L

Lease Purchase 
Assists low to moderate income homebuyers in purchasing a home by allowing them to lease a home with an option to buy; the rent payment is made up of the monthly rental payment plus an additional amount that is credited to an account for use as a down payment. 

Lien 
A legal claim against property that must be satisfied when the property is sold. 

Loan 
Money borrowed that is usually repaid with interest. 

Loan Fraud
purposely giving incorrect information on a loan application in order to better qualify for a loan; may result in civil liability or criminal penalties. 

Loan-to-value (LTV) Ratio
A percentage calculated by dividing the amount borrowed by the price or appraised value of the home to be purchased; the higher the LTV, the less cash a borrower is required to pay as down payment. 

Lock-in  
since interest rates can change frequently, many lenders offer an interest rate lock-in that guarantees a specific interest rate if the loan is closed within a specific time. 

Loss Mitigation  
a process to avoid foreclosure; the lender tries to help a borrower who has been unable to make loan payments and is in danger of defaulting on his or her loan