The number of Mission Beach real estate closings and pending San Diego County home sales decreased in December 2010, bucking a nationwide trend to the contrary. According to the national Pending Homes Sales Index, the number of pending home sales in the United States as a whole saw an increase in the most recent tracking period, while the number of pending sales in San Diego County saw a decrease. In December 2010, there were a total of 4,471 pending sales in the county, compared to 4,652 a month earlier. One local real estate expert attributed the lag to the more expensive product mix of properties in San Diego, which tends to have a median sales price well above many other parts of the state and country.

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Fee Simple Ownership: Fee simple ownership is probably the most familiar form of property ownership to buyers of residential property, especially on the US Mainland. Fee simple is sometimes called fee simple absolute because it is the most complete form of ownership. A fee simple buyer acquires ownership of the entire property, including both the land and buildings. The fee simple owner does not pay ground rent, but does pay maintenance fees and real property taxes. The fee simple owner has the right to possess, use the land and dispose of the land as he wishes – sell it, give it away, trade it for other things, lease it to others, or pass it to others upon death.

Finance Charge: The total cost a borrower must pay, direct or indirectly, to obtain credit according to Regulation Z.

Graduated Payment Mortgage: A residential mortgage with monthly payments that start at a low level and increase at a predetermined rate.

Home Inspection Report: A qualified inspector report on a property overall condition. The report usually includes an evaluation of both the structure and mechanical systems.

Home Warranty Plan: Protection against failure of mechanical systems within the property. Usually includes plumbing, electrical, heating systems and installed appliances.

Index: A measure of interest rate changes used to determine changes in an ARM interest rate over the term of the loan.

Joint Tenancy: An equal undivided ownership of property by two or more persons. Upon the death of any owner, the survivors take the decedent interest in the property.

Leasehold Conversion: Conversion of leasehold property to fee simple ownership involves purchasing the landowner’s remaining interest, called the leased fee interest. The lessors of many, if not most, leasehold properties are currently offering to sell their leased fee interests to their lessees or prospective buyers of a leasehold property. There is a State of Hawaii law and a City & County of Honolulu (Oahu) ordinance affecting the mandatory conversion of residential leasehold properties.

Leasehold Ownership: A leasehold interest is created when a fee simple landowner enters into an agreement or contract called a ground lease with a lessee. A lessee buys leasehold rights much as one buys fee simple rights; however, the leasehold interest differs from the fee simple interest in several important respects. First, the buyer of residential leasehold property does not own the land and must pay ground rent. Second, his use of the land is limited to the remaining years covered by the lease. Thereafter, the land returns to the lessor, and is called reversion. Depending on the provisions of any surrender clause in the lease, the buildings and other improvements on the land may also revert to the lessor. Finally, the use, maintenance, and alteration of the leased premises are subject to any restrictions contained in the lease.

Lien: A legal hold or claim on property as security for a debt or charge.

Loan Commitment: A written promise to make a loan for a specified amount on specified terms.

Loan-To-Value Ratio: The relationship between the amount of the mortgage and the appraised value of the property, expressed as a percentage of the appraised value.

Margin: The number of percentage points the lender adds to the index rate to calculate the ARM interest rate at each adjustment.

Mortgage Life Insurance: A type of term life insurance often bought by home buyers. The coverage decreases as the mortgage balance declines. If the borrower dies while the policy is in force, the mortgage debt is automatically covered by insurance proceeds.

Negative Amortization: Negative amortization occurs when monthly payments fail to cover the interest cost. The interest that isn covered is added to the unpaid principal balance, which means that even after several payments you could own more than you did at the beginning of the loan. Negative amortization can occur when an ARM has a payment cap that results in monthly payments that aren high enough to cover the interest.

Origination Fee: A fee or charge for work involved in evaluation, preparing, and submitting a proposed mortgage loan. The fee is limited to 1 percent for FHA and VA loans.

PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance.

Planned Unit Development (PUD): A zoning designation for property developed at the same or slightly greater overall density than conventional development, sometimes with improvements clustered between open, common areas. Uses may be residential, commercial or industrial.

Point: An amount equal to 1 percent of the principal amount of the investment or note. The lender assesses loan discount points at closing to increase the yield on the mortgage to a position competitive with other types of investments.

Prepayment Penalty: A fee charged to a borrower who pays a loan before it is due. Not allowed for FHA or VA loans.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Insurance written by a private company protecting the lender against loss if the borrower defaults on the mortgage.Purchase Agreement: A written document in which the purchaser agrees to buy certain real estate and the seller agrees to sell under stated terms and conditions. Also called a sales contract, earnest money contract, or agreement for sale.

R: A REALTOR® is an individual licensed as a BROKER to list and sell real estate, one who is also a member of a local Board of REALTORS®, the State Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. As a member of these three professional trade associations, a REALTOR® is bound by a strict Code of Ethics, the canons of professional behavior that guide daily activities in the real estate business.

To obtain a BROKER’s license, an individual must have a current (active or inactive) Hawaii salesperson’s license, a minimum of 2 years full-time real estate experience in Hawaii and have participated in at least 10 qualifying real estate transactions with a Hawaii broker prior to taking and passing the State-required 46-hour broker’s prelicensing course.

RA: A REALTOR ASSOCIATE® is an individual licensed as a SALESPERSON to list and sell real estate, one who is also a member of a local Board of REALTORS®, the State Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. As a member of these three professional trade associations, a REALTOR ASSOCIATE® is bound by a strict Code of Ethics, the canons of professional behavior that guide daily activities in the real estate business.

To become a licensed real estate professional in Hawaii, an individual must be 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a registered alien by the State exam date, have a reputation for honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity and fair dealing, complete the State-required 40-hour prelicensing course and pass the State exam.

Regulation Z: The set of rules governing consumer lending issued by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act.

Tenancy in Common: A type of joint ownership of property by two or more persons with no right of survivor ship.

Title Insurance Company Policy: A policy that protects the purchaser, mortgagee or other party against losses.

VA Loans: A loan, made by a private lender, that is partially guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.