finance calculator
APR / Front-End Loan Cost Calculator
See the true cost of a loan by combining the note rate with points, origination, and other upfront fees into an effective APR.
Results
- Monthly payment (P&I)
- $1,663
- Amount financed
- $243,500
- Upfront costs
- $6,500
- Upfront costs (% of loan)
- 2.60%
- Total finance charges
- $355,272
- Total of payments
- $598,772
- Effective APR
- 7.26%
How to use this calculator
- Enter loan amount, note rate, and term.
- Add points %, origination %, and other upfront fees.
- Review payment, amount financed, upfront % of loan, total finance charges, and effective APR.
Inputs explained
- Points
- Discount points as a % of the loan (e.g., 1 point = 1%).
- Origination
- Origination fee as a % of the loan.
- Other fees
- Other upfront lender/processing/underwriting fees paid at closing.
How it works
Upfront costs = points % + origination % of the loan, plus other fees.
Amount financed = loan amount − upfront costs (assuming you pay fees at closing).
Monthly payment uses the note rate on the full loan amount.
Effective APR is solved by finding the rate that equates the amount financed to the monthly payment stream over the term.
Total finance charges = interest paid over the term + upfront costs.
When to use it
- Comparing lender offers that advertise the same note rate but different fees.
- Seeing how points/origination change the true APR versus no-fee options.
- Estimating total finance charges when deciding between no-points vs points structures.
Tips & cautions
- If you plan to pay fees in cash, this model still removes them from amount financed; if you finance fees, add them to the loan instead.
- Compare the upfront % of loan across offers to spot high-fee quotes.
- Shorter terms reduce the impact of upfront fees on effective APR; longer terms magnify them.
- Assumes fixed-rate, fully amortizing loan with monthly payments.
- Excludes PMI, taxes, insurance, HOA, and prepayment penalties.
- Assumes fees are paid at closing and not financed; financing fees would slightly change APR and finance charges.
Deep dive
Front-end APR calculator that blends points, origination, and fees into a single effective APR so you can compare lender offers.
Shows monthly payment, upfront costs as a percent of the loan, amount financed, total finance charges, and effective APR for transparent loan shopping.
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