The Real Estate Encyclopedia & Blog

Points (Discount Points)

by | Feb 6, 2026

In real estate finance, points are fees charged in connection with a loan and are calculated as a percentage of the loan amount. One point is equal to one percent of the total loan.

Points are often paid at closing and may be used to increase a lender’s yield or to reduce the interest rate on the loan. Discount points, in particular, allow borrowers to pay additional upfront costs in exchange for lower ongoing interest payments.