Second mortgage

Second mortgage

A second mortgage typically refers to a secured loan (or mortgage) that is subordinate to another loan against the same property.

In real estate, a property can have multiple loans or liens against it. The loan which is registered with county or city registry first is called the first mortgage or first position trust deed. The lien registered second is called the second mortgage. A property can have a third or even fourth mortgage, but those are rarer.

Second mortgages are called subordinate because, if the loan goes into default, the first mortgage gets paid off first before the second mortgage. Thus, second mortgages are riskier for lenders and generally come with a higher interest rate than first mortgages.

In most cases, a second mortgage takes the form of a home equity loan and the two are synonymous, from a financial standpoint. The difference in terminology is that a mortgage traditionally refers to the legal lien instrument, rather than the debt itself.

The term length of a second mortgage varies. Terms can last up to 30 years on second mortgages; however repayment may be required in as little as one year depending on the loan structure.

A second mortgage can occasionally be the catalyst to foreclosure when a homeowner defaults on their loan. The second lien holder then purchases the primary mortgage (which may still be in good standing) and then forecloses which leaves the homeowner losing their home to the 2nd mortgage lender.

Generally, when considering the application for a second mortgage, lenders will look for the following:
* Significant equity in the first mortgage.
* Low debt-to-income ratio.
* High credit score
* Solid employment history

ee also

*Home equity loan
*Mortgage loan
*Mortgage
*Refinancing

External links

* [https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/mortcalc/ Mortgage Comparison- Calculator from the Federal Reserve]
* [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw122.html Second Mortgage Interest Deductions- IRS Fact Sheet]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • second mortgage — see mortgage Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. second mortgage n …   Law dictionary

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  • second mortgage — n. an additional mortgage placed on property already mortgaged: it ranks below the first mortgage in priority of claim …   English World dictionary

  • Second Mortgage — A type of subordinate mortgage made while an original mortgage is still in effect. In the event of default, the original mortgage would receive all proceeds from the liquidation of the property until it is all paid off. Since the second mortgage… …   Investment dictionary

  • second mortgage — A mortgage taken out on a property that is already mortgaged. Second and subsequent mortgages can often be used to raise money from a finance house (but not a commercial bank or building society) if the value of the property has increased… …   Big dictionary of business and management

  • second mortgage — additional mortgage, second loan gained by placing a property in mortgage …   English contemporary dictionary

  • second mortgage — A junior mortgage, a mortgage to which another mortgage is prior …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • second mortgage — noun a mortgage that is subordinate to a first mortgage • Hypernyms: ↑mortgage …   Useful english dictionary

  • second mortgage — noun Date: 1912 a mortgage the lien of which is subordinate to that of a first mortgage …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • second mortgage — a mortgage the lien of which is next in priority to a first mortgage. [1900 05] * * * …   Universalium

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