As used in this act:
"Actual settlement costs" means reasonable sums paid for:
The service charge shall not exceed one per cent of the original bona fide principal amount of the loan, except that in the case of a construction loan, the service charge shall not exceed two per cent of the original bona fide principal amount of the loan.
"Base figure" means two hundred seventeen thousand eight hundred seventy-three dollars ($217,873), as adjusted annually for inflation by the department through notice published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
"Department" means the Department of Banking of the Commonwealth.
"Discount points" means any charges, whether or not actually denominated as "discount points," which are paid by the seller of residential real property to a residential mortgage lender which directly or indirectly affects the ability of the buyer of the real estate to secure a residential mortgage.
"Finance charge" means the total cost of a loan or charge for the use of money, including any extensions or grant of credit regardless of the characterization of the same and includes any interest, time price differential, points, premiums, finder's fees, and other charges levied by the residential mortgage lender directly or indirectly against the person obtaining the loan or against the seller, lender, mortgagee or any other party to the transaction except any actual settlement costs. The finance charges plus the actual settlement costs charged by the residential mortgage lender shall include all charges made by the residential mortgage lender to the residential mortgage debtor other than the principal of the loan. In computing finance charge on any mortgage which does not require the full amount of the first year's interest to be paid during the first year and on a variable interest rate mortgage interest shall be calculated at the rate applicable to the first year of the loan.
"Loan yield" means the annual rate of return obtained by a residential mortgage lender from a residential mortgage debtor over the term of the loan and shall be determined in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary of Banking. Such regulations shall establish the method for calculating such rate of return and shall provide that the finance charge be amortized over the contract term of the loan. In computing loan yield on any mortgage which does not require the full amount of the first year's interest to be paid during the first year and on a variable interest rate mortgage interest shall be calculated at the rate applicable to the first year of the mortgage.
"Monthly Index of Long Term United States Government Bond Yields" means the monthly unweighted average of the daily unweighted average of the closing bid yield quotations in the over the counter market for all outstanding United States Treasury Bond issues, based on available statistics, which are either maturing or callable in ten years or more. This index is expressed in terms of percentage interest per annum.
"Mortgage commitment" means a legally binding obligation to lend money on the security of a residential mortgage.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate trust, partnership or association or any other legal entity, and shall include but not be limited to residential mortgage lenders.
"Residential mortgage" means an obligation to pay a sum of money in an original bona fide principal amount of the base figure or less, evidenced by a security document and secured by a lien upon real property located within this Commonwealth containing two or fewer residential units or on which two or fewer residential units are to be constructed and shall include such an obligation on a residential condominium unit.
"Residential mortgage debtor" means a non-corporate borrower who is obligated to a residential mortgage lender to repay in whole or in part a residential mortgage and a successor record owner of the property, if any, who gives notice thereof to the residential mortgage lender.
"Residential mortgage intermediary" means a real estate broker, mortgage broker or other person receiving directly or indirectly from a residential mortgage lender a finder's fee, commission, placement fee, service charge or other similar compensation other than actual settlement costs in conjunction with the issuance of a residential mortgage or mortgage commitment. Residential mortgage intermediary shall not mean an employee of a residential mortgage lender.
"Residential mortgage lender" means any person who lends money or extends or grants credit and obtains a residential mortgage to assure payment of the debt. The term shall also include the holder at any time of a residential mortgage obligation.
"Residential real property" means real property located within this Commonwealth containing not more than two residential units or on which not more than two residential units are to be constructed and includes a residential condominium unit.
"Security document" means a mortgage, deed of trust, real estate sales contract or other document creating upon recordation a lien upon real estate.
41 P.S. § 101