The purpose of this blog is to emphasize the necessity of leading a loan-free life. There are moments in life when availing home loan becomes unavoidable. But, is it good to repay the home loan early? In this article, we will read why prepayment of loans cannot be ignored. For quick answers, read the FAQs.
The size of a home loan is usually large. After payment of the EMIs each month, little scope remains for savings. Hence, one must pay off the home loan early. It enables one to ensure more savings each month. The extra money, enhanced savings, can then be allotted to building wealth over time.
From what I’ve learned about personal finance over the past years, financially intelligent people work their way toward attaining financial independence. One of the first steps towards it is becoming debt free. How to become that? By paying off loans through prepayments.
Benefits of Being Loan Free (Quantified)
Some experts on the subject think that paying off a home loan can be avoided. They try to mathematically prove that using the money elsewhere is more beneficial, hence prepayment of a loan becomes avoidable. As the benefit of loan-free life cannot be easily quantified, their calculations might give the impression that loan prepayment is unimportant. But for me, this interpretation has its fallacies.
Regular prepayments will make one loan-free quicker than scheduled. It is a huge milestone. People who preach the ultimate goal of financial independence will appreciate better the importance of this milestone.
Allow me to try and attempt the quantification of the benefits of living a debt-free life.
The cost of debt is not only interest rates that we pay against the loan, there are other adjustments and compromises that we make. I’ve quantified them by loading them with an equivalent interest rate.
Six Quantified Benefits
Interest Rate Savings (8.25%)
- #1. No Interest Payment (8.0%): I’ve assumed an average interest rate of 8% per annum on a home loan in India. A debt-free person will straight away save at least this cost. Please note that a home loan is the cheapest debt. The average interest rate substantially increases if the loan portfolio also consists of other loans. For example, the average interest rates on car and personal loans hover around 11% per annum.
- #2. Lower Cost of Debt (0.25%): Loan-free people will have a better credit score. Moreover, as their credit utilization is also lower, banks will happily offer loans to them at a comparatively lower rate of interest. Here, I’m assuming that the person is taking a loan under emergency and will pay it off quickly.
Income growth & Capital Appreciation (3.5%)
- #3. Extra Savings Income (0.5%): Loan-free people have no EMIs to pay. It means their net cash inflows are substantially higher. If they have more money in their kitty, they are likely to save more. They will maintain a comparatively higher balance in their savings and FD accounts. Hence, they will earn a higher cumulative interest income. I’m assuming an incremental interest income growth of 0.5% per annum.
- #4. Faster Income Increments (1.5%): A dependable and reliable employee, who is also debt-free, works more efficiently for the company. They can work with more focus on the deliverables of their job. Such people are also more fearless. If not treated as per expectations, they can switch jobs finding better alternatives. Hence, these people can expect faster income increments than others. I’m assuming a differential increment of at least 1.5% per annum.
- #5. Higher Return on Investments (1.5%): Investments made in the backdrop of a loan-free personal balance sheet will be more equity-heavy. As the net cash in-flows of debt-free people are higher, they are less likely to sell their holdings. Equity held for a long time generates higher returns. I’m assuming that these people will at least earn an extra differential return of 1.5% per annum on their investments.
In terms of interest rate savings, income growth, and return on investment, a loan-free person saves and makes 11.75% per annum extra.
What does this number tell us? If a loan comes at an 8% interest, its effective cost on our life is more than that. As per our estimates, the actual cost of debt is about 1.47 times the cost of the interest rate at which the loan is taken, 11.75% (=1.47 x 8%).
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Deeper Understanding Of Loan
An important question that we are asking in this blog post is, is it good to repay the home loan early? Loans with large EMIs are troublesome. It digs a big hole in one’s wallet each month. The majority of the income gets consumed in paying the EMIs. The bearer of such a loan will dearly like to pay off the loan.
There are two aspects of a loan, good and bad. It makes us buy things that otherwise are beyond our affordability limits. But its downside is that it triggers our bad habit of overspending.
If we’ll see the bigger picture, loans are not good for our financial health. It may make us feel good temporarily, but in a long term, it cost us dearly.
