Accelerate Your Financial Freedom

Depends on your financial situation. If you have high-interest debt paid off, full emergency fund (3-6 months expenses), max 401k employer match, and no better investment opportunities, then extra mortgage payments can be excellent strategy. Consider your age, risk tolerance, and financial goals.

Consistent extra monthly payments are most effective due to compound interest. Even $50-100 extra monthly can save 4-7 years and $20,000-50,000 in interest. Other strategies: bi-weekly payments (26 payments/year), round up payments, use bonuses/refunds for annual lump sum payments.

If current rates are 0.75%+ lower than your rate and you plan to stay >2 years, refinance first. If rates are similar or higher, extra principal payments are better option without closing costs (2-5% of loan). Consider your LTV ratio, credit score, and refinancing costs vs extra payment savings.

Accelerated amortization means making extra principal payments to reduce balance faster. Every extra dollar goes 100% to principal (vs regular payments that are ~80% interest early on), reducing future interest exponentially. Specify 'principal only' on extra payments to ensure correct application.

Don't pay mortgage early if: you have debt >6% interest (credit cards, personal loans), no emergency fund, not maxing 401k employer match (100% immediate return), can invest with returns >your mortgage rate, need liquidity, or have very low rate (<3-4%). Always prioritize high-interest debt first.

Bi-weekly payment means paying half your monthly payment every 2 weeks. Results in 26 annual payments (equivalent to 13 monthly payments = 1 extra payment yearly). This pays off mortgage ~4-6 years early and saves $30,000-60,000 in interest typically. Many lenders offer this free, avoid services that charge fees.

Extra payments go 100% to principal, increasing your equity immediately. This improves your LTV ratio (loan-to-value), can eliminate PMI faster (saving $100-300/month), increases your net worth, and gives you more options for HELOC or future cash-out refinance. Equity building accelerates exponentially with extra payments.

You cannot deduct extra principal payments. Only mortgage interest is deductible (up to $750,000 debt for married filing jointly, $375,000 single). Extra payments reduce future interest, reducing future deductions. However, interest savings typically outweigh lost tax deduction, especially in higher tax brackets.

Extra payments increase your equity, which you receive fully when selling. If you sold before the break-even point of extra payments, you still recover all principal paid. The difference is you had less liquidity during that time vs investing the money. Consider your selling timeline when deciding extra payment strategy.

ROI of extra mortgage payments equals your interest rate (guaranteed, risk-free). If your rate is 6.5%, your ROI is 6.5% annually. Compare to alternative investments: S&P 500 historical average ~10% but volatile, bonds ~3-5%, high-yield savings ~4-5%. Extra mortgage payments offer guaranteed return with no market risk.