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Hi everyone — Dream Home Mortgage here. With many buyers planning ahead for 2026, we’re seeing a common theme: people want clarity before they start house hunting, especially around monthly payments.
One option that keeps coming up is the 2-1 buydown. It’s a mortgage structure that reduces your interest rate temporarily—2% lower in year one and 1% lower in year two—before returning to the standard fixed rate. For many buyers, this creates a smoother transition into homeownership during the early years.
What’s important to know is that a 2-1 buydown doesn’t start with an offer on a home—it starts with prequalifying for a home loan. Prequalification helps buyers understand their numbers early, including budget range, estimated payments, and which programs they may actually qualify for. It’s especially useful for anyone planning 6–12 months ahead.
We recently published a straightforward guide explaining how prequalification works with a 2-1 buydown and what buyers should prepare when planning a 2026 purchase.
If you’re in research mode and want a clear breakdown, you can read it here:
https://dreamhomemortgage.com/how-to-prequalify-for-home-loan-with-2-1-buydown-program/
Hope this helps anyone mapping out their next move.
One option that keeps coming up is the 2-1 buydown. It’s a mortgage structure that reduces your interest rate temporarily—2% lower in year one and 1% lower in year two—before returning to the standard fixed rate. For many buyers, this creates a smoother transition into homeownership during the early years.
What’s important to know is that a 2-1 buydown doesn’t start with an offer on a home—it starts with prequalifying for a home loan. Prequalification helps buyers understand their numbers early, including budget range, estimated payments, and which programs they may actually qualify for. It’s especially useful for anyone planning 6–12 months ahead.
We recently published a straightforward guide explaining how prequalification works with a 2-1 buydown and what buyers should prepare when planning a 2026 purchase.
If you’re in research mode and want a clear breakdown, you can read it here:
https://dreamhomemortgage.com/how-to-prequalify-for-home-loan-with-2-1-buydown-program/
Hope this helps anyone mapping out their next move.
