Increasing your mortgage to pay extra expenses
Page Content
What to consider if you’re thinking about increasing your mortgage to pay off other debts
Mortgage costs are often the cheapest form of debt. So if you qualify for extra mortgage room, it may be tempting to roll other expenses into your mortgage. Maybe even consolidate other debt. The advantage is that you can get everything you want, at what might seem like a manageable monthly payment and low interest rate.
What’s the catch?
Think about the long-term effects of deferring full payment for many years. You’re not actually getting rid of debt – just transferring it. Even though the monthly payment may be manageable, you will be paying for it a lot longer, and maybe even spending more on interest.
Example
Look at the impact of adding debt to a 5-year fixed mortgage amortized over 25 years at 5% interest:
| $10,000 |
$7,448,15 |
$17,448.25 |
|---|
| $20,000 |
$14,896.30 |
$34,896.30 |
|---|
| $30,000 |
$22,344.45 |
$52,344.45 |
|---|
Consider the lifespan of the things you add
For example, if you add a $30,000 car purchase to your mortgage, it will end up costing you $52,344.45 over the next 25 years. And you’ll be paying for it long after you’re finished driving it.
Be disciplined if you are consolidating your debts – like student loans, credit cards, credit lines – into your mortgage payment. This strategy only works if you don’t pile up more debt.