15-Year VA Loans Equal Faster Equity

Military borrowers who want to build equity and own their homes faster should consider a 15- or 20-year VA-guaranteed mortgage. For VA-eligible borrowers who qualify, reduced term VA-guaranteed mortgagemay be something to consider. With a 15- or 20-year VA-guaranteed loan, military members may pay off their loans in as much as half the time it might take with a 30-year loan. Most 15- or 20-year VA home loans likely have higher monthly payments than 30-year mortgages, but the reward for borrowers is that shorter terms are often accompanied by reduced interest rates. For instance, a lender may offer two purchase loan options that might look something like this:

• 30-year loan at 4.5% = $1,267 monthly or a total of $456,017 over time
• 15-year loan at 3.5% = $1,787 monthly or a total of $321,697 over time

With shorter-term mortgages, more of each monthly payment is applied toward the principal balance, building equity faster. So, it takes less time to “own” the home. And, a small fortune can be saved in interest over the life of the 15-year loan compared to the total payment of the 30-year loan. Borrowers with current 30-year mortgages at higher interest rates may stand to benefit the most from a reduced term VA loan at a lower rate. Consider this example:

• 30-year loan at 6% = $1,499 monthly or total of $539,595 over time
• 15-year loan at 3.5% = $1,787 monthly or total of $321,697 over time

(Taxes and insurance are not included in any of these examples)  Going from a 30- to a 15-year VA mortgage is for borrowers with enough income to afford the higher payments. Borrowers should also calculate a break-even point to make sure the costs justify the savings.  Other advantages to VA loans can include:

• Up to 100% loan-to-value
• No private mortgage insurance
• No prepayment penalties for early payoff

For more information about reduced-term VA home financing, talk with an experienced VA home loan professional. Story Continues