Should you pay off your home loan early or not?
Nowadays, it’s hard to find any good news about the economy. Still, we can—and should—take steps to maintain control of our own finances in these uncertain economic times. Doing so will decrease your stress levels
Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) has revealed that a majority of consumers have settled their bonds. Many homeowners will be anticipating the prospects and viability of paying off their home loans early?
Calvin Ndlovu, Head of Operations at FNB Home Loans, says there is no correct or incorrect answer to the question on whether you should pay off your home loan early or not.
“It all depends on your individual circumstances, long-term objectives as well as how you plan to structure your own or family’s finances,” explains Ndlovu, as he delves deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of settling a home loan early:
Advantages
Early settlement can help you save on interest, allowing you the freedom to pursue other ventures.
- If you are approaching retirement and are planning to settle in that particular home, it is advisable to pay it off.
- You eliminate the risk of defaulting if you are self or temporary employed.
- Provides a safe haven in tough economic conditions, when there is a lot of uncertainty.
- Having more disposable income at hand can help you put more towards your short-term or retirements savings.
- Because a home loan typically offers you the cheapest debt available, you can save a lot of money in interest by paying off other debt first, such as personal loans, credit cards and car finance.
- If you are currently renting out the property you can save on tax as interest paid on your bond is tax deductible.
- Depending on your goals, diversifying by saving and investing the money elsewhere could be more ideal.
- You will no longer have immediate access to debt at a low interest rate which could be used for renovating, emergencies or personal cash flow management.
- As a property investor you can use the extra cash to put down a deposit on another property and still have access to funds in your bond.
- You will be liable for bond cancellation fees and may be charged additional interest if you fail to notify your bank 90 days in advance, that you are planning to close your home loan account.
No matter what your family’s financial situation, do not overly worry. True, these are challenging economic times. There is a lot we could become anxious about if we let ourselves—but don’t. Do what you can to try to get your financial house in order and to provide for yourself and your loved ones.
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