Over the past five years, about one in four US mortgage borrowers have chosen to make extra principal payments on their loans—a clear sign that many are looking for ways to pay off their homes sooner. Drawing from my experience guiding clients through the mortgage process, I know the decision to pay extra isn’t one-size-fits-all. If your mortgage rate is over 6% (as it is for roughly one in five borrowers), adding to your principal can be a smart financial move, especially compared to the high interest rates you might see on credit cards or personal loans. But for those with rates below 4%, the benefit may not be as significant.
There are a few ways to approach faster payoff: making regular monthly extra payments, choosing a lump-sum recast to lower monthly costs, or refinancing into a shorter loan term. In today’s market, with 30-year fixed rates hovering near 7%, refinancing often isn’t the most attractive option—so a simple monthly extra payment could be the way to go for many homeowners. My priority is to help you weigh these choices so you can make confident, informed decisions about your mortgage.
Leave a Reply