A focused way to understand two mortgage offers
Compare two Loan Estimates.
A lower payment, more cash at closing, or a lender credit: see how two fixed-rate offers differ and what to ask before choosing.
Free to use · No account or upload · Your entries stay in this page’s browser memory
Use the same property, loan type, term and timing where possible. Check that each Product is Fixed Rate.
Open each section below. Use “Where do I find this?” for help. Leave unknown figures blank.
Review differences and lender questions. No offer is ranked or selected for you.
Enter your two offers
Offer A
A short label is enough. Avoid account numbers or personal details.
Loan basics — Offer A3/3 entered
Page 1 · Confirm both products are fixed rate.
Where do I find this? Loan amount, Offer A
Page 1, Loan Terms: Loan Amount. Copy the amount borrowed, not the home's price. CFPB walkthrough
Whole-year terms from 1 to 50 only; do not round a term that includes months.
Where do I find this? Loan term, Offer A
Page 1, top right: Loan Term. Enter whole years from 1 to 50. If the term is shown in months or years plus months, leave this field blank rather than rounding, and ask your lender to confirm the page 3 comparison periods before comparing those figures. Also check Product says Fixed Rate; this tool does not compare adjustable-rate loans. CFPB walkthrough
Where do I find this? Interest rate, Offer A
Page 1, Loan Terms: Interest Rate. Use the note rate here, not the APR on page 3. Check the Rate Lock box near the top of page 1. CFPB walkthrough
Monthly payment — Offer A2/2 entered
Page 1 · Use the same initial payment period.
Where do I find this? Monthly principal & interest, Offer A
Page 1, Loan Terms: Monthly Principal & Interest. Copy the disclosed payment; this tool does not calculate it from the rate. CFPB walkthrough
Use the initial payment period for both offers.
Where do I find this? Estimated total monthly payment, Offer A
Page 1, Projected Payments: Estimated Total Monthly Payment. Enter the initial period's amount. It includes principal and interest, mortgage insurance if applicable, and estimated escrow. Review the Estimated Taxes, Insurance & Assessments section for costs paid separately. Later periods and escrow assumptions can differ, even at a fixed rate. CFPB walkthrough
Upfront costs — Offer A5/5 entered
Pages 1–2 · Copy the totals as shown.
Already included in origination charges.
Where do I find this? Points (dollar amount), Offer A
Page 2, Loan Costs, A. Origination Charges: the first line, labeled a percentage of Loan Amount (Points). Enter the dollar charge, not the points percentage. Enter 0 if no points are charged. CFPB walkthrough
Section A total, including points.
Where do I find this? Origination charges, Offer A
Page 2, Loan Costs: A. Origination Charges subtotal. This includes any points shown below it. Do not add points to this subtotal again. CFPB walkthrough
Section D total, before lender credits.
Where do I find this? Total loan costs, Offer A
Page 2, Loan Costs: D. TOTAL LOAN COSTS (A + B + C). This includes origination charges and other loan services, but not all Other Costs or the down payment. Copy D as shown; do not subtract lender credits. CFPB walkthrough
Enter the credit as a positive amount; 0 if none.
Where do I find this? Lender credits, Offer A
Page 2, Other Costs: J. TOTAL CLOSING COSTS, Lender Credits line. The disclosure shows a credit as a negative number. Enter its positive magnitude here (for example, enter 1,500 for a −$1,500 credit). It is already reflected in disclosed closing costs and cash to close. CFPB walkthrough
Copy the total; do not add fees again.
Where do I find this? Estimated cash to close, Offer A
Page 1, Costs at Closing: Estimated Cash to Close. Page 2, Calculating Cash to Close explains the down payment, deposit, credits and adjustments. A negative amount means cash to the borrower; you may enter a minus sign. If an alternative form marks To borrower, enter the amount with a minus sign (for example, -5000); From borrower uses a positive amount. This is not the same as closing costs alone. CFPB walkthrough
Longer-term comparison — Offer A4/4 entered
Page 3 · Optional, but useful for comparing costs.
Where do I find this? Annual percentage rate (APR), Offer A
Page 3, Comparisons: Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Copy the disclosed APR; it includes the interest rate and certain additional loan charges. It is not your interest rate and is not recalculated here. CFPB walkthrough
Where do I find this? Total Interest Percentage (TIP), Offer A
Page 3, Comparisons: Total Interest Percentage (TIP). This is total scheduled interest over the loan's life as a percentage of the loan amount, assuming payments as scheduled. It is not an annual rate. Leave blank if not shown. CFPB walkthrough
First dollar figure in the page 3 comparison.
