Probably not rigged the way it feels, but there's a common builder structuring move worth understanding. To judge a past quote, compare it against what a strong profile (high credit, 20% or more down) could have gotten at zero points from an independent lender on that same day. If your starting rate sat noticeably above that zero-point market number, it was high. With builder lenders it's often a little high without being egregious. The usual mechanics: the builder quotes an unattractive base rate, then offers a large credit toward buying it down, so the incentive looks big and generous. You paid points, a chunk of that may have been offset by builder money, and the eye-catching buydown headline did the selling. Remember what a builder credit actually is, though: money given in lieu of a lower price. It's your own money, moved around, so the real question is whether the whole package made sense. Two protections for next time: - Builder incentives usually require using their in-house lender, so compare the total package (rate plus incentive plus any price concession) against going outside, and never the rate alone. - Get an independent zero-point quote for your profile on the same day you lock, so you have a clean benchmark to hold the builder's offer against. If you want a neutral second look at a builder quote, that's a good use of the free Roadmap conversation.