Understanding Mortgage Points and How to Use Them

Mortgage points, also known as discount points, are a form of prepaid interest that homeowners can purchase to lower the interest rate on their mortgage loans. Understanding how to effectively use mortgage points can save you a significant amount of money over the life of your loan. Here’s a deeper look into what mortgage points are, how they work, and when it makes sense to use them.

What Are Mortgage Points?

Mortgage points are essentially fees paid directly to the lender at closing in exchange for a reduced interest rate. This practice is also known as “buying down the rate.” Each point you purchase costs 1% of your total loan amount. For example, on a $300,000 loan, one point would cost $3,000.

Types of Mortgage Points

There are two main types of mortgage points:

1. Discount Points: These are the most common type of points and are purely used to lower your interest rate. Buying discount points is essentially pre-paying interest on your mortgage upfront. This lowers your interest rate and, consequently, your monthly mortgage payments.
2. Origination Points: These are fees charged by the lender to cover the costs of making the loan. Origination points do not affect your mortgage rate.

How Do Mortgage Points Work?

When you buy discount points, you are paying for a lower interest rate. Typically, each point you buy reduces your rate by about 0.25%, though this can vary depending on the lender and the prevailing market conditions.

For example, if the interest rate on a $300,000 loan is 4.0% without points, buying one point might reduce the rate to 3.75%, significantly decreasing your monthly payment and saving you money on interest over the duration of the loan.

Calculating the Break-Even Point

To determine whether buying points is financially beneficial, you need to calculate the break-even point—the point at which the upfront cost of the points is equal to the money saved from lower monthly payments. This is done by dividing the cost of the points by the monthly savings achieved by lowering the interest rate.

For example, if buying a point for $3,000 saves you $45 a month on your mortgage payments, the break-even point would be approximately 67 months ($3,000 / $45). If you plan to stay in your home longer than the break-even point, buying points could be a cost-effective decision.

When to Buy Mortgage Points

Buying mortgage points may be a smart move if:

• You plan to stay in your home for a long time. The longer you stay, the more you save in interest.
• You have the cash available to pay for points at closing. This shouldn’t deplete your savings or funds set aside for emergencies.
• Interest rates are relatively high. When rates are higher, reducing your rate by each quarter-point can yield significant savings.

Other Considerations

Before buying points, consider other factors that might influence your decision:

Tax implications: Mortgage points are tax-deductible, but the way they are deducted can vary depending on whether they are discount points or origination points.

• Financial stability: Ensure that spending cash on points doesn’t put you in a risky financial situation, particularly if unexpected expenses arise.

Mortgage points can be a valuable tool for reducing the total cost of your home loan, especially if you are planning a long-term stay in your home. However, they represent a significant upfront cost, and the benefits depend heavily on your specific circumstances, including your financial stability, the terms of the loan, and how long you intend to hold the mortgage. Carefully consider your situation and possibly consult with a financial advisor to make the best decision regarding mortgage points.

For more information about Choice Mortgage Group and how we can help you, visit www.choicemortgage.com.

Choice Mortgage Group
2424 N Federal Hwy, Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33431
(561) 395-6900
info@choicemortgage.com