A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z  H HARD MONEY MORTGAGE A mortgage given in return for cash, rather than to secure a portion of the purchase price, as with a purchase money mortgage. HEIR One, who by law, rather than by will, receives the estate of a deceased person. HEREDITAMENTS (1)     Anything, which could be considered real property. (2)     Anything, which may be inherited. HOLDBACK Portion of a loan held back by the lender until a contingency is met In the sale of a home insured by V.A. or F.H.A., funds may be held back to make necessary improvements to bring the property to V .A. or F.H.A. standards. The money to make "these" repairs may not be available until closing. One and one half to double the estimated amount necessary is held back. It repairs are not made in the time allowed, these funds are used to make the repairs In construction financing, funds are held back until, for example, a certain percentage of a subdivision has been sold, or a certain portion of a building has been constructed. HOLDER IN DUE COURSE A holder of a check or note who takes, for value and in good faith, the note before it is overdue or the check without knowledge that it has bounced, if. in fact it has. HOLDING PERIOD The time period used by the IRS to determine a long or short-term capital gain. The period during which the taxpayer owns the capital asset. HOMESTEAD The dwelling (house and contiguous land) of the head of a family. Some states grant statutory exemptions, protecting homestead property (usually to a set maximum amount) against the rights of creditors Property tax exemptions (for all or part of the tax) are also available in some states Statutory requirements to establish a homestead may include a formal declaration to be recorded HOME WARRANTY INSURANCE Private insurance insuring a buyer against defects (usually in plumbing, heating, and electrical) in the home he has purchased. The period of insurance varies and both new and used homes may be insured HOUSING STARTS Number of houses on which construction has begun. The figures are used to determine the availability of housing, need for real estate loans, need for labor and materials, etc. HYPOTHECATE To mortgage or pledge without delivery of the security to the lender.