Let’s know more about a few non-typical aspects of loans. Being aware of these characteristics will help one take up loan prepayments with a clearer perspective.
The Cost of the Loan is Higher
We have already seen how the cost of a loan is higher by 1.47 times the interest rate. At a higher loan interest rate, the cost can become even higher than the return from equity. So a bearer of these loans can consider paying them off before using the money elsewhere.
Savings Due to Prepayment is Immediate
Suppose a person has a one-year-old home loan of Rs.50 lakhs, for 20 years at 8% interest. If the person prepays the loan by Rs.10,000, it will immediately save him Rs.35,400 on interest. Assuming that the same money is used to buy an index fund yielding 12% per annum returns. It will take another eleven (11) years for Rs.10,000 to become Rs.35,000. Use this prepayment calculator to estimate savings.
Tax Saving Vs EMI Saving
Suppose a person’s net taxable income, after deductions, is Rs.16 lakhs. The total income tax liability of the person will be approximately Rs.2,92,500. If the person avails of a home loan, he can claim a tax deduction of Rs.2 lakhs under section 24. After claiming the deduction, the income tax liability will reduce by Rs 60,000 (down from Rs.2,92,500 to Rs.2,32,500). We can say that the person will pay Rs.5,000 less tax per month after claiming a tax deduction. Use this income tax calculator
If the person pays off the home loan, he will surely lose on these Rs.5,000 tax savings. But compare it with the EMIs that will go away after the loan becomes zero. An Rs.50 Lakh loan at 8% interest for 20 years will bear an EMI of Rs.41,800 per month. When the loan becomes zero, no EMI will be paid. Compared to this saving, an Rs.5,000 tax compromise looks fair, right?
In this example, the net cash outflow is reduced by Rs.36,800 (=41,800 – 5000) after the loan is paid off. Let’s look at the enhanced saving (Rs.36,800) instead of the loss (Rs.5,000).
Prepayment Limitation
Banks silently try to discourage borrowers from making prepayments. They either impose a penalty or keep a minimum limit on the prepayment amount. These days, RBI does not allow banks to charge a penalty on home loans taken on floating interest rates.
Suppose a person took an Rs.50 lakhs home loan at 8% interest for 20 years. The EMI of this loan will be approximately Rs.41,800 per month. The banks can impose a limit such that prepayments can be made only in multiples of the EMI. It means, on our example loan, the minimum prepayment can be Rs.41,800 or multiples of it. If someone wants to make a prepayment of Rs.40,000, he will not be allowed to do it. He must increase his prepayment amount by Rs.1,800.
Emergency Fund Vs Loan Prepayment
One must not overlook the need to maintain a minimum emergency fund balance. It is critical to repay the home loan early, but more important is the family’s financial security. If one’s emergency fund already has 6 months’ worth of expenses, extra savings can be used to pay the loan. If not, building the emergency fund should take priority.
Pay off Costlier Debt First
If one’s loan portfolio consists of multiple loan accounts, the priority of home loan prepayment will change. A home loan is cheaper debt than a personal loan, auto loan, credit card debt, etc. Paying off these loans before the home loan will be a wiser decision.
Retirement-linked savings Vs Loan Prepayment
In a rush to repay the home loan early, one shall not compromise retirement planning. Retirement-linked savings will come in priority number two after emergency savings. Retirement savings also offer income tax deductions, hence cannot be ignored.
Act As Per Your Type
If you are a defensive investor then repay the home loan early. It will give you more satisfaction. For risk-averse people, safety is more comforting than chasing higher returns. Defensive investors prefer investing in debt funds, bonds, fixed deposits, etc. These debt-linked investments are all taxable. Post-tax returns of debt-linked plans are below 6%-7% per annum. Compare this with a home loan interest rate of ~8%. Also, remember that the actual cost of a loan is much higher (1.45 times).
