Mortgage Rates: APY vs. APR

mortgage-rates-apy-vs-aprMortgage Rates: We have all seen rates offered as APY or APR. APY means annual percentage yield and APR means annual percentage rate. The different between the two is compounding interest. 

Compounding interest can be interest you earn on-top of interest you already earned, like on certificates of deposit. The more frequently interest is compounded the higher the APY will be.

On mortgages, the rate is interest you pay, just like on deposit products, the more interest is compounded the higher the APY will be. Though in this case you'll end up paying more for a loan that compounds more often. Banks and lending institutions usually publish the APY or APR that makes the rate of return higher in the case of deposit products and lower in the case of loans.

Loan Term
Lender
APR / Rate
Fees / Points
Payment
District Lending
NMLS #1835285
4.846%
15-Year Fixed
4.625%
$5,912
Includes 0.978 points for $3,912
Lender Fees: $2,000
$3,086 /mo
Nation Home Loans
NMLS #1513908
5.201%
15-Year Fixed
4.990%
$5,822
Includes 0.879 points for $3,516
Lender Fees: $2,306
$3,162 /mo
Equity Capital Home Loans
NMLS #1689962
License: 02053435
5.391%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$3,708
Includes 0.927 points for $3,708
Lender Fees: $0
$3,216 /mo
Pure Rate Mortgage
NMLS #2578474
5.393%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$3,750
Includes 0.675 points for $2,700
Lender Fees: $1,050
$3,216 /mo
PenFed Credit Union
NMLS #401822
5.409%
15-Year Fixed
5.125%
$7,500
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $4,000
$3,190 /mo
GenNext.Mortgage
NMLS #2326098
License: 60DBO-181478
5.436%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$5,077
Includes 0.781 points for $3,124
Lender Fees: $1,953
$3,216 /mo
Truss Financial Group
NMLS #2006915
License: 60DBO-149268
5.457%
15-Year Fixed
5.250%
$5,445
Includes 0.875 points for $3,500
Lender Fees: $1,945
$3,216 /mo
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS #1025894
5.632%
15-Year Fixed
5.490%
$3,712
Includes 0.753 points for $3,012
Lender Fees: $700
$3,267 /mo
District Lending
NMLS #1835285
5.864%
30-Year Fixed
5.750%
$5,000
Includes 0.750 points for $3,000
Lender Fees: $2,000
$2,335 /mo
District Lending
NMLS #1835285
6.007%
5-Year ARM
5.875%
$5,696
Includes 0.924 points for $3,696
Lender Fees: $2,000
$2,367 /mo
Nation Home Loans
NMLS #1513908
6.105%
30-Year Fixed
5.990%
$5,186
Includes 0.720 points for $2,880
Lender Fees: $2,306
$2,396 /mo
Pure Rate Mortgage
NMLS #2578474
6.236%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$4,750
Includes 0.925 points for $3,700
Lender Fees: $1,050
$2,431 /mo
GenNext.Mortgage
NMLS #2326098
License: 60DBO-181478
6.249%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$5,469
Includes 0.879 points for $3,516
Lender Fees: $1,953
$2,431 /mo
PenFed Credit Union
NMLS #401822
6.265%
30-Year Fixed
6.125%
$5,995
Includes 1.000 points for $4,000
Lender Fees: $1,995
$2,431 /mo
Equity Capital Home Loans
NMLS #1689962
License: 02053435
6.319%
30-Year Fixed
6.250%
$2,908
Includes 0.727 points for $2,908
Lender Fees: $0
$2,463 /mo
Array
6.326%
30-Year Fixed
6.250%
$3,228
Includes 0.625 points for $2,500
Lender Fees: $728
$2,463 /mo
Truss Financial Group
NMLS #2006915
License: 60DBO-149268
6.355%
30-Year Fixed
6.250%
$4,445
Includes 0.625 points for $2,500
Lender Fees: $1,945
$2,463 /mo
Rocket Mortgage
NMLS #3030
6.368%
15-Year Fixed
6.250%
$3,000
Includes 0.750 points for $3,000
Lender Fees: $0
$3,430 /mo
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS #1025894
6.461%
30-Year Fixed
6.375%
$3,608
Includes 0.727 points for $2,908
Lender Fees: $700
$2,496 /mo
GenNext.Mortgage
NMLS #2326098
License: 60DBO-181478
6.881%
5-Year ARM
6.750%
$5,581
Includes 0.907 points for $3,628
Lender Fees: $1,953
$2,595 /mo
Rocket Mortgage
NMLS #3030
6.973%
30-Year Fixed
6.875%
$4,000
Includes 1.000 points for $4,000
Lender Fees: $0
$2,628 /mo
Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes and insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and product details.

When you compare mortgage rates from different banks make sure you are comparing apples to apples. To make it easier for consumers to compare mortgage loan interest rates, the federal government developed a standard format called an "Annual Percentage Rate" or APR to provide an effective interest rate for comparison shopping purposes.

For mortgage loans, banks usually will quote an APR  but when you are quoted a mortgage rate be sure to ask the mortgage broker or lending institution if the rate is the APR or APY so there are not any nasty surprises when you are about to close on a loan.

Tip: Before closing on a mortgage be sure to ask the mortgage broker, bank or lending institution to provide you a  HUD-1 statement. The HUD-1 will give you a statement of actual charges and adjustments. Having this information before hand will prevent any nasty surprises at the closing.

 
Author: Robert Till
May 30th, 2009

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