Many people often fall into the temptation of searching for a mortgage loan that has the lowest interest rate but often times this is a huge mistake.

While the interest rate is important, it should never be the deciding factor as there are other costs involved. Just like how you would do research before buying a car, the same also applies for home mortgage loans.

Factor in all the costs for a loan

When people think about mortgage loans, the first thing they often think of is finding one that has the lowest interest rate. And this makes sense too but companies that offer lower interest rates may have terms and conditions that are not exactly favorable.

While a deal may look attractive, you need to consider all the costs that are involved before signing a deal.

The last thing you would want is to sign a 1.5% interest rate loan thinking it is a great deal only to find that the terms would leave you owing more than you borrowed. Besides looking at the interest rates, there are also "points" and "origination fees" which are upfront charges.

This amount is typically a percentage of the loan amount and often depends on your financial circumstances.

Get APR quotes from different lenders

Then you also need to consider additional fees as well that are needed to secure the loan like the underwriting and processing fees. When searching for a mortgage loan it is essential that you look at the overall costs instead of just focusing on the interest rate.

You can find a low rate but what good would it be if it means paying a high upfront cost and having high monthly payments?
When deciding which lender to choose, the best way is to look at the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR, as this a better representation of the true interest rate.

When it comes to shopping for a home, there is much to consider besides the interest rate. The type of home you buy will ultimately depend on what you can afford to spend and what your financial situation is like.