What Is The Effect Of Paying Extra Principal On A Mortgage?
Wondering what is the effect of paying extra principal on a mortgage – if there’s any?
Well, it actually does have a big effect and – if you do have available funds to do it - you should definitely take advantage of that.
By paying more than your set principal, you can shorten the term of your mortgage and, with that, pay less money in the end - since the principal you pay has interest added to it. In the end, by doing that, you can save thousands of dollars in interest. Yes, because when you pay extra to your principal it’s not like you are paying an extra payment. When you pay “extra” you skip the interest that would've been applied to that month payment. Plus, there are other effects like building equity faster – you can get to that sweet second mortgage to invest in other stuff – and improving your credit score – because companies will take note that not only you pay it back, but you pay faster than the average.
This is such an important action that some people nickname it “prepay”.
But there are drawbacks to it too.
Well, you asked what is the effect of paying extra principal on a mortgage – you never specified you wanted the positive effects only…
The one obvious downside of prepaying your mortgage is that you have less money lying around; plus while the benefits of prepaying your mortgage are nice, they are not the quickest of investments. So, sometimes it’s best to invest elsewhere and paying down other high-interest debt. Only you (or a financial adviser) can take a look at all your financial situation to assert the best option for your case.
With all of that considered, we believe paying extra principal on a mortgage is a good idea when done from time to time. A good idea would be to save money so once a year you pay double the amount of a principal. For instance: say your principal is $2,000 per month. Save money so that every July (or whenever is the month you usually have fewer expenses) and try paying $4,000 or more that month. With the passing of years, you will get all the positive benefits of prepaying your mortgage. Good luck!
Real Estate Tips:
As soon as you start paying more than your principal asks, you will be able to do your refinancing. Listen to Cardi B’s advice and make that money move!
Popular Mortgage Questions
Popular Mortgage Glossary Terms
The rate charged the borrower each period for the loan of money, by custom quoted on an annual basis. A mortgage interest rate is a rate on a loan secured by a specific property. ...
A contribution to a borrower's down payment or settlement costs made by a home seller, as an alternative to a price reduction. ...
The definition of credit risk is at the core of lending. Banks lend money to businesses and individuals and expect to recover the principal and win interest. Banks offer a variety of loans, ...
A variety of unsavory lender practices designed to take advantage of unwary borrowers. Predatory lending covers much the same ground as Mortgage Scams and Tricks/Scams by Loan Providers. ...
Same as term Bridge Loan: A short-term loan, usually from a bank, that 'bridges' the period between the closing of a home purchase and the closing of a home sale. To qualify for a bridge ...
The most recently published value of the index used to adjust the interest rate on an indexed ARM. ...
The frequency of rate adjustments on an ARM after the initial rate period is over. The rate adjustment period is sometimes but not always the same as the initial rate period. As an example, ...
If you’re a student in medical school, a resident or a medically qualified doctor, you must know the definition of Physicians Mortgage Loan, also known as Doctor Loans. Why? Because, ...
A mortgage on which the borrower gives up a share in future price appreciation in exchange for a lower interest rate and/or interest deferral. SAM's in the private market had a brief ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.