Should You Pre-Pay Your Mortgage

Have you recently considered taking action involving one of the following mortgage issues?

•  An increasing number of homeowners are opting for higher monthly mortgage payments on shorter loans, but with interest rates at record lows and property values still in flux, that may not always be the best decision. In other words, investigate the difference, for you, between a 15-year mortgage vs. a 30-year mortgage, or a 5-year fixed option if you plan to stay no more than 5-years.
• Choosing to pay down a mortgage ahead of schedule by paying extra money at a refinancing or by choosing a shorter-term loan may not be enough to offset what the money could have earned if invested in the markets, according to financial advisers.
•  Paying off a mortgage early, at the expense of other, more liquid savings and investments, could also stifle cash flow, especially in retirement. Once a house is paid off, in order to access its value, the owner would have to sell, get a line of credit, or take out a reverse mortgage to access the equity.
• Financial advisers recommend that home owners only consider pre-paying their mortgages if they already have an emergency fund of at least six months to a year in cash, have other retirement savings, and plan to stay in the house for at least five to 10 years.