My annual mortgage statement came in the mail last night. I'm glad, I was beginning to wonder where it had gotten off to. That was right about where the glad part ended. There is something rather unfortunate about paying almost $17,000 onto a loan and only seeing the balance improve by about $4,500. It's like having one of those payday loans, only it has a nicer name.
Hey you, yeah you Interest, I've got something to say to you: Bite Me.
I have the sudden urge to empty my wallet into my lump sum payment jar right now. In fact, I'll probably do that as soon as I'm done typing here.
The envelope wasn't entirely filled with suck though. Apparently my mortgage provider is starting a website where I can go to check my balance, review my statements, change my payment frequency or amount, or make lump sum payments. That last one makes me happy, it will make the process much easier come the end of the year.
Home sweet home. One day you'll be all mine.
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Acid Test
I've been wondering what would happen to my mortgage if my interest rate was to jump when I have to refinance with a new interest rate in 4 years. I locked my rate in for 5 years, unfortunately I don't keep if for the life of my mortgage (though that would be awesome!) The mortgage calculations are slightly different in the different countries, so I'd recommend finding a local calculator rather than using this link if you're outside of Canada.
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_005.cfm
I found a calculator claiming to be Canadian that talked about PMI and based it's tax rate on Massachusetts. Do I think it's calculations are accurate? Not likely. If you don't know interest rates from insurance, I'd suggest really wandering around the CMHC website. Do this before you even go into a bank! A mortgage is the largest loan most of us will take out in our lives, make sure you know what the bankers (or even better, mortgage brokers) are talking about before you sign anything! Even better, check out this site:
http://www.yourfirsthomecanada.ca/
Their website is under reconstruction, so it doesn't look that great, but it is chock full of resources for people looking to buy their first (or second, or third) home.
Anyway, back to what I started rambling on about. My mortgage was ~$242,000 when I started a year ago. I pay on an accelerated biweekly schedule, so instead of making 12 months worth of payments I make 13 months worth per year (1/2 month payment every 2 weeks = 26 1/2 month payments = 13 months worth of payments)
Not counting taxes, my mortgage is ~$533 every 2 weeks on the accelerated schedule. This averages out to ~$1154 a month, and the lifetime interest cost of the mortgage is ~ $169,546. On a regular monthly payment schedule I'd pay ~$1065, and the lifetime interest cost of the mortgage would be ~$205,433. It's a small extra payment every month for a decent savings in interest.
But like I mentioned before, my interest rate will (most likely) be increasing when I renew my mortgage in 4 years. How is this going to affect my ability to pay for the house?
At the end of the first 5 years, at the rate I'm going, my balance will be ~$228,000. Not considerably less than what it is now, thanks to the wonder of interest payments (so much better when it's working for me, not against me).
Interest Rate: 5% Monthly Payment: $1217 Interest Cost: $210,053
Interest Rate: 6% Monthly Payment: $1356 Interest Cost: $260,231
Interest Rate: 7% Monthly Payment: $1502 Interest Cost: $312,582
If the interest rate goes up a percentage, my monthly payment would only go up ~$63 from my biweekly accelerated monthly payment, not too bad. If it goes up 2 percentage points, the monthly payment increases ~$202 a month. Huh... If it goes up 3 percentage points, the monthly payment increases ~$348 a month. Ouch.
But what if I pay off the insurance costs? Then I'd only have ~$220,000 left owing on the mortgage. That should help, eh?
That didn't really seem to help much. The monthly payment at 5% is close to what I'm currently paying on the accelerated biweekly rate, but the other two still kinda hurt. Lets say I really focus my efforts and chip away at this sucker after I dig myself out of the other debts. What would I be looking at if I can get it down to ~$200,000?
That's looking a little more reasonable. What this tells me is that once I've finished taking care of the other debts, I need to really focus on chipping my mortgage down. That way once the economy stabilizes, and mortgage rates go up again, I'll be able to continue paying for it comfortably without needing a huge salary hike. I'm glad I looked at this now rather than 3 and a half years from now; time is still on my side.
