01
Collect every quote on the same day
Rates move daily. A comparison assembled over a week compares nothing, and lenders know it.
Mortgage playbook · 11 tactics
11 Mortgage Moves That Save Real Money
Where the negotiable money actually sits, and the two dates worth putting in a calendar.
02
Shop section C of the Loan Estimate
Services you are allowed to shop for, title in particular, often save more than negotiating the rate itself.
03
Argue origination, accept recording
Lender charges are negotiable. Government recording and transfer taxes are not, and pushing on them wastes goodwill you need elsewhere.
04
Only buy points if you will stay long enough
Divide the cost of the points by the monthly saving. If the break-even is beyond your realistic horizon, it is a loss.
05
Diarise the date PMI can be removed
Mortgage insurance protects the lender while you pay for it. Track when the balance reaches the removal threshold and request it in writing.
06
Make one extra payment a year, not thirteen small ones
A single annual lump from a bonus or refund is easier to sustain than a monthly increase and produces most of the same effect.
07
Confirm extra payments go to principal
Some servicers apply overpayments to the next instalment by default, which does nothing for the balance. Specify it in writing.
08
Compare total interest, not just the payment
A longer term can lower the payment while adding six figures of interest. Both numbers belong in the decision.
09
Keep the reserve, even at the cost of PMI
Draining every account to reach twenty percent leaves nothing for the first year of ownership, which is when unexpected costs arrive.
10
Recast instead of refinancing after a lump sum
Many servicers will re-amortise the loan after a large principal payment for a small fee, lowering the payment without new closing costs.
11
Re-run the refinance maths whenever rates move a point
Break-even is closing costs divided by monthly saving. It takes two minutes and occasionally reveals a very large number.
Put it to work
Calculators for these tactics
Mortgage & Property
Mortgage Payment Calculator
Full monthly payment including tax, insurance, PMI and HOA — plus the amortisation curve.
Mortgage & PropertyClosing Cost Calculator
Estimate cash needed at the table, line item by line item.
Mortgage & PropertyRefinance Break-Even Calculator
How many months until a refinance pays back its own closing costs.
Mortgage & PropertyExtra Mortgage Payment Calculator
See how much interest and time an extra monthly payment removes.
Mortgage & Property15 vs 30 Year Mortgage Calculator
The monthly cost of a shorter term against the lifetime interest it removes.
Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.