Should you pay your mortgage down early with extra payments — or put that money to work somewhere else? At today's ~7% rates the answer has changed, and it's a closer call than most people think. Craig Garcia and Bill Mei break down both sides honestly: the guaranteed return of prepaying, the Federal Reserve research on funding retirement first, and the liquidity, inflation, and compounding reasons to think twice — plus how to see it in your own numbers with our free calculator.
Try the free Extra Payment Calculator (no login, no email): https://www.cp-mtg.com/extra-mortgage-payment-calculator/
In this episode:
• Why paying down a 7% mortgage is a guaranteed, risk-free return
• The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago study: fund tax-advantaged retirement (and any employer match) BEFORE prepaying
• The case for paying it off: peace of mind, huge interest savings, no payment in retirement
• The case against: liquidity, opportunity cost, and how inflation quietly helps you pay a fixed-rate loan
• The most underrated factor — liquidity and control: money in the house has to be applied for to get back, and you may not qualify when you need it most
• A $50,000 example: prepay vs. invest at the same rate, and why compounding + control matter
• The discipline test: keeping money liquid only wins if you don't spend it
• Bonus: a rate & market update (this week's jobs report and what it means)
Chapters:
0:00 The question everyone asks
0:11 Why ~7% rates change the answer
0:38 The right order — retirement first (Fed study)
1:29 The case FOR paying it down
2:44 The case AGAINST
4:53 Liquidity & control — the underrated one
5:47 The $50,000 example (prepay vs. invest)
7:01 So… which is right for you?
7:47 The discipline caveat
8:34 See it in your own numbers (free calculator)
9:42 Bottom line
9:59 Bonus: keep your 3% rate — a fixed-rate second instead of refinancing
10:24 Rate & market update (jobs report)
Study referenced: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, "The Tradeoff Between Mortgage Prepayments and Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings" (Amromin, Huang & Sialm, 2006). https://www.nber.org/digest/apr07/retirement-saving-versus-mortgage-paydowns ·
Full paper — https://www.chicagofed.org/-/media/publications/working-papers/2006/wp2006-05-pdf.pdf
Capital Partners Mortgage Services, LLC · NMLS #2332376 · Equal Housing Opportunity · www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org
Educational and general in nature — not financial, tax, or investment advice. Talk with your financial advisor or CPA about your situation.
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