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2. What is the Interest Rate & Annual Percentage Rate

The annual percentage rate (APR) is derived by a complex calculation that includes the interest rate and all the other related lender fees divided by the loan’s term. However, bear in mind that:

• Many lenders do not compute APR correctly.
• There is no way to accurately compute an APR rate for an adjustable loan.
• It does not account for early payoffs.

If your interest rate is adjustable, ask about its:

• Adjustment frequency
• Maximum annual adjustment
• Highest rate (Cap)
• Index
• Margin

3. What are the Discount Points and Origination Fees?

Each “point” is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. Therefore, 2 points on a $100,000 loan cost $2,000.

• Sometimes lenders charge origination fees in addition to points.
• Points “buy down” the interest rate, meaning the more points you pay, the lower the interest rate.
• Points are also tax deductible, even if the seller pays some or all of the points.

4. What Are All the Costs?

All the costs of a loan include not only fees that go into the lender’s pocket but also related third-party vendor fees such as:

• Appraisal
• Credit report
• Lender’s title policy
• Pest inspection reports
• Escrow (where applicable)
• Recording fees
• Taxes

An estimate of these fees constitutes the Good Faith Estimate or GFE, which the lender is required by federal law to give to you.

5. Will the Lender Guarantee the GFE?

According to the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA), lenders have three days after you’ve applied for a loan to give you the Good Faith Estimate, containing all the costs of your loan. Points to consider:

• Since lenders are not required to guarantee GFEs, this document is worth about the cost of the paper on which it is printed.
• However, there is a lot of pressure on lenders by consumers to guarantee their GFEs.
• If your lender refuses to stand behind its estimate, go elsewhere.

6. Do You Offer Loan Rate Locks?

Interest rates fluctuate and change daily. If you have reason to believe that interest rates are moving up, you might want to lock your loan. Lenders typically charge zero to one point to lock a loan rate and points. Ask your lender:

• Do you charge a fee to lock my interest rate?
• Does the lock-in protect all the loan costs?
• For how long will you lock this rate?
• Will you give me the loan lock in writing?

The alternative is to pay the prevailing rate and points on the day your loan funds.

7. Is There a Prepayment Penalty?

In some states, prepayment penalties are no longer allowed, so ask. Typically, prepayment penalties let the lender collect an additional six months of “unearned interest” if you pay the loan off early through a refinance of sale of the property. Be sure to ask:

• How much is the prepayment penalty?
• What are the terms of the prepay? Some are in effect only during the first 2 to 5 years of the loan.
• Would the prepayment penalty apply if I refinanced through you at a later date?

8. Are You Equipped to Approve Loans In-House?

Underwriters review loans and issue conditions before approving or rejecting a loan.

• Ask if a lender can handle its own underwriting.
• VA and FHA loans typically take longer to process, but some lenders meet government requirements to automatically approve or disapprove a loan without sending it to the VA or FHA.