APR represents what, and how does it differ from the note rate?

• A. APR reflects the total annual cost of borrowing, including interest, points, and certain fees; note rate is the stated interest rate.
• B. APR is the same as the note rate.
• C. APR only includes interest.
• D. APR is the interest rate on discount points.

Answer: (A)

APR is the total annual cost of borrowing, expressed as a yearly percentage. It includes the interest rate plus points you pay to obtain a lower rate and certain lender fees and other financing charges rolled into the loan. The note rate, by contrast, is simply the stated interest rate used to compute your monthly payments on the loan principal.

So, the difference is that APR reflects all the costs tied to obtaining and carrying the loan (not just the interest), making it a better tool for comparing different loan offers that have varying fees and points. The note rate drives the monthly payments, but it doesn’t by itself capture the full cost of the loan.