Posted on: 08th Aug, 2007 03:25 am
i've purchased a property in hawaii in 2006 for $300,000. i had taken a 10 year interest only mortgage with a 5.55% rate and 15 year equity loan with an interest rate of 8.5%. i had cleared by credit card debts and was thinking of making extra principal payments on one of the two loans. but which one should i pay off first – the first or the second mortgage?
Welcome Mark,
It's better to pay off high interest debts first, so you can go for the second loan first.
It's better to pay off high interest debts first, so you can go for the second loan first.
As the second mortgage has a higher rate, it would be much better to pay off that one first. But let me know how many years left on both the mortgages?
Miller
Miller
It's a 10 year interest-only loan and 15 year equity loan.
"I've purchased a property in hawaii in 2006 for $300,000. I had taken a 10 year interest only mortgage with a 5.55% rate and 15 year equity loan with an interest rate of 8.5%. I had cleared by credit card debts and was thinking of making extra principal payments on one of the two loans. But which one should I pay off first – the first or the second mortgage?"
I also would say that you put in extra amounts on the second loan as it has a higher interest rate. It is costing you more than the first loan.
I also would say that you put in extra amounts on the second loan as it has a higher interest rate. It is costing you more than the first loan.
Definitely get rid of the second first.
Hi Mark,
Is there any prepayment penalty that you'll have to pay for making principal payments? Just check it out. Now, it may happen that even if you make extra payments worth $150 a month and yet you need not pay for the penalty. It depends on what is mentioned in the loan contract.
If there's no penalty involved, well, you can go for the high interest debt. The only benefit of prepaying the low interest loan is that, you can save the interest expense on a 30 year amortized loan compared to that of the 15 year equity loan. But this is helpful only if you stay in the house till 15 years are over. That is not an ideal situation though. So, I shall suggest that you pay off the high interest loan first.
Good luck :)
Is there any prepayment penalty that you'll have to pay for making principal payments? Just check it out. Now, it may happen that even if you make extra payments worth $150 a month and yet you need not pay for the penalty. It depends on what is mentioned in the loan contract.
If there's no penalty involved, well, you can go for the high interest debt. The only benefit of prepaying the low interest loan is that, you can save the interest expense on a 30 year amortized loan compared to that of the 15 year equity loan. But this is helpful only if you stay in the house till 15 years are over. That is not an ideal situation though. So, I shall suggest that you pay off the high interest loan first.
Good luck :)