Mortgages are a fairly large debt that looms over many homeowners’ heads, and not all of us are comfortable with the idea of being in debt for twenty or thirty years. For many people overpaying on a monthly mortgage payment is possible, even if your total income amount hasn’t changed recently. You don’t have to be making a ton of extra money and you may not have to cut back at all in order to start paying a little more on your mortgage payment each month.
Overpaying on your monthly mortgage payment may be a good option for you as overpaying reduces the amount you have left to pay on the mortgage in addition to shortening the term of the loan. For people who can afford to give even $100 extra dollars a month, you’d be surprised at how easily you are able to knock off thousands of dollars from your mortgage payment!
Overpaying on your mortgage can also help curb the amount of interest that you would be paying, as interest compromises a huge part of the money you end up spending on your mortgage in the long run. Overpaying on your mortgage also increases the equity of your home, which will assist you if you ever need to sell your home.
There are many good times to start paying a little extra on your mortgage. If you are able to save some money each month, put some in savings and some towards your mortgage payment. Generally speaking savings accounts accrue less interest and so putting your money towards your mortgage will actually allow you to save more over time.
If your mortgage lender allows you to overpay then you should look into doing so. Some lenders are hesitant to let clients overpay. If you or your mortgage lender are at all unsure about if you will be able to sustain overpayments, consider setting up an appointment with a financial counselor to assess your finances.
You can also begin paying a bit more on your mortgage if your other debts are under control. If your credit card and student loans are already competing with your average monthly mortgage payment, hold off on paying extra. It’s better to be able to pay the minimum than to end up in an even stickier financial situation.
Make sure that if you overpay you are doing so for the overall balance of your mortgage and not just the interest payments. Check with your mortgage lender to determine when they calculate your interest rate, as the overpayments you make will affect this number. Finally, if you have a flexible mortgage you can overpay and if you happen to need that money in the future, it can be lent back to you.
Mortgages can be a stressful long term debt, but in the end they are necessary and can be dealt with quickly and easily with a few financial changes. Never be afraid to contact a financial advisor and your mortgage lender to see if overpaying on your mortgage is right for you!
