One of the most common practical uses of a full term interest rate buydown (commonly referred to as "paying points") is to lower a borrower's Debt to Income ratios so that they may more easily qualify for a loan which would otherwise be a "tight fit". By reducing the interest rate, you are reducing the payment, therefore less income is required for you to obtain the loan.

When considering buying down your interest rate talk with your mortgage professional to see if buying the interest rate down will be worth it to you and in your best interest. Since the average American homeowner sells or refinances on average every 4 years or so, sometimes it does not make a lot of sense to spend the extra money to buy down the interest rate.

When you are buying down your interest rate, it is listed as a "discount" fee on your Good Faith Estimate. This discount fee is fully tax deductible and you should seek professional tax advice on how you can take advantage of this tax write-off when you refinance your loan.

Different lenders have different buydown schedules. For instance, some lenders will charge you 1 point (1%) to buy down the rate 1/2%. Others may charge 1 point to buy down the rate by only 1/4%. Check with your loan officer for advice on these options.