finance calculator

Mortgage Buydown Calculator

See how 2-1 or 1-0 buydowns reduce early payments, total savings in the buydown years, and whether the buydown cost breaks even.

Results

Base monthly payment
$2,528
Year 1 payment
$2,027
Year 2 payment
$2,271
Savings in year 1
$6,018
Savings in year 2
$3,085
Total savings (first years)
$9,104
Buydown cost
$8,000
Net savings after cost
$1,104
Breakeven months on cost
21.09

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter loan amount, base rate, year 1/2 buydown rates, term, and buydown cost.
  2. Review payment reductions, savings in years 1–2, net savings after cost, and breakeven months.

Inputs explained

Buydown cost
Upfront cost to fund the buydown (often paid by seller/builder/lender credit).
Year 1/2 rate
Temporary rates during the buydown period (e.g., base minus 2% and base minus 1%).

How it works

Base payment uses the base rate. Year 1 and year 2 payments use their respective teaser rates over the full term for simplicity.

Savings are the payment differences for each year. Net savings subtracts the buydown cost.

Breakeven months estimate how long it takes for the early-year savings to cover the buydown cost (over the buydown window).

When to use it

  • Evaluating 2-1 or 1-0 buydown offers from sellers/builders.
  • Comparing buydown cost vs total early-year savings.

Tips & cautions

  • If you plan to refinance early, the buydown may or may not pay off; check the breakeven months.
  • Confirm whether unused buydown funds apply to principal if you refinance or sell early.
  • Simplified; uses teaser rates for payment calc but does not model rate resets beyond year 2.
  • Does not include taxes/insurance/PMI; principal and interest only.

Deep dive

Evaluate a 2-1 or 1-0 mortgage buydown by comparing early payment savings to the buydown cost and seeing breakeven months.

Enter loan details, buydown rates, and cost to see payment reductions, total savings, and net benefit.

Related calculators