Comparing APR and total loan cost
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
Interest Rate: The cost of borrowing the principal loan amount, which determines your monthly principal and interest payment.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): A broader measure of the cost of your mortgage, expressed as a yearly rate. It includes your interest rate plus other costs like lender fees, broker fees, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The APR is typically higher than the interest rate and gives you a better picture of the loan’s true annual cost.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): A broader measure of the cost of your mortgage, expressed as a yearly rate. It includes your interest rate plus other costs like lender fees, broker fees, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The APR is typically higher than the interest rate and gives you a better picture of the loan’s true annual cost.
No. The APR is an annualized rate that reflects the cost of the loan each year. The total interest paid is the sum of all interest payments over the entire life of the loan, which will be a much larger dollar figure.
The APR is a federally mandated disclosure. You will find it prominently displayed on your Loan Estimate (provided after application) and your Closing Disclosure (provided before closing). It is often placed in a box near the interest rate for easy comparison.
APR allows you to compare loans from different lenders on a like-for-like basis. Because it includes both interest and fees, a loan with a slightly higher interest rate but lower fees could have a lower APR, making it the less expensive option overall.
The interest rate is the cost you pay each year to borrow the money, excluding any fees. The APR includes the interest rate plus other costs like origination fees, discount points, and certain closing costs, giving you a more complete picture of the loan’s true annual cost.
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