Those who take property ownership seriously often look for options to build equity at a faster pace. An aggressive approach is to select a 15-year loan program over a 30-year mortgage.
A 15-year loan works well for home buyers budgeting time and money, those who are possibly looking forward to a debt-free retirement, or those who plan to upgrade to a larger home within 15 years. But this requires a sincere commitment to making substantially larger monthly payments.
Provided the homeowner can afford the financial commitment of a 15-year loan, they will pay significantly less money in interest simply because the life of the loan is spread over a shorter period of time. This will result in a smaller tax deduction over a shorter period of time. However, they need to be aware that unless they are extremely financially secure, even a minor setback can have a tragic impact on their ability to make mortgage payments on time and in full. The bottom line is that it's probably not a good idea to put all available cash into a mortgage payment and lose any hope of a financial cushion in the event of emergency.
A less vulnerable approach is to consider making principal prepayments on a 30-year loan, or to invest the extra dollars into another type of asset accumulation account. Here the compelling question is, is it better to take the risk of a non-guaranteed investment, or bank on the guaranteed savings on mortgage interest?
Making prepayments on a 30-year loan is often deemed to be the safer route, and the borrower can make the extra payment when they want to, rather than through obligation. If the homeowner has made less than a 20% down payment, principal prepayment offers them the ability to have their loan reviewed by the lender for the purpose of removing any private mortgage insurance payment (PMI) earlier than expected. First, the borrower needs to discuss prepayment procedures with their lender, and take into consideration whether there is any prepayment penalty associated with their financing before initiating prepayments. They should also note that principal prepayment reduces mortgage interest, which is tax deductible. Depending on what their tax bracket is, this may or may not be beneficial to them.
If the extra money is invested in some other vehicle, the earnings will be reduced by taxes (unless the money goes into a tax-exempt fund). The borrower should compare the mortgage rate to the rate of return on another type of investment, and decide if it makes more sense on an after-tax basis to invest the extra money somewhere else and have the ability to liquidate those assets if necessary.
Bi-weekly mortgage plans are another option for building equity at a faster rate, but consumers should be wary of companies that ask for a setup fee and monthly charges. The most important thing to note is that each client has different goals. These are just a few options for building equity.
The Mortgage Place, Inc. is a registered mortgage broker with the New York Department of Financial Services. Loans are arranged through third party providers. NMLS# is 872824.
© 2014 Vantage Production, LLC. All rights reserved.
646 Plank Road, Suite 102 Clifton Park, NY 12065
518.982.0480 | Office
518.982.0483 | Fax
NMLS# 872824
Servicing Florida: Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Clearwater, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Panama, Panama Beach, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, St Petersburg, St. Augustine, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Vero Beach
239.227.8505 | Florida Office
Joanne was amazing through our forever long process (or so it seemed). As first time home buyers, we had a really bad experience with another lender and Joanne blew us out of the water. She explained the step by step process and never hesitated to explain things further if we did not understand. She answered all our questions in a timely manner. Joanne was there even on weekends and late nights. My fiancé and I cannot thank Joanne enough for all she did for us! We definitely will recommend her to our friends! We also want to thank our laywer (who recommend Joanne to us!). They are a dynamic duo!!! If you think you want to work with Joanne do not hesitate, you will not be disappointed!
-G, Albany
Joanne and Krista were incredibly responsive, patient and professional! Joanne guided me throughout the entire home purchase process and responded to all my questions promptly. Joanne did an excellent job getting me the lowest rate and patiently explaining to me the process in details. I thought applying for a home loan would be stressful, however, thanks to Joanne and her team, it was incredibly smooth. I highly recommend The Mortgage Place to everyone!
-R, Halfmoon
Joanne and her team were so fantastic during our first time home buying process. They were so helpful in providing feedback to our questions and made the whole experience of obtaining our first home loan seamless. With out a doubt we will always recommend to others and look to work with them again if were are in the market.
-M, Schenectady
Joanne is the best at what she does! She was thorough and extremely patient with all our questions. She work diligently to find us the best rates and responded swiftly to all questions. I would recommend her a thousand times over to anyone and everyone!
-Chris, Schenectady
If you need a loan of any kind this is your place! Joanne has helped many of my friends and family with their finance needs over the years and has exceeded expectations on every level. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable about the market and clients personal needs but Joanne and her team give some of the best service I've seen in the business. I highly recommend Joanne and her team.
-M, Saratoga
Good morning! Having a home with space is wonderful! The kids and I are so happy and feeling much more comfortable and at ease. We spent 2 days straight moving then began unpacking Saturday night. After church yesterday we organized and unpacked some more and last night was cleaning. We were able to begin our Monday morning routine with easy and comfort - I can't begin to express how truly grateful we are. We are feeling blessed and know without a doubt that God's hand was with us from the beginning. Thank you so much for all you did. You were an anchor for me and without your direction through this process I would have been lost.
-Julie, Clifton Park