Is my Loan Estimate a good deal?
Seven checks for price, payment, APR, lender-controlled costs, cash to close, and missing assumptions.
Read the guide →Lenny mortgage guides
Understand the mortgage decision before you choose the offer.
Plain-language guides, real comparison math, and direct paths into Lenny's live-rate and Loan Estimate tools.
Evaluate an offer
Know what the quote is really telling you.
Start with the whole offer, not just the advertised rate.
Why is APR higher than my mortgage rate?
See which finance charges can make APR higher and how to use it without treating it as the only answer.
Read the guide →What lender fees can I negotiate?
Separate lender-controlled charges, shoppable services, government fees, and prepaids before negotiating.
Read the guide →How to read a Loan Estimate
Read the three-page form in the right order: loan terms, payment, lender price, cash to close, APR, and five-year cost.
Read the guide →How to compare Loan Estimates
Align the assumptions, compare lender price, then choose the offer that fits your timeline and cash plan.
Read the guide →Rate, points, and credits
See what you are paying to get the rate.
A lower rate can cost more upfront. A lender credit can preserve cash while increasing the payment.
Lower rate or lender credit?
Use the calculator to compare upfront lender cost, monthly payment, and break-even for both options.
Compare the options →How much do mortgage points save?
Use the calculator to test point cost, monthly savings, break-even, and your expected timeline.
Use the calculator →Mortgage points vs lender credits
Understand the two ends of mortgage pricing and compare each to a zero-point baseline.
Read the guide →Is a lender credit free money?
See what the credit saves today, what it may add to the payment, and when the tradeoff can make sense.
Read the guide →Mortgage buydowns
Temporary relief and permanent savings are different decisions.
Compare the full payment path, who supplies the funds, alternative concessions, and timeline.
Mortgage rate buydowns explained
Temporary buydowns, permanent points, qualification, funding, and the questions to ask.
Read the guide →Temporary vs permanent buydowns
Compare an early payment subsidy with a lower note rate that lasts for the life of the mortgage.
Read the guide →Seller-paid 2-1 buydown vs discount points
See how a seller subsidy differs from borrower-paid points and other permitted uses of the concession.
Read the guide →Is a mortgage buydown worth it?
Use timeline, cash, payment, and alternative-use tests before choosing a buydown.
Read the guide →Mortgage buydown break-even examples
See how upfront point cost, monthly savings, and holding period change the result.
Read the guide →Refinance timing
Measure savings against total costs.
Mortgage refinance break-even
Calculate how long monthly savings take to recover costs and what can invalidate the comparison.
Read the guide →Use your numbers
Move from explanation to comparison.
Lenny can analyze a Loan Estimate or compare matched rate offers using the same cost-and-timeline logic.
Educational guidance only. Lenny can explain and compare mortgage offers. A licensed mortgage lender confirms eligibility, program fit, pricing, disclosures, and approval.