land allotted to individual tribal members which is held in trust.

Tribe. Any Federally-recognized tribe, band, pueblo, group, community, or nation of Indians or Alaska 

natives.

Trust land. Land held in trust by the United States on behalf of an Indian tribe.

Unauthorized assistance. Any loan, payment subsidy, deferred mortgage payment, or grant for which 

there was no regulatory authorization or for which the recipient was not eligible.

UniFi. A personal computer-based application located in each Field Office that is used by Loan 

Originators. It retains applicant information, calculates maximum loan amounts, and generates loan 

approval and closing forms.

United States (U.S.) citizen. An individual who resides as a U.S. citizen in any of the 50 states, the 

District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marinas, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of 

Palau, or the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

USDA. The United States Department of Agriculture.

Unsecured loan. A loan, also known as a “note only loan,” evidenced only by the borrower’s promissory 

note (see also “secured loan”).

Value appreciation. The current market value of the property minus: the balance due prior lien 

holders; the unpaid balance of Agency debt; unreimbursed closing costs (if any); principal 

reduction; the original equity (if any) of the borrower; and the value added by capital 

improvements.

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Glossary, Page 11 of 12

(05-27-98) SPECIAL PN

Revised (08-29-19) PN 527
HB-2-3550

Very low income. An adjusted income limit developed in consultation with HUD under 42 U.S.C. 

1437a(b)(2)(D).

Veterans preference. A preference extended to any person applying for a loan or grant under the Section 

502 or Section 504 programs who was honorably discharged or released on conditions other than 

dishonorable conduct from the active forces of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, 

or Coast Guard and who served in active duty during one of the following periods:

A. April 6, 1917 through March 31, 1921;

B. December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946;

C. June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955;

D. A period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, but on or 

before May 7, 1975; or

E. During the period beginning August 2, 1990, and ending the date prescribed by Presidential 

Proclamation or law.

The family of a service person who died in service during any of the periods listed above is also extended 

the preference.

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Glossary, Page 12 of 12