Using mortgage calculators correctly
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
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.
Debt consolidation with a second mortgage involves taking out a new loan—such as a Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)—using your home’s equity. You then use this lump sum of cash to pay off multiple, high-interest debts (like credit cards or personal loans). This process consolidates several monthly payments into a single, more manageable mortgage payment.
A cash-out refinance replaces your primary mortgage with a new, larger one. A home equity loan (or a Home Equity Line of Credit, HELOC) is a second, separate loan that you take out in addition to your existing first mortgage. A cash-out refi often has a lower interest rate, while a HELOC offers more flexible access to funds.
The appraisal protects the lender by ensuring the property is worth the amount they are lending. If the appraised value comes in lower than the purchase price, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio becomes riskier for the lender. This can lead to a renegotiation of the sale price, the borrower needing to bring more cash to close, or the loan being denied.
The standardized format of the Loan Estimate is designed specifically for comparison shopping. You should collect Loan Estimates from multiple lenders and compare them side-by-side, focusing on the interest rate, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), total closing costs, and the estimated monthly payment to find the best overall deal.
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