Definition of "Credit risk"

Nora  Haddow real estate agent

Written by

Nora Haddowelite badge icon

All Towne Realty

The definition of credit risk is at the core of lending. Banks lend money to businesses and individuals and expect to recover the principal and win interest. Banks offer a variety of loans, each designed for a particular group of borrowers from the market. On the one hand, people with good credit scores and high incomes and businesses with large sales figures will usually get low-interest loans - they are more likely to return the money and interest, so the credit risk is low. On the other hand, borrowers with bad credit scores and companies who are desperate for funding at all costs will receive high-interest loans because they will have difficulties in repaying their debt, which means that the credit risk is more significant. So, the banks can identify the quality of their borrowers from the amount of interest they are willing to pay. The credit risk refers to the probability for a lender to recover all his money and the interest from the borrower. From which the term name as credit risk. What is the risk of loss in case a borrower becomes unable to repay the loan? Obviously, this risk is greater for the borrowers willing to pay high interest rates since they are more likely to default.

An even shorter definition for credit risk would be banker’s biggest fear.

Events that can lead to a default

(1) Due to unforeseen circumstances, the borrower may lose the financial ability to repay the loan placing the collateralized property at risk of foreclosure.

(2) In the case of an adjustable rate mortgage, due to rising interest charges, payments could become unaffordable. The borrower may default on their mortgage and lose the property.

(3) In the event of a depreciating asset, the loan value may exceed the value of the collateralized asset.

(4) In the event of the death of the borrower, payments on a loan will become a liability for the heirs.

A default generally occurs after 270 days in which a borrower hasn't made any payments. However, student loans are considered in default after 120 days of missed payments. Credit defaults are the materialization of the credit risk.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Mortgage Terms

Insurance provided the lender against loss on a mortgage in the event of borrower default. In the U.S., all FHA and VA mortgages are insured by the federal government. On other mortgages, ...

The portion of the monthly payment that is used to reduce the loan balance. ...

The lender's risk that, between the time a lock commitment is given to the borrower and the time the loan is closed, interest rates will rise and the lender will take a loss on selling ...

A particular computerized system for doing automated underwriting. Mortgage insurers and some large lenders have developed such systems, but the most widely used are Fannie Mae's 'Desktop ...

A fee that some lenders charge to accept an application. It may or may not cover other costs such as a property appraisal or credit report, and it may or may not be refundable if the lender ...

A mortgage lender or mortgage broker. ...

Same as term Qualification: The process of determining whether a prospective borrower has the ability to repay a loan. ...

The definition of interest is extremely important in today’s business environment where lending and borrowing money are the power stations of our economy. A widespread definition of ...

A borrower who submits applications through two loan providers, usually mortgage brokers, without their knowledge. Home purchasers sometimes submit more than one loan application as a way ...

Popular Mortgage Questions