YOUR PREAPPROVAL IS THE START
A lower price. More cash left. A lower payment. Compare four ways to use the same negotiation dollars.
No signup. No credit check. Start with the example or use your numbers.
ONE IDEA TO START WITH
Imagine negotiating $15,000 on a $500,000 home. You could ask for a lower price, or ask the seller to contribute toward eligible costs. That contribution could cover closing costs, a temporary buydown or points for a lower fixed rate.
01 / YOUR STARTING POINT
Sample loaded: a $500,000 home, 10% down and $15,000 to compare.
The same amount is used as a price reduction or a potential seller credit. Seller help must be negotiated and approved.
Checking the latest MND reference… View source
This reference is more than 4 days old. Confirm current pricing with Eric.
A market reference, not your quote or APR. Your personal rate depends on your loan details.
30 year fixed, conventional primary home illustration. Property expenses are examples and stay the same across all four choices.
Mortgage insurance is set to $0 at 20% down or more. Below 20%, replace the $100 sample with your quote. Closing costs exclude discount points and temporary buydown funds, which are calculated separately. Taxes, insurance and mortgage insurance can change over time.
These two inputs are hypothetical. MND does not provide rate and point pairs. One point costs 1% of your loan; it does not buy a fixed rate reduction. Eric must provide the matched rate, points and APR for your loan.
02 / COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
$3,107 principal and interest + $1,000 property costs
Down payment + entered closing costs
Tap each option to compare. All four are included when you print.
The temporary buydown reaches $4,107/month in year 3 with these property costs. Your loan rate stays at 7.37%. Qualification uses the full note payment. A refinance is not guaranteed.
| What changes | Seller credit for costs | Temporary buydown | Price reduction | Permanent buydownHypothetical pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 monthly total | $4,107 | $3,518 | $4,013 | $3,955 |
| Year 2 monthly total | $4,107 | $3,806 | $4,013 | $3,955 |
| Year 3 onward monthly total | $4,107 | $4,107 | $4,013 | $3,955 |
| Year 1 principal + interest paid by you | $3,107 | $2,518 | $3,013 | $2,955 |
| Purchase price | $500,000 | $500,000 | $485,000 | $500,000 |
| Starting loan balance | $450,000 | $450,000 | $436,500 | $450,000 |
| Down payment | $50,000 | $50,000 | $48,500 | $50,000 |
| Note interest rate | 7.37% | 7.37% | 7.37% | 6.87% |
| Buydown funding or point cost | $0 | $10,663 | $0 | $9,000 |
| Seller funds used for buydown | $0 | $10,663 | $0 | $9,000 |
| Seller funds used for other costs | $12,000 | $4,337 | $0 | $6,000 |
| Buyer paid points beyond credit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Unused allowed seller credit | $3,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total purchase cash needed* | $50,000 | $57,663 | $60,500 | $56,000 |
Total monthly figures include $1,000 of entered taxes, insurance, HOA and mortgage insurance. Temporary payments are the buyer’s share; subsidy funds cover the rest of principal and interest.
Keep cash: Compare how much you bring to closing and what stays in your bank account.
Get early breathing room: A temporary buydown shifts payment costs to seller funds for a limited time. Be ready for the full payment.
Borrow less: A price cut reduces your purchase price, down payment dollars and starting debt.
Reduce the ongoing payment: Compare the permanent rate with its point cost and how long you expect to keep this loan.
In this illustration, the permanent point cost divided by monthly principal and interest savings is 60 months. This simple cost recovery measure ignores remaining balances, time value of money and the alternative use of seller funds. It does not declare a winning option.
03 / MAKE IT YOUR PLAN
Save your comparison, or text Eric to review it for the home you are considering.
On iPhone, open the print preview, then use Share to save a PDF. The text button opens a draft in your messaging app. Review it before sending.
*Total purchase cash = down payment + entered costs + buyer paid points, less usable seller credit. Earnest money already paid, tax prorations and other deposits are not deducted. A temporary funding gap is shown separately and must be resolved before the option is available. Figures are rounded for display.
This model uses conventional primary home contribution limits of 3%, 6% or 9% based on down payment, assuming no subordinate financing, no other interested party contributions and an appraised value at least equal to the price. Lower appraisals or different programs can change the limit. Seller credits cannot replace your required down payment or reserves. Unused credit is not automatic cash back. Eric must confirm eligibility and the permitted amount.
The sample does not approve a loan, change your preapproval, quote APR or promise savings. Actual terms, property costs, loan limits, fees and program availability require review. Temporary buydown balances at payoff are handled under the buydown agreement.
Sources: MND daily rate index · Fannie Mae seller contributions · Fannie Mae temporary buydowns
Buyer options comparison
Educational illustration
$500,000 starting price · 10% down · $15,000 to negotiate · 30 year fixed
Starting rate: 7.37% MND reference dated October 16, 2026. Permanent example: 6.87% at 2% points. Hypothetical, not matched lender pricing or APR.
Baseline: $4,107/month and $62,000 total purchase cash. Other closing costs: $12,000. Annual taxes: $9,000. Annual insurance: $1,800. Monthly HOA: $0. Monthly MI: $100.
| What changes | Seller credit for costs | Temporary buydown | Price reduction | Permanent buydownHypothetical pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 monthly total | $4,107 | $3,518 | $4,013 | $3,955 |
| Year 2 monthly total | $4,107 | $3,806 | $4,013 | $3,955 |
| Year 3 onward monthly total | $4,107 | $4,107 | $4,013 | $3,955 |
| Year 1 principal + interest paid by you | $3,107 | $2,518 | $3,013 | $2,955 |
| Purchase price | $500,000 | $500,000 | $485,000 | $500,000 |
| Starting loan balance | $450,000 | $450,000 | $436,500 | $450,000 |
| Down payment | $50,000 | $50,000 | $48,500 | $50,000 |
| Note interest rate | 7.37% | 7.37% | 7.37% | 6.87% |
| Buydown funding or point cost | $0 | $10,663 | $0 | $9,000 |
| Seller funds used for buydown | $0 | $10,663 | $0 | $9,000 |
| Seller funds used for other costs | $12,000 | $4,337 | $0 | $6,000 |
| Buyer paid points beyond credit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Unused allowed seller credit | $3,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total purchase cash needed* | $50,000 | $57,663 | $60,500 | $56,000 |
Full payment: A 2/1 temporary buydown reaches $4,107/month in year 3 using entered property costs. Note rate and amortization do not change. Qualification uses the full payment. Refinancing is not guaranteed.
Credit limits: This model allows up to $30,000 (6%) based on conventional primary home assumptions, no other contributions or subordinate financing, and an appraisal at least equal to price. Unused credit is not cash back or a down payment. Confirm the permitted amount with Eric.
*Purchase cash: Down payment + entered closing costs + buyer paid points less usable credit. Deposits already paid and tax prorations are not deducted. Unfunded temporary buydowns require additional permitted funding. Monthly property costs are held constant for comparison and may change.
Simple permanent points recovery: 60 months. This is point cost divided by monthly principal and interest savings, not an option ranking. Selling, refinancing and alternative uses of the credit matter.
Rate source: mortgagenewsdaily.com/mortgage-rates, October 16, 2026. Rules: Fannie Mae B3-4.1-02 and B2-1.4-04. Educational illustration, not a Loan Estimate, rate quote, APR, approval or commitment to lend. Actual pricing and eligibility require review.