Do not let the first-year payment hide the full deal.
Put the base price, lot, upgrades, credits, points, APR and lasting payment on the same worksheet before comparing a builder's preferred-lender offer.
Editable illustrative example. Starting amounts are placeholders, not a quote or market average. Replace every figure with the current property, incentive and lender documents.
Rebuild the advertised starting price.
Use the current preferred-lender Loan Estimate.
APR is displayed for document comparison only. Principal and interest are calculated from the permanent note rate.
Give every dollar one job.
A credit is applied only to the written use you enter. Unused or unconfirmed amounts do not reduce the down payment or modeled cash due.
Show the step-up before it happens.
Enter the rate reductions described by the offer. Confirm the actual payment schedule and funding across the written buydown agreement, note or loan contract, latest Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure; disclosure treatment can vary with structure.
Keep the lasting housing bill together.
Four documents-and-decision guides for the offer.
Each guide answers one question. The calculator remains the single place for the arithmetic.
Match every amount to the current documents.
CFPB explains that points, lender credits, APR, total monthly payment and estimated cash to close belong in the loan comparison. Ask for the incentive offer and an alternative offer using the same property, down payment, term and lock date.
A third-party temporary buydown may not be presented the same way in every disclosure. Confirm the payment schedule and funding across the written buydown agreement, note or loan contract, latest Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure.
CFPB Loan Estimate explainer ↗CFPB loan comparison guide ↗Regulation Z official interpretation ↗Compare the written terms, not the banner.
Does a temporary buydown permanently lower the mortgage rate?
No. This planner shows the reduced early payment separately from the principal-and-interest payment at the permanent note rate. It never assumes a future refinance.
Is APR the same as the note rate?
No. APR is a lender disclosure designed to reflect the interest rate and certain loan costs. Enter it from the Loan Estimate; HomeCostGrid does not invent an APR from incomplete fees.
Will the complete buydown schedule always appear on the Loan Estimate?
Not necessarily. Disclosure treatment can depend on how the buydown is structured. Check the written buydown agreement, note or loan contract, latest Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure together.
Is this a lending or approval calculator?
No. It is a buyer-side comparison worksheet. Only a lender can issue loan terms, disclosures or an approval.
