How to Use the Early Payoff Calculator
Who doesn't want to reduce the amount of debt owed in this tough economy? One way to reduce overall debt is to pay off your mortgage early.
The Early Payoff Mortgage Calculator can help you figure out how much you need to add to your monthly payments to shorten your loan term and when you can anticipate paying off your loan.
Accelerate Your Mortgage?
Many financial experts caution against paying off a mortgage early--money once given to a lender isn't easily gotten back if you need it--but for some homeowners, reducing this type of debt could give them breathing space in their budget when they are older.
Here's how it works: You input your original mortgage balance, the original term and interest rate. Then figure out how many month's of payments you've already made. Finally, decide how soon you'd like to have your mortgage paid off. For example, a couple in their 40's may decide that they'd like to pay off the 30-year loan they took out last year in 20 years. They input the particulars of their current loan, put in a new term of 20 years, and the Early Payoff Calculator determines how much extra they need to pay each month to make that happen.
Refinance Your Mortgage?
But adding extra to your payment each month isn't the only way to accelerate a mortgage. Refinancing to a shorter term might be a better way if you can get a lower mortgage rate. Interest rates are near historical lows. Paying your mortgage early by refinancing to a 15 year loan reduces your interest expense because 15-year rates are lower than 30-year rates, and a 15-year loan also accelerates your loan payoff. Using the Refinance Calculator, compare the payment on a new 15-year mortgage to the payment on the Early Payoff Calculator. You might be able to retire the loan even faster or pay less each month by refinancing.
Mortgage calculators are invaluable tools for helping you with your financial planning. And prepaying or refinancing your mortgage now may make your finances a lot more comfortable in the future.