Mortgage Rate vs. APR: What Are the Differences?

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Helps Explain a Mortgage's Total Cost.

When you are buying or refinancing a home, it is a good idea to look at the mortgage's annual percentage rate (APR) versus its interest rate.

That's because the APR expresses the total cost of the mortgage. APR includes the interest charged on the monthly principal balance (the interest rate), as well as costs and fees the lender may charge you to get the mortgage. The annual percentage rate gives you a better idea of the total cost of a loan and helps you choose the right mortgage for you.

What's Included in Mortgage APR?

APR is calculated in similar ways by mortgage lenders, which makes it a useful tool to compare home loan costs. Annual percentage rates are expressed as percentages and can include:

• Interest charges. This is the cost you'll pay to borrow money, based on the loan's interest rate.
• Discount points. Some mortgages require you to pay points to get a specific interest rate. One point is equal to 1% of the loan amount. If your loan has mortgage discount points, these costs are included in the APR. You can also choose to pay points for some loans.
• Lender fees. These are sometimes called origination fees and might be charged, by lenders, to process your loan application. These can be a percentage of the loan amount. These are included in the APR.
• Mortgage insurance. If a loan requires you to pay for mortgage insurance, the cost is included in its annual percentage rate.
• Closing costs. Loan-related fees, such as settlement/closing fees, courier fees, and wire fees (that are paid at closing) are considered prepaid finance charges and are included in the APR.

Sample Mortgage APR Calculation

Let's look at two sample mortgage offers to see how APR helps you better understand the cost of a home loan. For this example, we've assumed that you are buying a house with a Conventional, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. We've assumed that you are borrowing $200,000 and that you do not have to pay for private mortgage insurance, because you have made a 20% down payment.

In this example, Mortgage A looks less expensive than Mortgage B, because it has a lower interest rate. However, Mortgage A also comes with two points and higher closing costs. When you take these points and closing costs into consideration and calculate an APR, Mortgage B is estimated to be slightly less expensive.

Last reviewed and updated May 2024 by Freedom Mortgage.