Mortgage Rate Lock

A mortgage rate lock is an agreement between a borrower and a lender that allows the borrower to lock in the interest rate on a mortgage over a specified time period at the prevailing market interest rate.

The lender may charge a lock fee, which the borrower must pay if he or she does not lock the interest rate. Alternatively, the lender may charge a marginally higher interest rate to begin with, just in case the borrower chooses not to lock the interest rate.

When a borrower locks in a rate, it should be binding for both the borrower and the lender. The interest rate is locked for the period from the offer of the loan to its closing. The rate will stay consistent, regardless of market changes, as long as there are no changes to the application for the loan during the closing period. If there is new or corrected information on the borrower’s income or credit score, or if the loan amount changes, these could affect the interest rate regardless. Furthermore, if the borrower changes the type of mortgage they are seeking or if the appraisal of the home is lower or higher than anticipated, the interest rate may change.

A downside, for the borrower, is a mortgage rate lock would prevent them from taking advantage of lower rates that may occur during the lock period. Conversely the lender cannot take advantage of rises in interest rates.

Some borrowers walk away from the agreement if interest rates fall, and unscrupulous lenders have been known to let lock periods expire if interest rates rise under the guise that the borrower could not process the necessary paperwork in time.

A lock deposit requirement indicates that both the borrower and the lender intend to keep the agreement. A rate lock may be issued in conjunction with a loan estimate.

A mortgage rate lock period could be an interval of 10, 30, 45, or 60 days. The longer the period is could mean a higher interest rate is agreed upon. Essentially the rate lock would be lower on shorter intervals till the close because there is less risk of fluctuation in the market. If the lock period expires and the mortgage has not closed, it may be possible to request an extension to the rate lock. If an extension is not granted, then they mortgage will be subject to the going market rates.