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If I lock in a rate and then the rate drops. How can I get the new rate?

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October 21 - Troy
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Profile picture for Wells Fargo Spokane
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You only need to break the first lock and re-lock at the lower rate.  The cost depends on the lender and how long you are locking for.  Wells Fargo locks you for 60 days at no charge but do charge for a new lock or extension.  You may want to check with your lender to see how much it will cost.  

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October 21

Once you lock you are locked in. if rates drop dramatically you may get the lender to drop the rate.  Usually you need to relock at a differnet lender and start the process all  over again. If  the rate  your quoted is a good rate go ahead and lock, rates really cant drop much further.  More risk that rates will go up.  
 

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November 12
Profile picture for Erez Cohen
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To be frank, you cannot get a new rate unless the interest rates drop drastically and they will renegotiate with you- That is highly unlikely as rates are very low.  The only way to get a lower rate is to leave the lender you are with who put in time with you and then go elsewhere- Not an ethical thing to do as I am sure you shopped and feel you received the best deal from the beginning.   You may want to pay a bit extra to get a lower rate after you locked as that would be an acceptable thing to do.

I always explain rate changes to clients in this way-
Assume you pass a gas station and fill up your car at $2.00 per gallon.  You pass by the next day and gas is at $2.02 per gallon.  Will the station ask you for the difference back, of course not?  The same holds true if you fill up at $2.00 per gallon and gas is now $1.98 per gallon.  Can you ask for the difference back?

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November 12
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Since May 2009

They're not dropping.

There may be  a day or two that will be lower than the day you lock in; but the lows are going to slowly get higher; kind of like standing waiste deep in the ocean then 30 minutes later realizing you're now 200 feet further down the beach than you thought; very gradual movement.

The $1.25Trillion MBS purchase ends in March. Rates haven't been this low since the 1600s so why gamble on another 1/8% that likely won't happen?


The ones who offer the "free" floatdown understand the economics; they're offering something they know they'll not have to honor.

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October 21
Profile picture for Gregorio Denny
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How about everyone stop perpetuating this myth that things are free. How about we start educating the consumer to the cold hard facts that a lock is a lock and something to be honored. It is 2 sided commitment. If you are not ready to lock, don't lock, but if you do so and expect a free float, you need to be able to eat the extra cost if you LO decides that rates went up and they want a bigger paycheck. It works both ways, and if your not ready to have rates raised on you after a lock, don't expect them to be lowered. Stop this nonsense about float downs, they never happen so stop pretending they do.
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October 21
Profile picture for California Mortgage
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Absolutely correct, must be a large enough improvement to get that float down. 
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October 21
Profile picture for mbartels
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Greg Darlin is right on the money. Unless there is a big swing you'll be hard-pressed to get a free float down.
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October 21
Profile picture for Greg Darlin
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Since September 2009

Why do most lenders dance around this question?  Float downs, in this market and this time, are not free with 99% of the investors.
If the lender is beng paid, via ysp, 1 point at a rate of 4.875 for a 30 year fixed rate.  Rates drop to 4.750 and the ysp is .750.  Most investors will take anywhere from .50 to .625 from the new rate's ysp to "float down" the rate.  On a small loan, around 250k, that means the lenders new ysp is only around $312.00.  So, there would be no free float down.  The borrower would have to contribute to the cost.
If the new ysp on 4.750 is 1.375, then the float down will be free to the borrower.
With the margins inside the rates today, I seriously doubt a free float down can occur unless someon caught the market on a great day..
And, for any broker or lender to suggest to simply break the lock and relock elsewhere is suggesting financial suicide because that is a good way to terminate the contract with a investor.
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October 21
Profile picture for California Mortgage
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Before you lock you may also want to ask your lender if they have a "float down" policy and ask what needs to occur to in order to achieve that rate reduction.  It will vary from lender to lender but some lenders offer rate reductions for free if there is enough improvement in the market. 

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October 21
 

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Question If I lock in a rate and then the rate drops. How can I get the new rate?
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