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Mortgage rates: A brief guide to common payment options

by Lori Madden 02/19/2023

30-year mortgage rates are the norm among mortgage rates. Most options for monthly payments involve a fixed interest rate, while there are a few that may offer an adjustable rate mortgage for homebuyers searching for interest flexibility.

However, some homeowners may want to repay their mortgage lenders faster than originally planned, while others may need more flexibility in their monthly payments.

Here’s a quick guide to paying off your 30-year mortgage:

Agreed monthly payments

The average answer to paying off your 30-year fixed mortgage is to pay your monthly payment as originally scheduled by your lender. Typically, mortgage rates are set during the preapproval process and solidified before closing.

If you have questions about your mortgage rates, monthly payments or other mortgage-related areas, it’s always a good idea to get in touch with your mortgage company to suss out the details before fully closing.

Early payoff

Your home loan will come with terms and conditions set forth by your mortgage lender. One of these terms may be a prepayment penalty, or a fee assessed for paying off your loan early.

While it could be conducive to pay off your mortgage in the first fifteen years, remember that a set amount of interest was expected to be collected during the length of your mortgage. The prepayment penalty allows lenders to recover some of their lost revenue that they won’t be receiving from the interest rates.

Not all mortgage lenders will have prepayment penalties, however. If you’d like the option to pay off your mortgage earlier than expected, even if just by a few years, have a conversation with your loan officer. They should be able to answer any questions you may have about maintaining and managing your home loan.

Trade it out

For those hoping to save a little extra and lighten their monthly load, a mortgage refinance may be a viable option. If you’ve found more competitive mortgage rates that will help you pay lower monthly payments and reduce your overall interest rate, it may be worth it to swap out your current mortgage for one that better suits your needs.

There are times when refinancing your mortgage could lead to a larger overall mortgage. If you find yourself paying more in a new monthly mortgage payment than you were originally, you may want to reconsider your options for refinancing or possibly find a different lender altogether.

Regardless of your financial situation, 30-year fixed mortgage rates can be adjusted to help you out. To ensure your success in finding your ideal monthly payment, be sure to review your financial responsibilities and roadmap. This will help you make the best selection for your home’s mortgage loan.

About the Author
Author

Lori Madden

As a Florida native growing up in Sarasota, I have seen my hometown grow from a sleepy coastal town to a highly sought-after destination along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. After working in Chicago for 5 years, I returned to Sarasota and saw it through a new lens and really began to appreciate what makes Sarasota so desirable, including temperatures that allow for year round outdoor activities including tennis (a personal favorite), golf, boating, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, or just relaxing and/or shelling on our pristine sandy shores, including Dr. Beach’s #1 beach in the United States for 2017, Siesta Key! Sarasota’s cultural amenities are many and diverse, appealing to a wide range of arts lovers. Downtown Sarasota has become a destination in itself, drawing many new developments for those who want to be within walking distance of Main Street's offerings and the picturesque bayfront and marina. Foodies will find an eclectic mix of locally owned and operated restaurants offering something for everyone, and there are now Farmers Markets every day of the week in various locations throughout Sarasota, but the Saturday morning Farmers Market in downtown Sarasota draws the biggest crowds. Since 1988, my passion has been selling real estate, representing both buyers and sellers. I have been recognized by my clients and customers for an uncompromising work ethic and dedication to helping them achieve their real estate goals. Relying on my experience as a real estate paralegal and being highly organized, I am able to help make the transition between contract and closing a smooth one for my clients. With an eye for interior and landscape design, I've been known to pitch in and help Sellers minimize and/or reorganize their belongings in order to stage their home to maximize its sale potential. I specialize in out of state buyers looking for their piece of paradise along the Gulf Coast and make it a priority to keep them up to date on our quickly changing local real estate market. I welcome the opportunity to share with you all Sarasota and her surrounding islands have to offer!