Sale Leaseback - A technique in which a seller deeds property to a buyer for a consideration, and the buyer simultaneously leases the property back to the seller.

Second Home - One-unit property owned by an individual, occupied by the borrower for some portion of the year, and not subject to any timesharing ownership arrangement. The property must be in a location where it can function reasonably as a second home.

Second Mortgage - A mortgage that has a lien position subordinate to the first mortgage.

Second Trust Loan - An alternative to private mortgage insurance, also known as a piggyback loan. The most common type is an 80/10/10 where a first mortgage is taken out for 80% of the homes value, a down payment of 10% is made and another 10% is financed in a second trust at a higher interest rate. In some cases, you may even qualify for a second trust loan with as little as a 5% down payment.

Secondary Market - The buying and selling of existing mortgages, usually as part of a 'pool' of mortgages.

Secured Debt - Money borrowed that is guaranteed (or secured) by the borrower's funds and held by the lender in an interest-bearing account. Typically required when a borrower is without credit or has poor credit. The lender usually returns the secured money plus a nominal rate of earned interest to the borrower with a certain period of time if a good credit history is established. Distinguished from unsecured debt.

Secured Loan - A loan that is backed by collateral.

Security - Property pledged to the creditor in case of a default on a loan; also referred to as collateral.

Security Interest - The creditor's right to take property or a portion of property offered as security.

Self-Employed Borrower - Applicant who owns 25 percent or more interest in a business.

Seller Carry-Back - An agreement in which the owner of a property provides financing, often in combination with an assumable mortgage.

Service Charge - A component of some finance charges, such as the fee for triggering an overdraft checking account into use.

Servicer - An organization that collects principal and interest payments from borrowers and manages borrowers' escrow accounts. The servicer often services mortgages that have been purchased by an investor in the secondary mortgage market.

Servicing - All the steps and operations a lender perform to keep a loan in good standing, such as collection of payments, payment of taxes, insurance, property inspections and the like.

Settlement - The meeting between the buyer, seller and lender where the property and funds legally change hands. Also referred to as Closing.

Settlement Costs - Includes a loan origination fee, points, appraisal fee, title search and insurance, survey, taxes, deed recording fee, credit report charge and other costs assessed at settlement. The closing costs usually are about 2 percent to 6 percent of the mortgage amount.

Settlement Statement - See HUD1 Settlement Statement.

Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) - A mortgage in which a borrower receives a below-market interest rate in return for which a lender (or another investor such as a family member or other partner) receives a portion of the future appreciation in the value of the property. May also apply to mortgages where the borrower shares the monthly principal and interest payments with another party in exchange for a part of the appreciation.

Simple Interest - Interest that is paid on the principal amount borrowed. Considered the best interest term for a borrower because it is not compounded.

Special Assessments - A special tax imposed on property, individual lots or all property in the immediate area, for road construction, sidewalks, sewers, streetlights, etc.

Special Lien - A lien that binds a specified piece of property, unlike a general lien, which is levied against all one's assets. It creates a right to retain something of value belonging to another person as compensation for labor, material, or money expended in that person's behalf. In some localities it is called 'particular' lien or 'specific' lien. Also see lien.

Special Warranty Deed - A deed in which the grantor conveys title to the grantee and agrees to protect the grantee against title defects or claims asserted by the grantor and those persons whose right to assert a claim against the title arose during the period the grantor held title to the property. In a special warranty deed the grantor guarantees to the grantee that he has done nothing during the time he held title to the property which has, or which might in the future, impair the grantee's title.

Subdivision - A housing development that is created by dividing a tract of land into individual lots for sale or lease.

Subordinate Financing - Any mortgage or other lien that has a priority that is lower than that of the first mortgage.

Survey - A measurement of land, prepared by a registered land surveyor, showing the location of the land with reference to known points, its dimensions, and the location and dimensions of any building.

Sweat Equity - Contribution to the construction or rehabilitation of a property in the form of labor or services rather than cash.