Mortgage Comparison Calculator

Ever wondered what's the best way to pay off your mortgage? I'll give you a flippant answer: don't get a huge mortgage to start with. Seriously, though, I was reading through David Bach's Smart Couples Finish Rich this evening, and he states that the best way to pay off that mortgage is to get a 15-year mortgage rather than a 30-year mortgage. Sure, you'll pay more each month, but there are some great advantages, too:

You'll likely get a lower interest rate on your mortgage, and you'll pay it off in 15 years rather than 30 years. Speaking from my parents' personal experience, it's great having that home paid off in 15 years. Having no monthly mortgage overhead means you are that much more free and adaptable to sudden downturns or misfortunes. At least, if you own your home, you'll have a place to live if you lose your job.

Anyway, I've made another Excel spreadsheet calculator to demonstrate the benefits of the 15-year mortgage. It calculates your total interest paid for each type of mortgage, and gives you a couple of nice graphs, too. Click on the link to download the Mortgage Comparison Calculator

You can also check out my Excel personal finance spreadsheets page for more free tools to make the most of your finances.