Conclusion
If you are in doubt about whether to repay the home loan early or not, do not get swayed. Think logically and you will know that being debt free is the right way of leading an independent life. Ideally one shall not fall into the loan trap in the first place, but at times it becomes unavoidable. How to correct it? By paying off the loan as early as possible. Do not just think about monetary gains, the advantage of leading a life without worrying about EMI payments is beyond the scope of mathematics. If you are not convinced, please check how the total cost of a home loan is quantified. A home loan can actually cost us 1.45 times its annual interest rate.
FAQ
What happens if I pay extra on my home loan?
There are two ways to pay extra on home loans. First, one can increase the loan EMI. Second, one can make a lump sum payment. In both cases, the effect is the same. It will reduce the loan outstanding balance thereby saving interest. Use this loan calculator to estimate savings upon prepayments.
Does prepayment of home loan affect credit score?
For people whose debt-to-income ratio is very high, prepayment of loans can improve their credit score. Why? Because their credit utilization will come down. To maintain a good credit score, one must use only 10-20% of their prescribed credit limit. Banks prefer giving loans to people whose income is high and whose credit utilization is low.
How can I pay off my home loan faster?
There can be multiple ways of doing it. The most preferable one is to pay a lump sum amount regularly. Start and recurring deposit and build savings for the purpose of loan prepayment. Make one prepayment at least once each year. A 20-year home loan will get finished in 14.7 years if a prepayment amount equal to one EMI is made every 6 months. Use this loan calculator to check yourself.
Is it smart to pay off a home loan faster?
Yes. The long-term benefit of paying off a loan is that it makes one debt free. A debt-free person can then aspire to attain financial independence and subsequently become richer. In short term, regular prepayments can save one substantial amount of money on interest savings. It is also important to realize that the cost of a loan on our life is not only the interest rate but more (1.45x – read here)
When should I NOT make a loan repayment?
Loan prepayment can be avoided in two scenarios. First, when the borrower has not built enough emergency funds. One must have at least 6 months’ worth of income parked as an emergency fund. Second, if the borrower is not contributing enough to retirement-linked saving plans. Diverting one’s savings meant for retirement for loan prepayment shall be avoided. People who are in a final couple of years of loan tenure can also avoid prepayment.
What are the disadvantages of prepayment?
Finding the disadvantages of loan prepayment will require some nitpicking otherwise I see only benefits in it. Here are a few disadvantages. First, using the available cash for prepayment means losing the opportunity to invest for the long term. Second, if the lender has imposed a prepayment penalty, it will lower our savings potential.
I hope you liked this article.
Have a happy investing.
FAQs
What happens if you pay a home loan in advance? ›
If you prepay your home loan, the amount goes towards repaying your home loan principal amount. The following month's interest would be calculated on the outstanding home loan principal amount. If you prepay the home loan, you can substantially reduce the interest component of the home loan.
Is loan prepayment beneficial? ›Loan prepayment can not only reduce your debt but also helps you save on money that you would be otherwise paying as interest. That's not all, there are multiple benefits that you stand to gain as a borrower when you prepay your loan.
Does prepayment of home loan reduce interest? ›Generally, a borrower tends to pre-pay their loan amount upon having surplus funds. The benefits of prepayment are that they tend to lower your EMI burdens or shorten the loan tenure or reduce debt and even help in minimising interest rates.
Can I pay prepayment in home loan? ›A home loan offers a number of benefits which may make prepayment unbeneficial. Prepayment is a facility which allows you to repay your housing loan (in part or full) before the completion of your loan tenure. Usually, customers opt for prepayment when they have surplus funds.
Does prepayment on a home loan affect your credit score? ›Will my credit score reduce if I prepay my loan? No, your credit score will not reduce if you prepay your loan. Infact, your credit score won't change much if you prepay your loan unless you close the loan on time.
Why do lenders not like prepayment? ›As such, prepayment risk is the risk that the borrower repays the outstanding principal amount (or a portion of the outstanding principal amount) prematurely and, in turn, causes the lender to receive less in interest payments.
Does prepayment hurt your credit? ›In short, yes—paying off a personal loan early could temporarily have a negative impact on your credit scores. You might be thinking, “Isn't paying off debt a good thing?” And generally, it is. But credit reporting agencies look at several factors when determining your scores.
