After the Fed

Independent household explainer. Not the Federal Reserve, not a lender, not advice.

Calculator

Extra on the mortgage vs. savings

Extra principal is a guaranteed reduction in interest you would otherwise pay the lender, at your mortgage rate. A savings account pays a rate the bank can change, and the IRS taxes the interest. Liquidity is the other side: cash in savings is still cash. Extra principal is not.

  • Required principal and interest
  • With the extra
  • Time to pay off

Does not model emergency-fund needs, prepayment penalties, or mortgage-interest deduction. Default mortgage rate is the latest Freddie Mac 30-year average. Not advice to prepay or to save.

The same comparison in words