The main advantage of a 15-year mortgage is all the money you'll save on interest, since you're paying on it for only half as long as a 30-year mortgage. Another obvious benefit is that you'll own your home in 15 years; you'll be free of mortgage payments after that.
Key Takeaways. Most homebuyers choose a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, but a 15-year mortgage can be a good choice for some. A 30-year mortgage can make your monthly payments more affordable. While monthly payments on a 15-year mortgage are higher, the cost of the loan is less in the long run.
Advantages of a 15-Year Mortgage
15-year mortgages allow borrowers with steady finances to: Minimize total borrowing costs with lower interest rates. Eliminate debt quickly with each monthly payment. Spend less in interest over the life of the loan starting in the first year.
You can refinance a longer-term mortgage into a 15-year loan. Or if you already have a low interest rate, save on the closing costs of a refinance and simply pay on your 30-year mortgage like it's a 15-year mortgage.
The average interest rate for a 15-year loan was 2.86% as of June 22, 2020.
3. Make one extra mortgage payment each year. Making an extra mortgage payment each year could reduce the term of your loan significantly. ... For example, by paying $975 each month on a $900 mortgage payment, you'll have paid the equivalent of an extra payment by the end of the year.
Adding Extra Each Month
Just paying an additional $100 per month towards the principal of the mortgage reduces the number of months of the payments. A 30 year mortgage (360 months) can be reduced to about 24 years (279 months) – this represents a savings of 6 years!
If a 15-year refinance doesn't fit your budget, you can always consider refinancing into a 20 or 30-year loan and making higher payments to eliminate your mortgage faster and reduce the amount of interest you pay. This method provides flexibility that may be a better financial option for some homeowners.
If you make enough extra payments over your loan term, you can easily shave time off your loan — even 15 years if you prepay aggressively. The catch with this strategy is that you'll probably pay a higher interest rate on your current 30-year mortgage compared with a new 15-year loan.
Is it worth refinancing for 1 percent? Refinancing for a 1 percent lower rate is often worth it. One percent is a significant rate drop, and will generate meaningful monthly savings in most cases. For example, dropping your rate 1 percent — from 3.75% to 2.75% — could save you $250 per month on a $250,000 loan.
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