Mortgage loans are designed so that anyone can own a home. The common 30 year payoff is intimidating to most people. There are those that have figured out how to pay the mortgage off faster and shed 5,10 and even 15 years off the life of the loan.
Most people do not realize how easy it is to pay a mortgage off faster than the bank states. The first rule should be to have the best possible interest rate. If your credit score is better now than when you obtained the loan refinancing might be in order. The lower the interest rate the easier to pay the loan off quicker and you also save thousands in interest payments.
For those who want to benefit from early payoff but do not want to experience a squeeze on their budgets paying a bi-weekly payment instead of a monthly one will work. A bi-weekly payment plan actually pays two additional payments to the loan each year. This can greatly reduce the life of the loan. Since you have paid nothing more than you are used to the budget remains intact and you feel no ill effects of this method.
The method of coming up with a lump sum each year to place on the loans principle is harder to do for most people. You can find out from your lender what penalties they have for early pay off and make sure if they do penalize that you stay under the limits to avoid them. You can usually pay a lump payment of 15% of the loan at the end of the year after making your regular monthly payments and notice a tremendous difference in the life of the loan.
To be more realistic you can use the method of paying an additional amount each month instead of annually. This method allows you to pay on the principle each month and it is much more affordable for people to do this than the other method. The amount you decide on is up to you and what you can afford. The loans lifetime will shorten the more you pay each month.
If you want to find a way to reduce your mortgage by 10 years, 15 years, or more you will need to combine methods. You could begin paying your mortgage bi-weekly and benefit from those two additional payments each year and in addition pay an additional amount on each payment. By paying an additional amount on bi-weekly payments you not only enjoy two extra payments each year but you also have the benefit as if you paid a lump sum amount as well. The more you pay the quicker the payoff so check with your lender about penalties for early payoff amounts. Stay under the limits and if you are lucky enough to have a lender who does not have limits for overpayments then you can reduce the loan as quickly as you would like. .
Most people do not realize how easy it is to pay a mortgage off faster than the bank states. The first rule should be to have the best possible interest rate. If your credit score is better now than when you obtained the loan refinancing might be in order. The lower the interest rate the easier to pay the loan off quicker and you also save thousands in interest payments.
For those who want to benefit from early payoff but do not want to experience a squeeze on their budgets paying a bi-weekly payment instead of a monthly one will work. A bi-weekly payment plan actually pays two additional payments to the loan each year. This can greatly reduce the life of the loan. Since you have paid nothing more than you are used to the budget remains intact and you feel no ill effects of this method.
The method of coming up with a lump sum each year to place on the loans principle is harder to do for most people. You can find out from your lender what penalties they have for early pay off and make sure if they do penalize that you stay under the limits to avoid them. You can usually pay a lump payment of 15% of the loan at the end of the year after making your regular monthly payments and notice a tremendous difference in the life of the loan.
To be more realistic you can use the method of paying an additional amount each month instead of annually. This method allows you to pay on the principle each month and it is much more affordable for people to do this than the other method. The amount you decide on is up to you and what you can afford. The loans lifetime will shorten the more you pay each month.
If you want to find a way to reduce your mortgage by 10 years, 15 years, or more you will need to combine methods. You could begin paying your mortgage bi-weekly and benefit from those two additional payments each year and in addition pay an additional amount on each payment. By paying an additional amount on bi-weekly payments you not only enjoy two extra payments each year but you also have the benefit as if you paid a lump sum amount as well. The more you pay the quicker the payoff so check with your lender about penalties for early payoff amounts. Stay under the limits and if you are lucky enough to have a lender who does not have limits for overpayments then you can reduce the loan as quickly as you would like. .
About the Author:
Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloans and Bond Origination portal which provides access to FNB Homeloans.
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