Annual percentage rate (APR): A standard calculation used by lenders. It is designed to help borrowers compare different loan options. For example, a loan with a lower stated interest rate may be a bad value if its fees are too high. Likewise, a loan with a higher stated rate with very low fees could be an exceptional value. APR calculations incorporate these fees into a single rate. You can then compare loans with different fees, rates or different terms.
Mortgage amount: Original or expected balance for your mortgage.
Term in years: The number of years over which you will repay this loan. The most common mortgage terms are 15 years and 30 years.
Interest rate: Annual interest rate for this mortgage.
Monthly payment: Monthly principal and interest payment, or PI.
Total payments: Total of all monthly payments over the full term of the mortgage. This total payment amount assumes that there are no prepayments of principal.
Total interest: Total of all interest paid over the full term of the mortgage. This total interest amount assumes that there are no prepayments of principal.
Loan origination percent: The percent of your loan charged as a loan origination fee. For example, a 1% fee on a $120,000 loan would cost $1,200.
Points paid: Total number of "points" purchased to reduce your mortgage's interest rate. Each "point" costs 1% of your loan amount.
Other fees to include: Any other fees that should be included in the APR calculation. These fees can vary by lender, but at a minimum usually include prepaid interest.