Home Buying For Dummies, 4th Edition
100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country
The First-Time Homeowner's Handbook: A Complete Guide and Workbook for the First-Time Home Buyer (Book & CD-ROM)
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_005.cfm
I found a calculator claiming to be Canadian that talked about PMI and based it's tax rate on Massachusetts. Do I think it's calculations are accurate? Not likely. If you don't know interest rates from insurance, I'd suggest really wandering around the CMHC website. Do this before you even go into a bank! A mortgage is the largest loan most of us will take out in our lives, make sure you know what the bankers (or even better, mortgage brokers) are talking about before you sign anything! Even better, check out this site:
http://www.yourfirsthomecanada.ca/
Their website is under reconstruction, so it doesn't look that great, but it is chock full of resources for people looking to buy their first (or second, or third) home.
Anyway, back to what I started rambling on about. My mortgage was ~$242,000 when I started a year ago. I pay on an accelerated biweekly schedule, so instead of making 12 months worth of payments I make 13 months worth per year (1/2 month payment every 2 weeks = 26 1/2 month payments = 13 months worth of payments)
Not counting taxes, my mortgage is ~$533 every 2 weeks on the accelerated schedule. This averages out to ~$1154 a month, and the lifetime interest cost of the mortgage is ~ $169,546. On a regular monthly payment schedule I'd pay ~$1065, and the lifetime interest cost of the mortgage would be ~$205,433. It's a small extra payment every month for a decent savings in interest.
But like I mentioned before, my interest rate will (most likely) be increasing when I renew my mortgage in 4 years. How is this going to affect my ability to pay for the house?
At the end of the first 5 years, at the rate I'm going, my balance will be ~$228,000. Not considerably less than what it is now, thanks to the wonder of interest payments (so much better when it's working for me, not against me).
Interest Rate: 5% Monthly Payment: $1217 Interest Cost: $210,053
Interest Rate: 6% Monthly Payment: $1356 Interest Cost: $260,231
Interest Rate: 7% Monthly Payment: $1502 Interest Cost: $312,582
If the interest rate goes up a percentage, my monthly payment would only go up ~$63 from my biweekly accelerated monthly payment, not too bad. If it goes up 2 percentage points, the monthly payment increases ~$202 a month. Huh... If it goes up 3 percentage points, the monthly payment increases ~$348 a month. Ouch.
But what if I pay off the insurance costs? Then I'd only have ~$220,000 left owing on the mortgage. That should help, eh?
Interest Rate: 5% Monthly Payment: $1174 Interest Cost: $202,683
Interest Rate: 6% Monthly Payment: $1309 Interest Cost: $251,100
Interest Rate: 7% Monthly Payment: $1449 Interest Cost: $301,614
That didn't really seem to help much. The monthly payment at 5% is close to what I'm currently paying on the accelerated biweekly rate, but the other two still kinda hurt. Lets say I really focus my efforts and chip away at this sucker after I dig myself out of the other debts. What would I be looking at if I can get it down to ~$200,000?
Interest Rate: 5% Monthly Payment: $1067 Interest Cost: $184,257
Interest Rate: 6% Monthly Payment: $1190 Interest Cost: $228,273
Interest Rate: 7% Monthly Payment: $1317 Interest Cost: $274,194
That's looking a little more reasonable. What this tells me is that once I've finished taking care of the other debts, I need to really focus on chipping my mortgage down. That way once the economy stabilizes, and mortgage rates go up again, I'll be able to continue paying for it comfortably without needing a huge salary hike. I'm glad I looked at this now rather than 3 and a half years from now; time is still on my side.
Home Buying For Dummies, 4th Edition
100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers from Top Brokers from Around the Country
The First-Time Homeowner's Handbook: A Complete Guide and Workbook for the First-Time Home Buyer (Book & CD-ROM)
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