Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Early?

Many people think you should pay off your mortgage early if you can. If "pay off mortgage" is on your to-do list, don't be rash. Before you write your last check to your mortgage lender, consider some critical factors and understand these details so you can decide whether to pay off your mortgage early.

How to Decide If You Should Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

To decide whether paying off your entire home loan is the most effective financial strategy for you, you'll need to gather some information and make some calculations and comparisons. Here's what you should do to figure out the answer to the question, "Should I pay off my mortgage early?"

1. Check Your Amortization Schedule

Before you make any decisions about your mortgage, check an amortization calculator to find out the true costs of keeping your home loan. The amortization schedule shows how much of each payment goes to interest and how much goes to principal; use it to figure out how much of your remaining payments consist of only interest.

See: Average Mortgage Rates in the U.S.

2. Know the Benefits of Paying Off Mortgage Loans

When you calculate your rate of return for paying off your mortgage, look no further than mortgage interest rates. For example, if your mortgage charges you 4.5 percent, that's the effective rate of return you're paying. By paying off your mortgage, you're effectively locking in a 4.5 percent rate of return on that money.

If you have $10,000 to either pay off your mortgage or invest and you decide to invest and make $450 the next year, you're making a 4.5 percent rate of return. If you use that money to pay off your mortgage, you're also making $450 because you avoid paying $450 in interest that would have accrued if you hadn't paid it off.

Many states offer asset protection for all or a portion of your homestead in the event of bankruptcy. This benefits you because if you pay off your mortgage, you might increase your exempt assets, which could come in handy if your finances take a turn for the worst.

3. Beware of Prepayment Penalties

Some mortgages carry prepayment penalties, which are charges you'll owe if you pay off the mortgage ahead of schedule. Some penalties apply if you pay off a big chunk of the mortgage at one time and others apply if you pay it off entirely within a certain period of time, like three or five years. Your lender can tell you exactly what your prepayment penalty is, which will enable you to make an informed decision regarding whether to cross "paying off mortgage" off your list.

Even if you're responsible for prepayment penalties, however, it might be worth paying them and paying off your mortgage early. For example, if you have 15 years left on your mortgage and your interest rate is high, the prepayment penalty could be cheaper than paying that interest for 15 more years.

Find Out: Are There Penalties for Paying Off a Personal Loan Early?

4. Compare the Cost of Your Debts

Mortgages often offer lower interest rates than other types of loans. If you have other outstanding debt that comes with a higher interest rate, it probably makes sense to pay that off first. For instance, if you owe $10,000 on a credit card on which you're paying 20 percent interest and your mortgage interest rate is 5 percent, you'll save a lot more money by paying off the credit card first.

Although you will likely feel better about your finances if you're mortgage-free, you might be able to increase your bottom line if you do something other than pay it off with your extra cash. For example, if you have a 30-year mortgage locked in at a 3.5 percent interest rate and interest rates increase dramatically to the point that your savings account is paying 4 percent, you're earning more interest on that account than you're paying on your mortgage. With that said, it might make sense to let your extra cash grow at that interest rate.

Learn: The Best Ways to Pay Off Every Kind of Debt

5. Consider Limited-Time Savings Opportunities

Paying off your mortgage ahead of schedule is great, but not if you have to miss out on other savings opportunities. For example, each year the federal government limits the amount of money you can contribute to certain retirement plans, such as IRAs and 401ks.

If you don't contribute the maximum you're entitled to during the year, you can't make up for it by paying extra the following year. If you skip your contributions to your 401k plan for three years in a row so that you can pay off your mortgage, you'll miss out on your opportunity to sock away that cash in a tax-sheltered account.

Next Up: Dave Ramsey's 5 Best Tips for Paying Off Your Mortgage Early