These penalties often kick in when you pay a significant amount (usually more than 20% of your loan balance) at once. Some lenders charge a prepayment penalty if you pay part or all of your mortgage early. Making an extra payment toward principal directly reduces how much you owe on the loan, helping you pay off the initial balance faster. » JUMP: How to decide which option is best for youĪ principal-only payment is applied to the amount you initially borrowed (the “ principal”) - not to the interest. You want a new mortgage with more favorable terms.Refinancing could be a better option than making extra payments if: If you buy a $300,000 house with a 30-year mortgage and a 5.7% interest rate, you could save $84,223 in interest by paying an extra $200 every month - and pay off your mortgage 6.67 years sooner.Ĭontributing $200 to a retirement account that earns 5.7% over the same period of time (23.3 years) would earn you $114,906 - or 26% more than paying your mortgage early. Instead of putting extra money toward your mortgage, it might be wiser to contribute more in your retirement accounts. Generally speaking, the money you save on interest rarely outweighs the money you can earn through investments. You’ll need cash for your down payment, closing costs, and moving fees. Home purchases require a lot of liquid cash (i.e., money that’s not tied up in your home equity). Focus on paying off high-interest debts first before you make extra monthly mortgage payments. When you SHOULD NOT make extra mortgage paymentsĬredit cards and personal loans typically have higher interest rates than mortgages. For example, if you’re planning on retiring soon, cutting out your monthly mortgage payment will drastically reduce your retirement expenses, helping you live longer on your savings. Paying your mortgage early frees up your income and allows you to focus on other goals. Only when your finances are rock-solid does it make sense to add an extra mortgage payment. You have an emergency fund, you’re saving for retirement, you and your family are properly insured, you don’t have high-interest debts, and your income is stable. When you SHOULD make extra mortgage payments Is it worth making extra mortgage payments? Your interest rate, on the other hand, doesn’t include additional costs, like loan origination fees or mortgage points. It includes your interest rate, loan fees, and any other annual costs. What’s the difference between interest rates and APR?Īn annual percentage rate (APR) is a much broader measure of what you pay to borrow money. As you pay down your initial loan, your interest charges gradually decrease.įor instance, if you have an interest rate of 5% on a home loan of $300,000, you would pay $15,000 in interest charges for the first year (or $1,250 per month). □ Interest rate: what you pay to borrow money to purchase your home, calculated as a percentage of your loan balance. When you put extra money toward your initial loan balance (the principal), you can pay your loan faster and save on interest. □ Extra payments: what you pay in addition to your regular monthly mortgage payments. For example, if you’ve been paying a 30-year mortgage for 5 years, then you have 25 years left. □ Years remaining: the time that’s left on your mortgage. For example, a 30-year mortgage would have a loan term of 30 years. □ Term of the loan: the amount of time you’ve agreed to pay off your mortgage. When you make extra mortgage payments, you’re reducing this initial loan. □ Initial loan amount: how much you originally borrowed to purchase your home. Save thousands if you decide to sell! 100% free with no obligation. □ Thinking about selling? Use Clever to find a top local agent, get a pro valuation and advice.
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