Where do I find this? In 5 years: total paid, Offer A
Page 3, Comparisons, In 5 Years: Total you will have paid in principal, interest, mortgage insurance, and loan costs. Copy this figure, not 60 times the total monthly payment; taxes and homeowners insurance are not included in this comparison. CFPB walkthrough
Second dollar figure in the page 3 comparison.
Where do I find this? In 5 years: principal paid off, Offer A
Page 3, Comparisons, In 5 Years: Principal you will have paid off. We subtract this from the first five-year figure to show the CFPB-style five-year cost of borrowing. Both figures are needed; no missing costs are estimated. CFPB walkthrough
Offer B
A short label is enough. Avoid account numbers or personal details.
Loan basics — Offer B3/3 entered
Page 1 · Confirm both products are fixed rate.
Where do I find this? Loan amount, Offer B
Page 1, Loan Terms: Loan Amount. Copy the amount borrowed, not the home's price. CFPB walkthrough
Whole-year terms from 1 to 50 only; do not round a term that includes months.
Where do I find this? Loan term, Offer B
Page 1, top right: Loan Term. Enter whole years from 1 to 50. If the term is shown in months or years plus months, leave this field blank rather than rounding, and ask your lender to confirm the page 3 comparison periods before comparing those figures. Also check Product says Fixed Rate; this tool does not compare adjustable-rate loans. CFPB walkthrough
Where do I find this? Interest rate, Offer B
Page 1, Loan Terms: Interest Rate. Use the note rate here, not the APR on page 3. Check the Rate Lock box near the top of page 1. CFPB walkthrough
Monthly payment — Offer B2/2 entered
Page 1 · Use the same initial payment period.
Where do I find this? Monthly principal & interest, Offer B
Page 1, Loan Terms: Monthly Principal & Interest. Copy the disclosed payment; this tool does not calculate it from the rate. CFPB walkthrough
Use the initial payment period for both offers.
Where do I find this? Estimated total monthly payment, Offer B
Page 1, Projected Payments: Estimated Total Monthly Payment. Enter the initial period's amount. It includes principal and interest, mortgage insurance if applicable, and estimated escrow. Review the Estimated Taxes, Insurance & Assessments section for costs paid separately. Later periods and escrow assumptions can differ, even at a fixed rate. CFPB walkthrough
Upfront costs — Offer B5/5 entered
Pages 1–2 · Copy the totals as shown.
Already included in origination charges.
Where do I find this? Points (dollar amount), Offer B
Page 2, Loan Costs, A. Origination Charges: the first line, labeled a percentage of Loan Amount (Points). Enter the dollar charge, not the points percentage. Enter 0 if no points are charged. CFPB walkthrough
Section A total, including points.
Where do I find this? Origination charges, Offer B
Page 2, Loan Costs: A. Origination Charges subtotal. This includes any points shown below it. Do not add points to this subtotal again. CFPB walkthrough
Section D total, before lender credits.
Where do I find this? Total loan costs, Offer B
Page 2, Loan Costs: D. TOTAL LOAN COSTS (A + B + C). This includes origination charges and other loan services, but not all Other Costs or the down payment. Copy D as shown; do not subtract lender credits. CFPB walkthrough
Enter the credit as a positive amount; 0 if none.
Where do I find this? Lender credits, Offer B
Page 2, Other Costs: J. TOTAL CLOSING COSTS, Lender Credits line. The disclosure shows a credit as a negative number. Enter its positive magnitude here (for example, enter 1,500 for a −$1,500 credit). It is already reflected in disclosed closing costs and cash to close. CFPB walkthrough
Copy the total; do not add fees again.
Where do I find this? Estimated cash to close, Offer B
Page 1, Costs at Closing: Estimated Cash to Close. Page 2, Calculating Cash to Close explains the down payment, deposit, credits and adjustments. A negative amount means cash to the borrower; you may enter a minus sign. If an alternative form marks To borrower, enter the amount with a minus sign (for example, -5000); From borrower uses a positive amount. This is not the same as closing costs alone. CFPB walkthrough
Longer-term comparison — Offer B4/4 entered
Page 3 · Optional, but useful for comparing costs.
