|    | Be
                   sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how much
                      of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan. Knowing
                      just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for
                      information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can
                      compare the information. The following information is important to get from each
                      lender and broker:   Rates
 
                    
                        
                            |   | Ask each lender and broker
                                   for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being
                                   quoted are the lowest for that day or week.  |  
                            |   | Ask whether the rate
                                   is fixed or adjustable. Keep in mind that when
                                      interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly
                                      payment.  |  
                            |   | If the rate quoted is for an
                                   adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will vary, including
                                   whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go
                                   down.  |  
                            |   | Ask about the loan’s
                                   annual percentage rate (APR). The APR
                                      takes into account not only the interest rate but also points, broker fees,
                                      and certain other credit charges that you may be required to pay, expressed
                                      as a yearly rate.  |  Points
 Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan
                      and are often linked to the interest rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the
                      rate.
 
 
                    
                        
                            |   | Check your local newspaper
                                   for information about rates and points currently being
                                   offered.  |  
                            |   |  |  |