{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortized","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/amortized","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"amortized","term":"Amortized","group":"The loan itself","definition":"An amortized loan is one where your regular payments gradually pay down both the principal and interest over the loan term. This ensures the loan is fully paid off by the end of its maturity period.","what_it_means":"SBA 7(a) loans are fully amortized, meaning there are no balloon payments at the end of the term. Each payment contributes to reducing your principal balance, not just covering interest. This predictable repayment schedule helps you budget and avoid large lump sums, making financial planning more straightforward for the life of the loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortized","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"amortization","term":"Amortization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization"},{"slug":"principal-and-interest","term":"Principal and interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-and-interest"},{"slug":"term-maturity","term":"Term / maturity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity"},{"slug":"balloon-payment","term":"Balloon payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/balloon-payment"}],"related_questions":[]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Amortized","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortized","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}