How to repay home loan early or faster?
Repaying a home loan as early as possible can save
you a significant amount of money on interest. Here are some strategies to help
you pay off your home loan faster:
1. Make Extra Payments
- Regular
Extra Payments:
Pay more than the minimum monthly payment. Additional amounts can make a
big difference over the time.
- Lump-Sum
Payments:
Whenever you receive a bonus, tax refund, or any extra income, put it
towards your loan.
2. Increase Your Monthly Payments
- Round
Up Payments:
Round your monthly payment to the nearest hundred dollars. For example, if
your payment is Rs. 42,000, pay Rs. 45000.
- Pay
More Frequently: If
possible, switch from monthly payments to bi-weekly payments. This results
in an extra payment each year.
3. Refinance Your Loan
- Lower
Interest Rate: If
interest rates have dropped since you took out your loan, consider
refinancing to a lower rate.
- Shorter
Loan Term:
Refinancing to a shorter loan term (e.g., from 20 years to 15 years) will
increase your monthly payments but reduce the total interest paid.
4. Reduce Expenses
- Budgeting: Create a budget to track
your expenses and identify areas where you can cut back.
- Lifestyle
Changes:
Reduce discretionary spending (e.g., dining out, entertainment, picnic)
and redirect the savings towards your loan.
5. Extra Income
- Bonuses
and Raises:
Allocate a portion of any work bonuses or salary raises to your mortgage
payments.
- Tax
Refunds:
Use your tax refunds to make additional payments.
6. Avoid New Debt
- Minimize
Other Loans:
Avoid taking on new debt, such as car loans or credit card debt, which
could impact your ability to make extra mortgage payments.
- Prioritize
High-Interest Debt: If you have other high-interest debt,
consider paying it off first before making extra mortgage payments.
7. Check for Prepayment Penalties
- Loan
Terms:
Review your loan agreement to ensure there are no penalties for making
extra payments or paying off the loan early.
8. Utilize Mortgage Accelerators
- Mortgage
Accelerator Programs: Some financial institutions offer programs
designed to help you pay off your mortgage faster. Research and consider
if they are suitable for you.
Example Calculation
To illustrate the impact of extra payments,
consider this example:
- Loan
Amount: Rs. 40,00,000.00
- Interest
Rate: 8.75%
- Loan
Term: 20 years (240 months)
- Monthly
Payment: Rs. 35,348.00
Scenario 1: Regular Payments
- Total
Interest Paid: Rs.
44,83,623.00
- Total
Cost of the Loan: Rs.
84,83,623.00
Scenario 2: Extra Rs. 9,612.00 per Month
- New
Monthly Payment: Rs. 44,960.00
- New
Loan Term: Approximately
12 years (144 months)
- Total
Interest Paid: Rs.
24,74,222.00
- Total
Cost of the Loan: Rs.
64,74,222.00
In this scenario, by paying an extra Rs. 9612.00 per month, you save Rs. 20,09,401.00 in interest and pay
off the loan 8 years earlier.
Conclusion
Paying off your home loan early requires discipline
and strategic financial planning. By making extra payments, refinancing,
cutting expenses, and avoiding new debt, you can significantly reduce the term
of your loan and save a substantial amount of money on interest.