2/1 Buydown A Guide for Homebuyers
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December 20, 2022

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The 2-1 Buydown 2023 could open up homebuying options

In 2022, mortgage rates rose from 3.22% in January to 6.31% in December, says mortgage industry giant Freddie Mac

On a $350,000 loan, that’s nearly a $600-per-month increase, no small amount for a first-time homebuyer (or any homebuyer; let’s be honest).

Luckily, there’s a mortgage option re-emerging that no one has talked about since the 90s: the 2/1 Buydown program.

This program effectively reduces your rate by 2% the first year, 1% the second year, and you keep your base rate in years 3-30.

Is this program for you? Let’s take a deeper look.

Check your 2-1 Buydown eligibility.

What’s in this article?

What is a 2/1 Buydown?
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How much does a 2/1 Buydown cost?
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2/1 Buydown vs ARM
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2/1 Buydown requirements
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Best candidates for a 2/1 Buydown
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2/1 Buydown FAQ
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Get started on your 2/1 Buydown
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What is a 2/1 Buydown?

A 2/1 Buydown is an add-on feature that effectively reduces your interest rate for the first two years. This makes homeownership more affordable during the most expensive and important years of homeownership.

Someone involved in the transaction, such as the seller, builder, or even you as the buyer, prepays enough interest to make it “feel” like you have a lower interest rate temporarily.

Year 1Rate reduced by 2%
Year 2Rate reduced by 1%
Years 3-30Standard rate

Here’s how the scenario might play out for the buyer, using hypothetical rates.

YearEffective interest ratePayment ($300k loan)
15%$1,610
26%$1,799
3-307%$1,996

In this scenario, the buyer saves $386 per month in year one and $197 per month in year two. These savings could go a long way as the new homeowner adjusts to making a house payment while juggling other costs of homeownership like repairs, new furniture, and maintenance.

A 2/1 Buydown could make the difference between feeling comfortable buying a house and not for a prospective buyer.

See if a 2-1 Buydown is right for you.

How much does a 2/1 Buydown cost?

It’s understandable to think that someone “buys down” the interest rate itself. After all, that’s what the name “2/1 Buydown” suggests.

But that’s not what’s happening. Rather, the rate stays the same for the entire loan period and a portion of the payment gets prepaid at the time of closing. Let’s look at the above example again, this time calculating how much it would cost to perform the buydown on a $300,000 loan at a 7% rate.

2/1 Buydown example

YearStandard Payment ($300k)Buydown payment ($300k)Monthly difference x12
1$1,996 at 7%$1,610 at 5%$386 x 12 = $4,632
2$1,996 at 7%$1,799 at 6%$197 x 12 = $2,364
Total$6,996

In this transaction, the seller, home builder, or buyer would kick in $6,996 at closing to prepay a portion of the buyer’s payments for the first two years. That’s the equivalent of paying 2.33% in discount points.

Keep in mind, though, that the “discount point equivalent” will change with every loan scenario. The loan amount and starting interest rate will affect it.

Remember that this program doesn’t actually buy down the rate itself. Rather, it reduces the payment to what it would be at the lower rate.

2/1 Buydown pros and cons compared to adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)

As mentioned, the 2/1 buydown is actually just a fixed-rate mortgage where a portion of the payment is prepaid for two years. The rate itself never changes.

An adjustable-rate mortgage, though, comes with an initial teaser rate which can adjust upward after the initial fixed period.

2/1 Buydown pros

  • Predictable payment in years 1-2 and 3-30.
  • Use seller or home builder funds to prepay a portion of the payment
  • Combat rising interest rates

2/1 Buydown cons

  • Guaranteed payment increase after years 1 and 2
  • Substantial upfront costs at closing
  • May not be compatible with some loan types

Adjustable rate pros

  • Get a rate that’s about 0.50-1% below current 30-year fixed rates (check with your lender on the current difference
  • Choose between a 3, 5, or 7-year initial fixed rate period
  • No required upfront costs at closing to buy down the rate/payments.

Adjustable rate cons

  • The rate could rise 1-2% after the fixed period and up to 5-6% during the life of the loan for most ARMs
  • Unpredictable payments after the initial fixed period.

Why would a seller or builder pay for a buydown?

The housing market is shifting.

In 2020 and 2021, home builders and sellers could ask almost anything they wanted when selling a home.

Now that rates are higher, those days are gone. In fact, many markets could already be seeing price reductions and seller concessions.

When a home seller really needs to sell a home, they offer incentives like seller-paid closing costs. For example, the seller could offer 2% of the home’s price towards closing costs.

On a $350,000 home, that’s $7,000 and enough to pay for the 2/1 buydown in the example above.

As you’re shopping for a home, find one that has been sitting on the market. See if you can get the seller to pay for your buydown.

2/1 Buydown requirements

The 2/1 Buydown program won’t work in every situation.

Check with your lender if you need an FHA, VA, or USDA loan, or a specialty conventional loan like HomeReady. Often, the lender won’t allow the 2/1 Buydown to combine with one of these programs.

Additionally, the cost of a 2/1 buydown will count toward the interested party contribution (IPC) limit, if paid by a builder, seller, agent, or lender. A conventional loan with less than 10% down has a maximum IPC of 3% of the home’s price, or $9,000 on a $300,000 home. 

Funds needed for a 2/1 Buydown could eat up most of this limit.

Some lenders will only allow a buydown on a one- or two-unit home: no triplexes or four-plexes. 

But no matter what your scenario, check with your lender. If your lender can’t complete your transaction, call around, because another lender might.

Best candidates for a buydown

You might consider a 2/1 Buydown if:

  • Your income could increase within two years
  • You or a spouse will return to work within two years
  • You want to reduce costs of the first years of homeownership to pay for repairs and other upfront costs
  • You want a low initial payment but don’t want an adjustable-rate mortgage
Get your 2/1 Buydown rate quote.

Payment used to qualify / debt-to-income (DTI) ratios.

You’ll still need to qualify for the full payment. The lender can’t qualify you using the reduced payment for year one or two, since those are temporary.

For example, your debt-to-income ratio is 50% using the full payment, which is a little too high for most loan programs. You can’t use the reduced first-year payment to lower your DTI.

FAQ

What is a 2/1 Buydown?

A 2/1 Buydown is when a home seller, builder, or buyer contributes money toward the buyer’s first two years of payments such that the effective rate is 2% lower the first year, 1% lower the second year, and carries the standard rate in years 3-30.

How much does a 2/1 Buydown cost?

The cost will vary based on loan amount and interest rate. On a $300,000 loan with a 7% rate, the 2/1 buydown would cost $6,996, or 2.33% of the loan amount. There is no set percentage, though, since a buydown prepays a portion of the payment for two years. It does not use discount points to buy down the actual rate.

What is a 3-2-1 Buydown?

A 3-2-1 Buydown reduces the payment the same as if the rate were reduced 3% the first year, 2% the second year, 1% the third year. The standard payment would apply in years 4-30.

What is a 1-0 Buydown?

A 1-0 Buydown buys down the effective rate by 1% the first year. The loan returns to its standard rate in years 2-30.

Get started on your 2/1 Buydown

A buydown can help the right kind of buyer afford homeownership in the critical first few years.

The 2/1 Buydown could be a great tool as you adjust to making a home payment, plus cover expenses like repairs and upgrades.

Check your 2/1 Buydown homebuying options.

Our advise is based on experience in the mortgage industry and we are dedicated to helping you achieve your goal of owning a home. We may receive compensation from partner banks when you view mortgage rates listed on our website.

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