11/17/2023
In the current Florida real estate market, a mortgage rate buy down often presents more advantages than a seller's purchase price reduction. For example, if a seller reduces the price by $10,000 on a $500,000 property, the mortgage amount only slightly decreases. With the current 30-year mortgage rate at 7.78% in Florida, this results in a modest monthly saving. Conversely, using that $10,000 for a rate buy down might reduce the interest rate significantly. For instance, reducing the rate to around 7.28% would lower the monthly payment more substantially. Over the loan's lifespan, the total interest savings with a rate buy down are much greater, making it a more financially prudent choice in a market emphasizing long-term savings.
Using the current mortgage rates in Florida as an example, letโs expand on why a mortgage rate buy down might be a better option than a purchase price reduction. As of November 16, 2023, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in Florida is 7.78% .
1. Purchase Price Reduction: Consider a $500,000 property with a seller concession of $10,000. The loan amount would be $490,000. At a 7.78% interest rate for 30 years, the monthly payment would be approximately $3,471. A $10,000 reduction in purchase price reduces the monthly payment by only about $70, leading to a total savings of approximately $25,200 over the life of the loan.
2. Mortgage Rate Buy Down: If the same $10,000 is used to buy down the interest rate, letโs assume it reduces the rate to 7.28%. On a $500,000 loan for 30 years, this would result in a monthly payment of about $3,408. This is a monthly saving of approximately $133 compared to the original rate of 7.78%, amounting to a total saving of over $47,880 over the life of the loan.
The mortgage rate buy down, in this case, offers significantly more savings in the long term, both in terms of monthly payments and total interest paid over the life of the loan. This makes it a more financially beneficial option in a high-interest market like Floridaโs current one.
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