Does extra payment on my mortgage go to principal or interest? (2024)

FAQs

Does extra payment on my mortgage go to principal or interest? ›

When you make an extra payment or a payment that's larger than the required payment, you can designate that the extra funds be applied to principal. Because interest is calculated against the principal balance, paying down the principal in less time on your mortgage reduces the interest you'll pay.

The key is to specify to your lender that you want your extra payments to be applied to your principal. If you don't make this clear, you may find the extra payment going toward the interest you owe rather than the principal.

When you pay extra on your principal balance, you reduce the amount of your loan and save money on interest. Keep in mind that you may pay for other costs in your monthly payment, such as homeowners' insurance, property taxes, and private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Making extra payments of $500/month could save you $60,798 in interest over the life of the loan. You could own your house 13 years sooner than under your current payment. These calculations are tools for learning more about the mortgage process and are for educational/estimation purposes only.

Because interest is calculated against the principal balance, paying down the principal in less time on your mortgage reduces the interest you'll pay.

When you pay extra on a mortgage, you're paying above and beyond the regular monthly installment. The money you send is meant to apply directly to the loan principal, not the interest. This allows you to pay down your loan sooner and save money on interest.

Amortization extra payment example: Paying an extra $200 a month on a $464,000 fixed-rate loan with a 30-year term at an interest rate of 6.500% and a down payment of 25% could save you $115,843 in interest over the full term of the loan and you could pay off your loan in 301 months vs. 360 months.

Rather than delaying credit until the next month, the optimal day within the month to make an extra payment is the last day on which the lender will credit you for the current month.

How many years can I shave off my mortgage by making extra payments? ›

As a general rule of thumb, making one extra mortgage payment per year at the start of your 30-year mortgage can shorten the term by approximately four to five years. You could potentially pay off the mortgage and own the home outright in 25 to 26 years instead of 30.

The Downside of Mortgage Prepayment

Prepaying your mortgage ties up your funds in your home, potentially leaving you with less liquidity for other financial needs or opportunities.

No matter how much extra you pay each month, that amount can help shorten the life of your loan. Even making one extra mortgage payment each year on a 30-year mortgage could shorten the life of your loan by four to five years.

To O'Leary, debt is the enemy of any financial plan — even the so-called “good debt” of a mortgage. According to him, your best chance for long-term financial success lies in getting out from under your mortgage by age 45.

When you pay an extra $100 on your monthly mortgage payment, that entire amount goes to principal. You'll reduce your total balance much more quickly when you make an extra payment that goes directly to repaying your balance. You could cut around four years off your repayment time with just an extra $100 per month.

Ideally, you want your extra payments to go towards the principal amount. However, many lenders will apply the extra payments to any interest accrued since your last payment and then apply anything left over to the principal amount. Other times, lenders may apply extra funds to next month's payment.

Paying extra toward the principal won't lower your monthly car payment. It may save you money in the long run by shortening the loan.

As overpayments are additional payments, they are a form of principal-only payment, whereas regular monthly payments are made up of both interest and capital repayments.