Key takeaways

  • The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points.
  • Interest rates are influenced by factors such as your credit score, the lender you work with, inflation and the broader economy.
  • When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to get a fuller picture of the true cost of the financing.

When shopping for a mortgage, it can be difficult to know how to make a true apples-to-apples comparison. Understanding the distinction between a loan’s interest rate and annual percentage rate (APR) can make you a more savvy mortgage shopper — and potentially save you some money along the way.

Difference between APR and interest rate

Key terms

Interest rate
The price you pay to borrow money for a mortgage, expressed in the form of a percentage of the loan principal
Annual percentage rate (APR)
A percentage that indicates the total yearly cost of your loan; it includes your interest rate, as well as the other fees you’ll pay for the mortgage

Expressed as a percentage, both the annual percentage rate (APR) and interest rate on a mortgage provide benchmarks for you to compare different loans and their costs. The key difference is that the interest rate is always going to be lower than the APR.

Consider a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for $300,000 at 7 percent interest, with a 1 percent origination fee ($3,000) and one mortgage point (another $3,000) for a total of $6,000 in fees. That extra cost makes the APR 7.197 percent.

Mortgage
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires mortgage lenders disclose a loan’s APR, as well as its interest rate, to borrowers. This information is included in the loan estimate and the closing disclosure, which includes the final costs and terms of the loan. It’s important to note that lenders might not include all fees in the APR. They’re not required to include certain costs such as credit reporting and appraisal fees. Ask your lender what’s included in the APR when comparing offers so you have an accurate understanding of how much the loan will cost.

What is an interest rate?

The interest rate attached to a mortgage is a reflection of the cost you’ll pay to finance the home. Let’s say you borrow a $340,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with an interest rate of 7 percent. At that rate over three decades, you’d pay $474,330 in interest, on top of the $340,000 of the loan itself.

While this sounds like a lot, in this example, you’ll pay the same mortgage payment each month, with a portion of each payment going to the $340,000 you borrowed — the loan principal — and another portion going to interest. At the beginning of your loan, you’ll pay less toward the principal and more toward interest. As your loan amortizes, your payments gradually start to cover more principal and less interest.

How are interest rates calculated?

Interest rates are partially determined by factors that are completely out of your control, such as inflation, the state of the broader economy and the lender you choose to work with. Because of these factors, mortgage rates are constantly changing. Every time rates move up, it impacts how much home you can afford. This is why mortgage rate locks can be a valuable tool as you shop for a home.

Your specific mortgage rate is based on your credit history and scores, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, your plans for a down payment and other pieces of your financial life. In general, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate will be.

To get the lowest rate possible, you can:

  • Buy mortgage points
  • Improve your credit score
  • Make a bigger down payment
  • Pay down or eliminate high-interest debt
  • Get a first-time homebuyer loan (provided you qualify)

What is an APR?

APR stands for annual percentage rate. It represents the cost of your mortgage and includes the interest rate and some other fees, such as:

How is APR calculated?

Determining the APR on a mortgage involves three key figures: the interest rate, fees and any points you choose to pay upfront. You can use Bankrate’s APR calculator to get a sense of how different fees and points can impact the overall cost of your loan.

Mortgage interest rate vs. APR examples

Here are examples comparing APR vs. interest rate for a $300,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage:

Interest rate 6.8% 6.95% 7%
Origination fee 1% ($3,000) 1% ($3,000) 1% ($3,000)
Discount points 2 ($6,000) 1 ($3,000) 0
Points and fees $9,000 $6,000 $3,000
APR 7.092% 7.147% 7.099%
Monthly payment(principal and interest) $1,956 $1,986 $1,996
Total interest $404,075 $414,907 $418,524

Tips to compare interest rate vs. APR

  • APR gives you a better idea of the real cost of the loan. Because it includes fees, you’ll have a better idea how much you’ll actually pay when you compare APRs.
  • Shop around for loan offers before choosing a lender. Some lenders might advertise a low interest rate, but charge higher upfront fees. Others might charge more interest, but don’t impose fees. Taking the time to compare offers could save you money over the life of your mortgage.
  • Be careful comparing fixed mortgage and ARM rates. The rate quoted for an ARM is the introductory rate, which is only fixed for a set period. That means, after that period, the rate could go up, and so will your payment. Fixed-rate mortgages keep the same rate, so your principal and interest payment will stay the same every month.
  • The APR on an ARM doesn’t reflect the maximum interest rate for the loan. After the introductory rate ends, your rate could adjust up significantly depending on the market and the rate caps in your ARM. Learn more about how ARMs work.

FAQ

  • A good interest rate might be any rate that’s below the current average for your area and for borrowers similar to you in terms of credit and finances. For you, a good rate might simply mean that it’s affordable based on your budget.
  • Like a good interest rate, a good APR might be one that has a below-average interest rate and minimal fees.
  • The APR cannot be less than the interest rate because it’s composed of several components besides the interest rate.
  • A 0% APR offer for credit or a loan means the borrower doesn’t have to pay interest. These types of offers are common with credit cards and retail financing, and typically temporary for six, 12 or 18 months. After that 0% APR period, if the debt hasn’t been fully repaid, the borrower will pay interest at a stated rate. Mortgages don’t come with 0% APR offers.
  • If you lock your interest rate, that rate won’t change during the lock period, typically 30 to 60 days, unless the circumstances of your loan application change. Many mortgage lenders allow you to extend the lock beyond this time frame, some for a fee. The final APR, which includes some fees, might change. It’s important to compare your loan estimate with the closing disclosure to note any alarming change in costs.