Do you have a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate loan that you’d like to pay down faster? You might find that making extra payments on your mortgage can help you repay your loan more quickly, and with less interest than making payments according to loan's original payment terms.
What is mortgage amortization?
Mortgage amortization is the reduction of debt by regular payments of principal and interest over a period of time. For example, if you make a monthly mortgage payment, a portion of that payment covers interest and a portion pays down your principal.
Typically, the majority of each payment at the beginning of the loan term pays for interest and a smaller amount pays down the principal balance. Assuming regular payments, more of each following payment pays down your principal. This reduction of debt over time is amortization.
How can making extra payments help?
When you make an extra payment or a payment that's larger than the required payment, you can designate that the extra funds be applied to principal. Because interest is calculated against the principal balance, paying down the principal in less time on your mortgage reduces the interest you’ll pay. Even small additional principal payments can help.
Here are a few example scenarios with some estimated results for additional payments. Let’s say you have a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for $200,000, with an interest rate of 4%. If you make your regular payments, your monthly mortgage principal and interest payment will be $955 for the life of the loan, for a total of $343,739 (of which $143,739 is interest). If you pay $100 extra each month towards principal, you can cut your loan term by more than 4.5 years and reduce the interest paid by more than $26,500. If you pay $200 extra a month towards principal, you can cut your loan term by more than 8 years and reduce the interest paid by more than $44,000.
Another way to pay down your mortgage in less time is to make half-monthly payments every 2 weeks, instead of 1 full monthly payment. When you split your payments like this, you’re making the equivalent of 1 extra monthly payment a year (26 bi-weekly payments totals 13 monthly payments). This extra payment may be applied directly to your principal balance. Be sure to first check with your lender if this is an option for your loan.
Using the same example as above, if you make a payment of $477.50 every 2 weeks, instead of 1 monthly payment of $955, you could shorten your total loan term by more than 4 years and reduce the interest paid by more than $22,000.
Paying a little extra towards your mortgage can go a long way
Making your normal monthly payments will pay down, or amortize, your loan. However, if it fits within your budget, paying extra toward your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you’ll pay.
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Paying a little extra towards your mortgage can go a long way. Making your normal monthly payments will pay down, or amortize, your loan. However, if it fits within your budget, paying extra toward your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you'll pay.
Does Wells Fargo apply extra payments to principal? ›
When you pay more than the total amount due, on or before the due date, the additional amount will pay down your principal balance and will be applied to your next payment due. You can pay your account up to 3 months in advance. Once the account is paid ahead 3 months, additional funds go toward principal only.
What happens if I pay $500 extra a month on my mortgage? ›
Making extra payments of $500/month could save you $60,798 in interest over the life of the loan. You could own your house 13 years sooner than under your current payment. These calculations are tools for learning more about the mortgage process and are for educational/estimation purposes only.
What happens if I pay 4 extra mortgage payments a year? ›
When you pay extra on a mortgage, you're paying above and beyond the regular monthly installment. The money you send is meant to apply directly to the loan principal, not the interest. This allows you to pay down your loan sooner and save money on interest.
How to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 15 years? ›
Options to pay off your mortgage faster include:
Pay extra each month. Bi-weekly payments instead of monthly payments. Making one additional monthly payment each year. Refinance with a shorter-term mortgage.
How to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 5 to 7 years? ›
There are some easy steps to follow to make your mortgage disappear in five years or so.
- Setting a Target Date. ...
- Making a Higher Down Payment. ...
- Choosing a Shorter Home Loan Term. ...
- Making Larger or More Frequent Payments. ...
- Spending Less on Other Things. ...
- Increasing Income.
Here are some ways you can pay off your mortgage faster:
- Refinance your mortgage. ...
- Make extra mortgage payments. ...
- Make one extra mortgage payment each year. ...
- Round up your mortgage payments. ...
- Try the dollar-a-month plan. ...
- Use unexpected income. ...
- Benefits of paying mortgage off early.
The key is to specify to your lender that you want your extra payments to be applied to your principal. If you don't make this clear, you may find the extra payment going toward the interest you owe rather than the principal.
Is it better to pay extra principal or extra payment? ›
Since your interest is calculated on your remaining loan balance, making additional principal payments every month will significantly reduce your interest payments over the life of the loan. By paying more principal each month, you incrementally lower the principal balance and interest charged on it.
How to pay off a 150k mortgage in 5 years? ›
With these principles in-mind, here's a look at five strategies that can help you pay down your mortgage in just five years:
- Make a substantial down payment. ...
- Boost your monthly payments. ...
- Pay bi-weekly. ...
- Make lump-sum principal payments. ...
- Get help paying the mortgage.
Throwing in an extra $500 or $1,000 every month won't necessarily help you pay off your mortgage more quickly. Unless you specify that the additional money you're paying is meant to be applied to your principal balance, the lender may use it to pay down interest for the next scheduled payment.
When should you not pay extra on a mortgage? ›
You have high-interest debt.
Rather than make extra payments toward your mortgage principal, consider paying down high-interest debt first. This can include credit card, student loan, medical, and car loan debt, just to name a few.
How to pay off a 250k mortgage in 5 years? ›
Let's go over five not-so-secret but super helpful tips for making that happen.
- Make extra house payments. ...
- Make extra room in your budget. ...
- Refinance (or pretend you did). ...
- Downsize. ...
- Put extra income toward your mortgage.
Just making two extra mortgage payments a year can save you tens of thousands of dollars and cut years off your loan. When we discuss making two extra mortgage payments a year, we don't mean that you have to make extra payments exactly twice a year.
What happens if I pay an extra $2000 a month on my mortgage? ›
The additional amount will reduce the principal on your mortgage, as well as the total amount of interest you will pay, and the number of payments.
What happens if I pay an extra $1000 a month on my mortgage principal? ›
When you pay extra on your principal balance, you reduce the amount of your loan and save money on interest. Keep in mind that you may pay for other costs in your monthly payment, such as homeowners' insurance, property taxes, and private mortgage insurance (PMI).
How to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 10 years? ›
Here are some ways you can pay off your mortgage faster:
- Refinance your mortgage. ...
- Make extra mortgage payments. ...
- Make one extra mortgage payment each year. ...
- Round up your mortgage payments. ...
- Try the dollar-a-month plan. ...
- Use unexpected income.
Since your interest is calculated on your remaining loan balance, making additional principal payments every month will significantly reduce your interest payments over the life of the loan. By paying more principal each month, you incrementally lower the principal balance and interest charged on it.
Do you have a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate loan that you’d like to pay down faster? You might find that making extra payments on your mortgage can help you repay your loan more quickly, and with less interest than making payments according to loan's original payment terms.