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15 vs. 30 Year Mortgages ...
15 vs. 30 Yr Mortgages
Determining which mortgage term is right for you can be a challenge. With a 15 year mortgage you will pay significantly less interest, but only if you can afford the higher monthly payment. Use this calculator to compare these two mortgage terms, and let us help you decide which term is better for you.
Definitions
Mortgage amount
Original or expected balance for your mortgage.
Interest rate
Annual interest rate for your mortgage. Interest rates are generally lower for shorter term mortgages.
Marginal tax rate
This is your combined state and federal tax rate. This is used to calculate your potential income tax savings by deducting your mortgage interest.
Monthly payment
Monthly principal and interest payment (PI). Both 30 year and 15 year mortgages are shown.
Total payments
Total of all monthly payments over the full term of the mortgage. Both 30 year and 15 year mortgages are shown.
Total interest
Total of all interest paid over the full term of the mortgage. Both 30 year and 15 year mortgages are shown.
The mortgage calculators are provided by KJE Computer Solutions, LLC and made available to NUMBER1EXPERT as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can't guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.
Making An Offer >Keeping Your Earnest Money Safe
When you make an offer on a house, it is accompanied by an earnest money check. Earnest money is intended to demonstrate that you are "in earnest" about purchasing the property. The earnest money check is made out to the listing company. What happens to this check?
The party holding the check acts as an escrow agent until you go into closing. At that time you will receive credit for the amount of your check against the down payment and closing costs. Real estate brokers are required by law to keep escrow funds in a special account. These funds cannot be used to pay any other expenses associated with the sale. If you don't complete the transaction, the purchase contract determines the disposition of your earnest money funds. Be sure to review this part of your contract with the real estate agent.
If you are in default on your agreement, the funds may go to the sellers, so be sure that you understand the deadlines in order to avoid breach of contract and forfeiture of your deposit. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your real estate agent for advice.
Rose Price Prudential Landmark Real Estate 100 Trade Centre Dr. Suite 102 Champaign, Illinois 61820 217-202-8843 217-352-1933 800-397-2155 Fax: 217-378-1281 roseprice@number1expert.com
When you choose Rose Price to help you buy or sell your home, you will be working with a professional challenged to incorporate the latest tech-tools into her daily business operations. To meet that challenge head-on, Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, headquartered in Irvine, California, launched a program to certify an elite group of its own agents as tech-whizzes who are capable of using the latest electronic tools to enhance the service they provide consumers. Rose is currently a Prudential Certified agent.
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