How Amortization Calculations Can Help You Make Sound Financial Decisions

Amortization tables, charts, schedules or spreadsheetsbe large and the interest part will be small. During these
have become very popular for those dealing in themonths, the interest may be $150 on a payment and
mortgage industry today. If you are taking out a newthe principal being paid may be $1,250. Here the rate of
mortgage, an amortization chart can also be veryamortization is fast, but it would take $1,250 to save
helpful. This is because the chart will show you how$150 which means the rate of return would not be so
much interest you are paying and in which monthslarge.
you're paying this interest.Still, it's easy to see by using amortization calculations,
This can be very informative because knowing whatthe rate of return by making an extra principal
different mortgage amortization charts look like, helppayment on a mortgage is very good compared to
you determine which mortgage is the best one for youmost investments. This is because even during the
to take.28th year, a higher than 10% gain would be realized in
What Does Amortization Mean?only one month by paying $1,250 to save $150.
Amortization is the paying of a loan. The way a loan isHow About the Mortgage Interest Rate Deduction
paid down from month to month is how it is amortized.Amortization tables make it look like paying down an
For instance, you owe $10,000 one month and $9,000mortgage at an accelerated rate may be the best
the next, the loan has amortized to the tune of $1,000.investment available. However, once a mortgage is
If $100 interest was paid during this month, thepaid in full, the payer loses his valuable mortgage rate
amortization took place at a cost of $100. So quiteinterest deduction.
simply, a person taking a mortgage wants to get theIf a household paying off a mortgage has an effective
fastest amortization at the lowest cost.income tax rate of 20%, paying $10,000 a year in
Rate of Return vs. Rate of Amortizationinterest, which is a viable amount in the early years of
There are times during the term of a mortgage whena mortgage, some of this interest comes back to them
the amortization rate is slow. In a fixed rate mortgage,as a $2,000 income tax refund.
this time is in the first part of the mortgage. It may beStill, this is a 20% rate of return, where as we have
typical for a mortgage payment to be $1,400 and $200seen before, a 600% rate of return ($200 paid/$1,200
of the payment goes toward the principal and all ofsaved) in one month is realized when the payer
the rest is going toward interest.makes an extra month's mortgage payment.
On this mortgage, if you pay an extra $200 during thisBeing Mortgage Free!
payment. You will save $1,200 in interest charges. So,On top off all of the advantages we've seen realized
because your rate of amortization is slow, you haveby making extra payments to a mortgage every
the opportunity to get a high rate of return by payingmonth, you must also not overlook the joy it will bring
an extra $200 which will save you $1,200. Where else,you when you are mortgage free. Not only will you no
other than making mortgage payments ahead, canlonger have the monthly obligation of a mortgage
you gain the benefit of $1,200 by paying $200.payment, you'll also be the 100% owner of any equity
As the mortgage term winds down, as in the 28thaccrued to your home when the price of real estate
year for instance, the principal part of the payment willrises.