What are the advantages of principal prepayment? ›Because a longer loan duration results in an increase in the total amount of interest paid, making a prepayment may be an efficient approach to lower your interest payments and, as a result, your overall debt load. A shorter loan term or a lower EMI payment are two common outcomes of early loan repayment.
What is the best way to pay less interest on a mortgage? ›- Refinance your mortgage. ...
- Make extra mortgage payments. ...
- Make one extra mortgage payment each year. ...
- Round up your mortgage payments. ...
- Try the dollar-a-month plan. ...
- Use unexpected income.
Paying off your mortgage early frees up that future money for other uses. While it's true you may lose the tax deduction on mortgage interest, you'll have to reckon with a decreasing deduction anyway as more of each monthly payment applies to the principal, should you decide to keep your mortgage.
How can I avoid paying so much interest on my home loan? ›
- Bi-weekly mortgage payments. Making a payment every two weeks adds one all-principal payment to your mortgage each year. ...
- Extra mortgage payments. ...
- Drop Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) ...
- Recast your mortgage. ...
- Streamline refinance. ...
- Key takeaways.
A Home Loan prepayment penalty can range anywhere between 0.5%- 3% on the outstanding loan amount, depending on the terms and condition of your loan agreement. The borrowers who have availed a Home Loan at floating interest rates are generally exempted from Home Loan prepayment charges.
How many times can I make prepayment for home loan? ›There is no limit on the maximum amount, however, the minimum amount per pre-pay transaction cannot be less than 3 EMIs.
Does prepayment go straight to principal? ›The prepayment is applied directly to the principal of your mortgage. You may also Double Up your regular mortgage payments (of principal and interest). You can make a principal prepayment of $500 or more to your open mortgage as often as you like!
Is it smart to pay extra principal on mortgage? ›Paying a little extra towards your mortgage can go a long way. Making your normal monthly payments will pay down, or amortize, your loan. However, if it fits within your budget, paying extra toward your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you'll pay.
Do extra payments automatically go to principal? ›Generally, national banks will allow you to pay additional funds towards the principal balance of your loan. However, you should review your loan agreement or contact your bank to find out their specific process for doing so.
When should I make my mortgage prepayments? ›If your primary goal is to pay less towards your mortgage over the long run, you should consider prepaying, refinancing your mortgage at a lower rate, or both. If your primary goal is owning your home as soon as possible, prepay.
How can I avoid prepayment penalty on home loan? ›Yes, you can try negotiating it down, but the best way to avoid the fee altogether is to switch to a different loan or a different lender. Since not all lenders charge the same prepayment penalty, make sure to get quotes from different lenders to find the best loan for you.
What is it called when you pay off a loan early? ›A prepayment penalty (also known as an early payoff fee) is an additional fee charged by some lenders if you pay off your loan early. All personal loans come with a specified loan term — a.k.a. the amount of time you have to completely repay the loan balance (plus interest) you borrowed.
What is one of the biggest disadvantages in a purchase money mortgage? ›A purchase-money loan is a considerable risk. You use the home as collateral and if you miss your payments, you could lose the home. The main difference between a purchase-money mortgage and a traditional mortgage is how you qualify. For almost all people, it's recommended to opt for traditional financing from a bank.
Why is it better to pay off a loan sooner rather than later? ›
You save money on interest.
The faster you can pay off a loan, the less it will cost you in interest. Because that ultimately lowers your total cost of borrowing, the potential savings can be considerable.
Paying off debt can lower your credit score when: It changes your credit utilization ratio. It lowers average credit account age. You have fewer kinds of credit accounts.
Why does credit score go down when you pay off a loan? ›This is because your total available credit is lowered when you close a line of credit, which could result in a higher credit utilization ratio. Additionally, if the account you closed was your oldest line of credit, it could negatively impact the length of your credit history and cause a drop in your scores.
How long is prepayment risk? ›Prepayment risk is essentially the risk that the mortgage-backed security buyer will receive, say, seven years of interest income at an agreed-upon rate, on top of principal repayment, instead of 10 years of such interest. Prepayment forces the buyer to reinvest the principal, often at a lower rate of return.