Where do I find this? Annual percentage rate (APR), Offer B
Page 3, Comparisons: Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Copy the disclosed APR; it includes the interest rate and certain additional loan charges. It is not your interest rate and is not recalculated here. CFPB walkthrough
Where do I find this? Total Interest Percentage (TIP), Offer B
Page 3, Comparisons: Total Interest Percentage (TIP). This is total scheduled interest over the loan's life as a percentage of the loan amount, assuming payments as scheduled. It is not an annual rate. Leave blank if not shown. CFPB walkthrough
First dollar figure in the page 3 comparison.
Where do I find this? In 5 years: total paid, Offer B
Page 3, Comparisons, In 5 Years: Total you will have paid in principal, interest, mortgage insurance, and loan costs. Copy this figure, not 60 times the total monthly payment; taxes and homeowners insurance are not included in this comparison. CFPB walkthrough
Second dollar figure in the page 3 comparison.
Where do I find this? In 5 years: principal paid off, Offer B
Page 3, Comparisons, In 5 Years: Principal you will have paid off. We subtract this from the first five-year figure to show the CFPB-style five-year cost of borrowing. Both figures are needed; no missing costs are estimated. CFPB walkthrough
Entries are processed here, with no upload, account or saved profile. Your work is not saved; reloading starts a new fictional example. Financial values and nicknames are not sent to analytics. Print to keep a copy.
Side by side · Fixed-rate mortgages
Your Loan Estimate comparison
Fictional example · Invented figures, not lender quotes or current market rates.
15 figures can be compared. Differences below compare Offer A with Offer B; “higher” does not mean better or worse. Missing or invalid figures show “Not entered” or “Check input.”
| Comparison | Offer A · Fictional example A | Offer B · Fictional example B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loan basicsLoan amount | $320,000 | $320,000 | Same for both offers |
| Loan term | 30 years | 30 years | Same for both offers |
| Interest rate | 6.25% | 6.5% | Offer A is 0.25 percentage points lower than Offer B |
| Monthly paymentMonthly principal & interest | $1,970.30 | $2,022.62 | Offer A is $52.32 lower than Offer B |
| Estimated total monthly payment | $2,470 | $2,523 | Offer A is $53 lower than Offer B |
| Upfront costsPoints (dollars) | $3,200 | $0 | Offer A is $3,200 higher than Offer B |
| Origination Charges (Section A) | $4,800 | $1,600 | Offer A is $3,200 higher than Offer B |
| Total Loan Costs (Section D) | $7,200 | $4,000 | Offer A is $3,200 higher than Offer B |
| Lender Credits | $0 | $2,000 | Offer A is $2,000 lower than Offer B |
| Estimated Cash to Close | $87,200 | $82,000 | Offer A is $5,200 higher than Offer B |
| Longer-term comparisonAnnual Percentage Rate (APR) | 6.467% | 6.56% | Offer A is 0.093 percentage points lower than Offer B |
| Total Interest Percentage (TIP) | 121.658% | 127.544% | Offer A is 5.886 percentage points lower than Offer B |
| In 5 Years: total paid | $125,418 | $125,357 | Offer A is $61 higher than Offer B |
| In 5 Years: principal paid off | $21,321 | $20,445 | Offer A is $876 higher than Offer B |
| Five-year borrowing cost (total minus principal)Calculated from the two figures above | $104,097 | $104,912 | Offer A is $815 lower than Offer B |
Loan basics
Loan amount
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $320,000
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $320,000
Difference: Same for both offers
Loan term
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- 30 years
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- 30 years
Difference: Same for both offers
Interest rate
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- 6.25%
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- 6.5%
Difference: Offer A is 0.25 percentage points lower than Offer B
Monthly payment
Monthly principal & interest
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $1,970.30
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $2,022.62
Difference: Offer A is $52.32 lower than Offer B
Estimated total monthly payment
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $2,470
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $2,523
Difference: Offer A is $53 lower than Offer B
Upfront costs
Points (dollars)
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $3,200
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $0
Difference: Offer A is $3,200 higher than Offer B
Origination Charges (Section A)
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $4,800
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $1,600
Difference: Offer A is $3,200 higher than Offer B
Total Loan Costs (Section D)
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $7,200
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $4,000
Difference: Offer A is $3,200 higher than Offer B
Lender Credits
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $0
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $2,000
Difference: Offer A is $2,000 lower than Offer B
Estimated Cash to Close
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $87,200
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $82,000
Difference: Offer A is $5,200 higher than Offer B
Longer-term comparison
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- 6.467%
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- 6.56%
Difference: Offer A is 0.093 percentage points lower than Offer B
Total Interest Percentage (TIP)
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- 121.658%
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- 127.544%
Difference: Offer A is 5.886 percentage points lower than Offer B
In 5 Years: total paid
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $125,418
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $125,357
Difference: Offer A is $61 higher than Offer B
In 5 Years: principal paid off
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $21,321
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $20,445
Difference: Offer A is $876 higher than Offer B
Five-year borrowing cost (total minus principal)
- Offer A · Fictional example A
- $104,097
- Offer B · Fictional example B
- $104,912
Difference: Offer A is $815 lower than Offer B
How this comparison works: Payments, APR and TIP are copied from your entries, not recalculated. Currency differences use cents; percentage differences use percentage points. We never add points, origination charges and loan costs together: those charges overlap.
