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Rate Cap Strike Cost Calculator

Lower strike rates cost more in premium. This calculator models the strike/premium trade-off on rate caps.

$
%

Estimated premium

$333,750

Premium (bps of notional)

222.5

Annual cost equivalent

$111,250

How the math works

Premium estimate scales by notional × bps. Bps rise as strike approaches spot and as term extends.

Get competing quotes from three counterparties. Rate caps are commodified but pricing varies 15-40% across dealers. Document all quotes in the loan file for lender approval.

How to Use

  1. Enter notional amount.
  2. Enter strike rate options.
  3. Enter term in years.
  4. Enter vol index.
  5. Read premium estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Typical strike?

Lender-required strikes sit 150-300 bps above current SOFR. Borrower-chosen strikes can be tighter but premium rises sharply when strike is near spot. Negotiate both with your lender at term sheet.

Premium drivers?

Strike distance from forward curve (primary), term (secondary), volatility (tertiary). A 1-year cap at 200-bps-over-spot typically runs 25-60 bps of notional; 5-year versions run 200-400 bps.

Funding?

Capitalize into loan, pay cash, or finance with separate premium loan. Capitalization is cleanest; cash preserves debt capacity. Separate premium loan rarely pencils unless bridging short-term.

How does this interact with the rest of the capital stack?

Each tier of the stack affects the next. Senior debt constrains LTC and DSCR. Mezz and pref consume equity spread. Interest rate hedges protect DSCR but cost premium. Always model the full stack holistically — optimizing one tier alone often degrades another. Institutional underwriters run three or four scenarios across the stack before committing capital.

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