Who benefits in prepayment? ›Individuals benefit from prepaid expenses to make sure they will not miss payments for things like health insurance. Many companies prepay some of their future expenses if they need additional business deductions.
Should I make a lump-sum payment on my mortgage? ›Making a lump sum payment toward your mortgage will decrease what you owe and save money on interest. If you receive some sort of windfall, such as an inheritance or a large tax refund, you can also consider making a lump sum payment toward your mortgage.
What happens if I pay an extra $500 a month on my mortgage principal? ›Making extra payments of $500/month could save you $60,798 in interest over the life of the loan. You could own your house 13 years sooner than under your current payment. These calculations are tools for learning more about the mortgage process and are for educational/estimation purposes only.
Will mortgage interest rates go down in 2023? ›After over a month of declines, interest rates rose in back-to-back weeks. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) increased from 6.39% on April 20 to 6.43% on April 27, according to Freddie Mac. “With the rate of inflation decelerating, rates should gently decline over the course of 2023.
What is the 10 15 rule mortgage? ›The 10/15 rule
If you can manage to pay 10% of your mortgage payment every week (in addition to your usual monthly payment) and apply it to the principal of your loan, you can pay off your 30-year mortgage in just 15 years. * Points are equal to 1% of the loan amount and lower the interest rate.
The average interest rate for the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage reached 7.08%, as of Monday. However, with the economy expected to cool and possibly dip into a recession, many recent forecasts expect rates to drop to 6% or below in 2024, including a Fannie Mae projection of 5.2%.
Does Dave Ramsey recommend paying off mortgage? ›
The Dave Ramsey mortgage plan encourages homeowners to aggressively pay off their mortgages early, however. One recommendation Ramsey makes is to convert your 30-year mortgage into a fixed-rate, 15-year home loan. Not only will you pay off a 15-year mortgage in half the time, but you'll also pay much less in interest.
What happens if I pay 2 extra mortgage payments a year? ›Making additional principal payments will shorten the length of your mortgage term and allow you to build equity faster. Because your balance is being paid down faster, you'll have fewer total payments to make, in-turn leading to more savings.
What happens if I make a large principal payment on my mortgage? ›Paying more toward your principal can reduce the interest you'll pay over time, as discussed above. Additionally, every payment that goes toward your principal builds equity in your home, so you can build equity faster by making additional principal-only payments.
How to pay off a $400,000 mortgage in 10 years? ›- Purchase a home you can afford.
- Understand and utilize mortgage points.
- Crunch the numbers.
- Pay down your other debts.
- Pay extra.
- Make biweekly payments.
- Be frugal.
- Hit the principal early.
Throwing in an extra $500 or $1,000 every month won't necessarily help you pay off your mortgage more quickly. Unless you specify that the additional money you're paying is meant to be applied to your principal balance, the lender may use it to pay down interest for the next scheduled payment.
How to pay off 250k mortgage in 5 years? ›- Setting a Target Date. ...
- Making a Higher Down Payment. ...
- Choosing a Shorter Home Loan Term. ...
- Making Larger or More Frequent Payments. ...
- Spending Less on Other Things. ...
- Increasing Income.
Key takeaways. Paying off your loan early can save you hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars worth of interest over the life of the loan. Some lenders may charge a prepayment penalty of up to 2% of the loan's outstanding balance if you decide to pay off your loan ahead of schedule.
Why should a loan with a prepayment penalty be avoided? ›Prepayment penalties can make it more expensive to refinance within the first several years after taking out a loan. Prepayment penalties vary by lender and loan type. Some lenders don't charge them; in other cases, they're restricted.
What are the tax implications of paying off your mortgage? ›When you pay off your mortgage, you stop paying interest and lose the ability to write off that expense. This makes your taxes go up. For example, if you had been writing off $3,000 of loan interest a year and you pay 25 percent federal tax, your tax liability would go up by $750 if you pay off your loan.
