The gap usually comes down to disclosure games, and specifically to points hiding inside the quote. When one lender quotes a few thousand in costs and another wants five figures on the same loan, the higher quote often is not showing the true par rate, meaning the rate with no points added. That lender is counting on you never laying their estimate next to a competitor's at the same rate. We have compared offers where one lender was more than $10,000 higher for the exact same interest rate. The fix is simple: get more than one Loan Estimate and line the numbers up at the same rate. We start our own quotes at zero points as a matter of practice. Roughly 60 to 65 percent of our clients are first-time buyers without a lot of spare cash for a buydown, and we lean against paying points in general. Points also age badly when there is a real chance you refinance within a year or two, because you may not hold the rate long enough to earn back the upfront cost. A buydown comparison is something some people still want to see, and we will run that comparison for you. Bring us any estimate you have received and we will show you the par rate and exactly what you are being charged for.