Buying down "points" (discount points) on a mortgage is a strategy to lower your interest rate by paying a lump sum upfront at closing. As of April 2026, the standard cost for one mortgage point remains . Cost and Rate Impact
: One point generally reduces your interest rate by 0.25% (25 basis points), though this varies by lender. cost to buy down points on a mortgage
💡 : Buying points is essentially a bet that you will keep the loan for longer than the break-even period. When It Makes Sense Everything You Need to Know About Mortgage Discount Points Buying down "points" (discount points) on a mortgage
: You can usually buy fractional points (e.g., 0.5 points) or multiple points (e.g., 2.0 points). Calculating the "Break-Even" Point 💡 : Buying points is essentially a bet
: Each point is equal to 1% of your principal loan.
The most critical part of this decision is the break-even analysis—how many months it takes for the monthly savings to cover the upfront cost. The Formula
Buying down "points" (discount points) on a mortgage is a strategy to lower your interest rate by paying a lump sum upfront at closing. As of April 2026, the standard cost for one mortgage point remains . Cost and Rate Impact
: One point generally reduces your interest rate by 0.25% (25 basis points), though this varies by lender.
💡 : Buying points is essentially a bet that you will keep the loan for longer than the break-even period. When It Makes Sense Everything You Need to Know About Mortgage Discount Points
: You can usually buy fractional points (e.g., 0.5 points) or multiple points (e.g., 2.0 points). Calculating the "Break-Even" Point
: Each point is equal to 1% of your principal loan.
The most critical part of this decision is the break-even analysis—how many months it takes for the monthly savings to cover the upfront cost. The Formula