Five-year borrowing cost = the page 3 total paid minus principal paid off. It includes interest, mortgage insurance and loan costs from those disclosed figures, not all costs of owning a home. No additional credits or fees are applied. If a loan term is shorter than five years, these figures cover that shorter term. CFPB method.
What stands out?
- Offer A’s estimated cash to close is $5,200 higher than Offer B’s; its monthly principal and interest is $52.32 lower.
- Offer A’s estimated total monthly payment is $53 lower than Offer B’s. Check that taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, and escrow assumptions are comparable.
- Offer A’s Total Loan Costs are $3,200 higher than Offer B’s. Points and Origination Charges are already included in this total.
- Offer A includes $3,200 in points and has the lower entered interest rate. Ask how its rate would change without those points.
- Offer B includes $2,000 in lender credits and has the higher entered interest rate. Ask what rate and cost tradeoffs are behind the credit.
- Offer A is 0.093 percentage points lower than Offer B in APR. APR includes certain loan costs; compare it alongside the rate, costs, and loan terms.
- Offer A’s five-year borrowing cost is $815 lower than Offer B’s, using each entered page 3 total minus principal paid off. This is a five-year comparison, not a prediction of how long you will keep the loan.
Questions to ask your lenders
Based on the figures you entered. Different estimates are a reason to clarify the assumptions.
- Is each interest rate locked, when does the lock expire, and what would extending it cost?
- Do either loan’s terms include a prepayment penalty or balloon payment?
- What interest rate and upfront costs could you offer with fewer points or no points?
- What rate or other tradeoffs are associated with the lender credits, and what would this offer look like without them?
- Which taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, and escrow assumptions are included in each estimated total monthly payment, and which costs must I pay separately?
- Which fees can change before closing, and what down payment, deposits, credits, prepaids, and other costs are assumed in each cash-to-close figure?
- Which costs are included in the APR and In 5 Years figures, and are the assumptions comparable between these offers?
Educational comparison of your entries, not verification of lender documents, loan approval, or a recommendation of any lender or mortgage. Final terms and estimates can change. Review the actual Loan Estimates and Closing Disclosure, and ask your lender or a housing counselor about unclear figures.
A little context for the numbers
Upfront costs and monthly costs work together.
Points
Discount points are an upfront charge paid in exchange for a lower interest rate. One point equals 1% of the loan amount. The rate reduction per point varies; ask for the same lender’s quote with and without points. Copy the dollar charge into this tool.
Lender credits
A lender credit offsets closing costs and may come with a higher rate. Credits can also be offered for other reasons. Ask how each credit affects the rate and fees; a larger credit alone does not establish the overall cost.
Interest rate and APR
The interest rate is the annual rate charged on what you borrow. APR includes the interest rate and certain additional loan charges. Compare APR alongside loan terms and costs; it is not the rate used to calculate your monthly payment.
Your time horizon matters
Paying more at closing for a lower payment has a different effect depending on how long you keep the loan. Cash to close also includes items such as a down payment and deposits, so dividing its difference by a payment difference is not a reliable points break-even calculation.
Read the CFPB’s points and lender credits explanation and guide to comparing Loan Estimates.
Check the original sources
Field locations and explanations checked against CFPB materials on September 29, 2026. The fictional example rates are not current market quotes.