Two years and two months ago my wife and I purchased our very first home. We love our new home – and we are working hard to pay off our mortgage.
We have a conventional, fixed-rate 15-year mortgage. Our goal is to pay it off our mortgage in less than ten years.
As of May 9, 2012, we have made 26 regular monthly mortgage payments. We have also made several additional principal-only payments.
Our mortgage payment is drafted from our primary checking on the first day of each month. Additional principal-only payments are made throughout each month, as we earn additional income and find ways to decrease budgeted-for expenses.
Here is our most recent chart –
The chart shows two percentages.
The blue percentage is how much I still owe – the balance.
The red percentage is how much I have reduced – the paid.
Each month, a little bit more of our regular monthly payment goes towards principal and a little less goes towards interest. Right now, the split is roughly 55/45. Seeing 45% of our payment going towards interest really stinks. That’s why we are so committed to sending extra, principal-only micro-payments. (Unlike credit card companies, our mortgage provider does not apply micro-payments throughout the month. Instead, all payments are processed on a single day. However, we send them in, throughout the month, because we like a “hands-on” approach to debt reduction. Being mindful, daily, helps to keep us motivated and focused.)
This chart does not represent how much of my house I actually own. It simply reflects how much of our mortgage balance we have paid.
We have made 26 regular payments and have lived in the house for a little more than two years. Our contractual remaining term is 12 years and 10 months, but our actual remaining term is 12 years and 5 months. We have reduced the length of our mortgage by 5 months!
View all post related to our mortgage payoff progress.
A good time saving on mortgage loans.