10 Signs You're Paying Too Much for Your Mortgage

Taking out a home mortgage is a rite of passage for many Americans. According to real estate authority Zillow, fewer than a quarter of buyers pay with cash; the rest receive financing from a bank or another lender in the form of a mortgage, which they pay back over a number of years. But did you know that many people pay more than necessary for their mortgage? If any of these 10 situations apply to you, consider talking to bank about lowering your rates.

By Glenda Taylor | Published May 07, 2018 05:56 PM

The Interest Rate Has Dropped

1/11
Mortgage Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates have been steadily dropping since the 1980s, and anyone who purchased a house at least 10 years ago could be paying 2.5 to 3.5 percent more interest on the remaining balance than necessary. Long-term homeowners should consider talking with their local bank about refinancing their mortgage, a move that could save them big bucks in the long run.

Related: 11 Myths Homebuyers Should Never Believe

istockphoto.com

Your Mortgage Is More Than 30 Percent of Your Income

2/11
Ideal Mortgage Cost

Financial advisers and real estate professionals recommend that homeowners spend no more than 30 percent of their monthly income on their mortgage payment. This ensures you’ll still have sufficient funds for food, health care, car payments, and other expenses. If you’re currently spending more than a third of your income on your mortgage, consider moving to a less expensive home, or talk to your banker about refinancing your mortgage over a longer period to reduce the monthly payment.

Related: 11 Sneaky Ways to Save When Buying a Home

istockphoto.com

You Have Experienced a Decrease in Household Income

3/11
Trouble Paying Mortgage

Household income can take a tumble for a variety of reasons, including losing a job, choosing to become a stay-at-home parent, or getting a divorce. Any of these occurrences can make it much harder to pull together that monthly mortgage payment. Try refinancing your home with a longer-term mortgage to reduce monthly household costs. If that isn’t feasible, it may be time to look into buying a more affordable property.


Related: 7 Companies That Want to Help Their Employees Buy a House

istockphoto.com

You’ve Improved Your Credit Rating

4/11
How Credit Rating Affects Mortgage

Lenders offer their best interest rates to home buyers with the highest credit scores. If you’ve recently improved a dismal credit score, it doesn’t hurt to talk to your lender to see how much you could save by refinancing. Check out FICO’s loan savings calculator to see how your credit score influences mortgage interest rates.


Related: 10 Decisions Homeowners Never Regret

istockphoto.com

Your Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Jumped

5/11
Adjustable Rate Mortgage

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) offers home buyers a low initial interest rate for a set period— anywhere from a few months to a few years. After that time, the interest rate adjusts, which may result in higher monthly payments. ARMs can be ideal for buyers who don’t plan to stay in their homes long, but if your interest rate is scheduled to change soon and you have no intention of moving on, talk to your banker about refinancing the balance and switching to a fixed-rate mortgage. 

Related: America’s Lowest Property Taxes Are in These 12 States

istockphoto.com

Your Mortgage Term Is Too Long

6/11
Mortgage Term Length

Did you take a 30-year fixed mortgage on your home so you could enjoy low payments? In actuality, you’ll wind up paying more interest than those who opted for larger monthly sums for a shorter time frame. For example, if you finance a $200,000 house for 30 years at 4.5 percent interest, you will have paid a total of $364,813 when your mortgage payments are complete. By comparison, if you finance the same house at 4.5 percent for just 15 years, you’ll pay a total of $275,398. That’s an almost $90,000 difference! To get an idea of how the length of your mortgage affects the final house cost, check out an amortization calculator.


Related: 12 Surprising Truths About Millennial Homebuyers

istockphoto.com

Your Mortgage Term Is Too Short

7/11
Mortgage Term is Too Short

Taking a shorter-term loan saves money in the long run, but if you’re struggling with a high monthly payment, your quality of life can suffer. Consider refinancing over a longer period of time to reduce your monthly payments, thus alleviating the strain on your budget. You can always make double payments if finances allow; this will effectively reduce your interest rate.


Related: 7 Signs Starter Homes May Be a Thing of the Past

istockphoto.com

You’re Paying Mortgage Insurance

8/11
Mortgage Insurance Rates

If you didn’t make a 20 percent down payment on your house, your lender charged you for private mortgage insurance (PMI)—and you’re shelling out for PMI with every monthly payment. PMI is based on the difference between the market value of your home and the amount of equity you have in it. For example, if you finance $100,000 on a home with a market value of $110,000, you could be paying an additional $75 every month for PMI. Once you’ve paid 20 percent of the value of your home, you will no longer be charged for PMI. If you think your home has increased in value (which means your equity has also increased), ask your lender for a new appraisal to see if you now meet the 20 percent equity requirement.

Related: The Best Ways to Improve Your Home's Value in 2018

istockphoto.com

You’re Struggling to Make Ends Meet

9/11
How to Pay Mortgage

Unforeseen costs, such as a sudden illness or unexpected home repairs, can strike at any time. If savings won’t cover the expenses, your budget will inevitably become a bigger burden. Those struggling to make ends meet should consider moving to a less expensive house or talking to their lender about refinancing the mortgage to reduce monthly payments.


Related: 10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Bought a Foreclosure

istockphoto.com

You Have Negative Equity

10/11
Negative Equity

If your home’s market value dropped after your purchased it, you’re dealing with “negative equity”—meaning you’re paying more than your home is worth. You have two options: sitting tight (because the home may eventually increase in value) or talking to your lender about a short sale (selling your home for less than the amount you owe and having your lender absorb the loss). Always talk to a financial adviser before pursuing a short sale, because it will negatively affect your credit rating. A short sale may also have an impact on your income taxes.


Related: 10 Decisions Homeowners Never Regret

istockphoto.com

Manage Your Mortgage

11/11
Manage Your Mortgage

Do you relate to any of these scenarios? If so, you should investigate your financial options and see if it is possible to refinance. While the process might be time consuming, you'll be happy when you're paying less.

bobvila.com

Don't Miss!

1pixel

Get the help you need for the home you want—sign up for the Bob Vila newslettertoday!