There are a number of different mortgage options available that can give you a financial edge, such as mortgage rate buy-downs, which is a way to pay upfront for a lower interest rate later. Some lenders offer a 2/1 buy-down, meaning in the initial year of your loan, your interest rate is 2% lower than the current rate, and in the second year, it’s 1% lower. To qualify for this, you’ll need to make an upfront payment to the lender. When you reach the third year of the loan, the rate returns to current levels.