South Carolina new-home financing
Builder incentive or another lender: which offer fits the whole purchase?
A rate, closing-cost credit and upgrade allowance answer different questions. Put the written offers side by side before deciding what the incentive is worth to you.
Start with a like-for-like comparison.
Use the same home, price, down payment and expected closing date when you ask for the figures.
| Compare | Ask each lender or builder |
|---|---|
| Price and incentive | What is the home price, and which credits or upgrades depend on using a particular lender? |
| Rate and points | What rate, points and lock period are shown in writing? Is any advertised payment reduction temporary? |
| Cash to close | How do lender fees, credits, prepaids and escrow deposits affect the cash needed? |
| Full monthly payment | What taxes, insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance are included? What payment follows any temporary reduction? |
| Timing | What deadlines, completion assumptions or extension costs could change the comparison? |
Once you have a specific home in mind, the CFPB recommends requesting and comparing Loan Estimates from multiple lenders. Read the CFPB comparison guide.
You do not need to upload an estimate here. Start with the community, closing timeline and the part of the offer you want explained.
Make the two offers easier to compare
Start with the price, cash to close and full payment from each written offer. Leave an unknown blank; enter 0 only when confirmed. Add the rate, fees, credits and deadlines when you have them.
Before reading the differences, confirm:
Cash to close
Full monthly payment
After temporary reduction
These are differences between the figures you enter, not a determination of the better offer. Check taxes, insurance, HOA, mortgage insurance and temporary-payment terms against each written estimate.
Entries are not added to the inquiry form or sent by this worksheet. Use comparison figures, not names, account numbers or private loan documents. Your browser may restore typed entries.
Ask Matt about the offer terms — start with the community, timeline and the term you want explained. Share documents only through a secure channel Matt provides.
The comparison starts with what is actually offered.
Bring the written incentive terms and the figures for the same property. Matt can help work through the payment, cash to close and questions to clarify with the builder or lender. No offer is guaranteed to be better, and this form is not an approval or credit application.
Keep loan paperwork out of this public form. Matt can explain the next secure step if documents are needed.
Ask my offer-comparison questionStill deciding whether to build or buy a finished home?
Use the before-you-sign construction checklist for a custom build. For a builder inventory home, start with the actual purchase offer and financing figures.
Educational information only. Not a loan approval, rate quote, or commitment to lend. Final approval depends on borrower, property, program, pricing, and underwriting review.