Is it OK to prepay mortgage? ›There are upsides to making prepayments on a mortgage… By making payments earlier than required, you are saving on the interest the mortgage is costing you; the sooner you pay off your loan, the sooner you can stop making monthly payments with interest. Interest you save on a mortgage is tax-deductible.
Can I pay my house payment twice a month? ›
Biweekly mortgage payments
There is an alternative to monthly payments — making half your monthly payment every two weeks. When you make biweekly payments, you could save more money on interest and pay your mortgage down faster than you would by making payments once a month.
- You Lose Liquidity Paying Off a Mortgage. ...
- You Lose Access to Tax Deductions on Interest Payments. ...
- You Could Get a Small Knock on Your Credit Score. ...
- You Cannot Put The Money Towards Other Investments. ...
- You Might Not Be Able to Put as Much Away into a Retirement Account.
Prepaying your mortgage means sending extra money to your lender to pay down the principal of your loan. That helps you save money by reducing interest charges and lets you pay off your loan ahead of schedule.
What happens if I pay an extra $100 a month on my mortgage principal? ›Just paying an additional $100 per month towards the principal of the mortgage reduces the number of months of the payments. A 30 year mortgage (360 months) can be reduced to about 24 years (279 months) – this represents a savings of 6 years!
Why wouldn't you pay off your mortgage early? ›A huge reason why you wouldn't pay off your mortgage early is if you're going to move in less than seven years. It doesn't make sense to put all this equity into your house to not see it grow over time as housing prices rise. Another reason would be if you're not sure you can commit to paying it off early.
Can I fully pay my loan in advance? ›Yes, you can pay off a personal loan early, but it may not be a good idea. Select explains why. When it comes to paying down debt, you might have heard that paying off your balance as quickly as possible can help you save money in the long run.
How is loan prepayment penalty treated on taxes? ›Prepayment penalties are tax deductible in the State of California and at the federal level, meaning that the penalty could be reduced by half for borrowers in the top tax brackets. “For both federal and state tax purposes, prepayment penalties are tax deductible against ordinary income,” Michael T.
How much prepayment is allowed? ›Borrowers may be allowed to foreclose or prepay their loan 6 months after the date it has been disbursed, without any prepayment penalty. A charge of 2.5% + GST will be levied on any prepayment amount that is over 25% of the principal due. Part prepayment can only be done once in a year.
Why might a lender insist on a prepayment penalty for a loan? ›Prepayment penalties are written into mortgage contracts by lenders to compensate for prepayment risk, particularly in difficult economic climates and under circumstances where the incentive for a borrower to refinance a subprime mortgage is high.
What does Dave Ramsey say about paying off mortgage? ›The Dave Ramsey mortgage plan encourages homeowners to aggressively pay off their mortgages early, however. One recommendation Ramsey makes is to convert your 30-year mortgage into a fixed-rate, 15-year home loan. Not only will you pay off a 15-year mortgage in half the time, but you'll also pay much less in interest.
Is it better to pay off your house or keep cash? ›
While many with an influx of cash might favor investing rather than paying off their mortgage, paying off your mortgage early can actually save you thousands of dollars in the long run and is often a solid financial decision.
How to pay off a 30 year mortgage in 5 7 years? ›Making Larger or More Frequent Payments
One of the most achievable ways for most borrowers to pay off a home loan early is to pay more than the monthly minimum, either by adding extra toward the principal in the monthly payment or by paying more than once per month.
The borrower makes monthly payments according to the terms of the loan agreement. Making on-time monthly payment builds your credit score and helps contribute to your credit mix. Paying off an installment loan will cause a slight temporary drop in credit score.
Does paying in advance affect credit score? ›Cash advances can impact credit scores like any other loan. While they don't inherently hurt your credit score, they can lead to future credit issues. For example, using too much of your available credit or paying your cash advance back late can ding your credit score.
Does paying in advance help credit score? ›If you are looking to increase your score as soon as possible, making an early payment could help. If you paid off the entire balance of your credit card, you would reduce your ratio to 40%. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it's recommended to keep your debt-to-credit ratio at no more than 30%.