Overview
When a buyer knows exactly how much cash they want to put down regardless of the home's price, locking the down payment ensures that amount stays constant as they shop. This is especially useful when clients explore properties at different price points. Instead of the down payment adjusting as a percentage of the sales price, it remains fixed at their specified dollar amount, and the loan amount adjusts automatically.
Before You Start
Requirement | Details |
Active scenario | You need an existing scenario with sales price and loan details entered |
Client's fixed amount | Confirm the exact dollar amount your client wants to put down |
Control Center access | You'll use Edit Key Metrics from the Control Center |
Step-by-Step: Lock a Fixed Down Payment
1. Open Edit Key Metrics
Navigate to your active scenario
Click on the Control Center panel
Select Edit Key Metrics to access the full range of scenario controls
2. Enter the Down Payment Amount
Locate the Down Payment field
Enter your client's specific dollar amount (e.g., $100,000)
The loan amount will automatically calculate based on the current sales price
3. Lock the Down Payment
Field | Action |
Down Payment | Click the lock icon next to the amount |
Lock Status | Verify the lock indicator is active |
⚠️ Important: Once locked, the down payment remains fixed even when the sales price changes. The loan amount will adjust to accommodate the difference.
4. Confirm and Exit
Click Finish or close the Edit Key Metrics panel
Return to the expanded scenario view to verify your changes
How Locking Affects Calculations
When the down payment is locked:
If Sales Price... | Then... |
Increases | Loan amount increases, down payment stays fixed |
Decreases | Loan amount decreases, down payment stays fixed |
Example: Client locks $100,000 down payment
Sales price $460,000 → Loan amount $360,000
Sales price $492,000 → Loan amount $392,000
Sales price $510,000 → Loan amount $410,000
The down payment remains $100,000 in all scenarios.
Client Experience
When you share a scenario with a locked down payment:
What Clients See When Adjusting Price
Element | Behavior |
Sales Price Slider | Fully interactive, clients can drag to explore |
Monthly Payment | Updates in real-time as price changes |
Down Payment | Displays $0 change when price moves |
Loan Amount | Adjusts automatically to reflect new price |
💡 Tip: Remind clients that Deal Details is live. There's no enter button or submit key. Changes happen instantly as they explore, making it easy to compare options from anywhere.
Finishing Up / Next Steps
1. Review the locked scenario
Verify the down payment shows the correct fixed amount
Check that the loan amount calculated correctly
2. Share with your client
Send the scenario link
Let them know they can adjust the sales price to explore different homes
Explain that their down payment will stay constant throughout
Quick Reference
Control Center → Edit Key Metrics → Enter Down Payment → Click Lock Icon → Finish
Tips for Success
Use this for cash-certain buyers—ideal when clients have a specific amount saved or a gift fund with a fixed dollar value
Explain the lock to clients—they may wonder why down payment shows $0 change when adjusting price
Combine with other locked metrics—you can lock multiple fields in Edit Key Metrics to create highly customized scenarios
Unlock when needed—if the client's situation changes, return to Edit Key Metrics to unlock and let the down payment float with percentage again
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