Why is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) different from the interest rate?
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as an annual rate. Because you may be paying loan discount “points” and other “prepaid” finance charges at closing, the APR disclosed is often higher than the interest rate on your loan. This APR can be compared to the APR on other loan programs, to give you a consistent means of comparing rates and programs. The APR is computed from the Amount Financed, and based on what your proposed payments will be on the actual loan amount credited to you at settlement. In a $50,000 loan with $2,000 Prepaid Charges, a 30-Year term and a fixed interest rate of 12%, the payment would be $514.31 (principal and interest). Since the APR is based on the Amount Financed ($48,000), while the payment is based on the actual loan amount given ($50,000), the APR (12.5553%) is higher than the interest rate. The APR can also be effected by an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). For example, a One- Year ARM may have a first year interest rate of 6.0%,
The annual percentage rate is intended to reflect the total cost of your mortgage loan. To calculate the APR, lenders consider the interest rate on your mortgage loan, the term of the loan, and other loan fees such as closing costs, points, etc. Your monthly payment is calculated based on the mortgage note rate, not the APR. The APR will be higher than your interest rate, especially if you are paying any points.
The annual percentage rate is a rate that reflects the total cost of your mortgage loan expressed in terms of an annual interest rate. The APR reflects factors including the interest rate on your mortgage loan, the term of the loan, and the other applicable costs of financing such as points, fees and certain closing costs. Your monthly payment is calculated based on the mortgage note rate, not the APR. The APR will be higher than your interest rate, especially if you are paying any points.
The APR is a rate that reflects the total cost of your mortgage loan expressed in terms of an annual interest rate. The APR reflects factors including the interest rate on your mortgage loan, the term of the loan, and the other applicable costs of financing such as points, fees and certain closing costs. Your monthly payment is calculated based on the mortgage note rate, not the APR. The APR will be higher than your interest rate, especially if you are paying any points.
The annual percentage rate reflects the total cost of your mortgage loan. To calculate the APR, lenders consider the interest rate on your mortgage loan, the term of the loan, and other loan fees such as closing costs, points, etc. Your monthly payment is calculated based on the mortgage note rate, not the APR. The APR will be higher than your interest rate, especially if you are paying any points. To be used as a valid evaluation tool, the APR must be loan specific. The actual APR will show up on the Truth-in-Lending statement that you will see once you have submitted your information and reserved your funds. When comparing loan programs based on APR, make sure you check each lender’s criteria for determining the APR.
