[ad_1] Even though 30-year mortgages are much more common, financial experts often recommend a 15-year mortgage instead. Is that advice always right? The best answer to that question is, sometimes! Even though, yes, you will pay off a 15-year mortgage in half the time it takes to pay off a 30-year mortgage, you’ll be trading off a much higher monthly payment to get that benefit. Before taking the plunge into a 15-year mortgage, it’s best to know exactly what you’re getting into. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages to see which is better – and when. #ap12867-ww{padding-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center;font-size:12px;font-family:Lato,Arial,sans-serif}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-indicator{text-align:right}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-indicator-wrapper{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap12867-ww-text{display:block}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap12867-ww-label{display:none}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-text{margin:auto 3px auto auto}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-label{margin-left:4px;margin-right:3px}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-icon{margin:auto;padding:1px;display:inline-block;width:15px;height:15px;min-width:15px;min-height:15px;cursor:pointer}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-icon img{vertical-align:middle;width:15px;height:15px;min-width:15px;min-height:15px}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-text-bottom{margin:5px}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-text{display:none}#ap12867-ww #ap12867-ww-icon img{text-indent:-9999px;color:transparent} Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad #ap12867-w-map{max-width:600px;padding:20px 0 10px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;font-family:”Lato”, Arial, Roboto, sans-serif}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-title{color:#212529;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:27px}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-subtitle{color:#9b9b9b;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-disclosure{margin-top:10px;font-size:12px;color:#9b9b9b}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map{max-width:98%;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:65%;margin-bottom:20px;position:relative}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg path{fill:#e3efff;stroke:#9b9b9b;pointer-events:all;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in, stroke 0.6s ease-in, stroke-width 0.6s ease-in}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg path:hover{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9;cursor:pointer}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g rect{fill:#e3efff;stroke:#9b9b9b;pointer-events:all;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in, stroke 0.6s ease-in, stroke-width 0.6s ease-in}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g text{fill:#000;text-anchor:middle;font:10px Arial;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state{display:none}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state rect{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state text{fill:#fff;font:19px Arial;font-weight:bold}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g:hover{cursor:pointer}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g:hover rect{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g:hover text{fill:#fff}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-map svg g:hover .ap00646-w-map-state{display:initial}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-btn{padding:9px 41px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;font-size:16px;line-height:1.25;text-decoration:none;background-color:#1261c9;border-radius:2px}#ap12867-w-map #ap12867-w-map-btn:hover{color:#fff;background-color:#508fc9} The first step to a new home is doing the numbers and finding out how much you can afford. Mortgage Experts are available to get you started on your home-buying journey with solid advice and priceless information. To find out more, click on your state today. HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas View Rates What is the difference between a 15-Year and 30-Year mortgage? 15-year and 30-year mortgages have plenty in common. Each can be either a fixed rate loan or an adjustable rate loan (ARM). And either can be used to purchase a new home or to refinance an existing home. Closing costs are about the same between the two loans, and the application and closing processes are virtually identical. With all they have in common, what’s the difference between the two? Loan term – the 15-year mortgage runs only half as long as the 30-year mortgage. Monthly payment – the payment on a 15-year mortgage can easily be 50% higher than on the 30-year mortgage. Interest rate – you’ll generally pay a lower interest rate on a 15-year mortgage compared with a 30-year mortgage. Equity buildup – will be much faster on a 15-year mortgage than it will be on a 30-year mortgage Pros and Cons of 30-Year Mortgage Pros: A much lower monthly payment. The lower monthly payment will make it easier to qualify for a mortgage, particularly if you’re making a small down payment, you have high debt ratios, or less-than-perfect credit. The lower payment may enable you to qualify for a larger loan to buy a more expensive home. Lower payments can also enable you to direct additional funds into paying off non-housing debt, or even into savings and investments. Because it has a lower monthly payment, you’ll have the option to make additional principal payments much more easily than you would on a 15-year mortgage. Cons: 30 years can seem like forever when you’re trying to pay off your home. If your plan is to own your home debt-free by the time you reach retirement, the 30-year loan won’t get the job done if you’re already over 35 years old. The slower amortization of the loan – resulting in slower equity buildup – will leave you with less cash if you choose to sell the home to buy another. Higher interest rates. Rates on 30-year mortgages are roughly 0.500% to 0.750% higher than they are on 15-year mortgages. Because it will take twice as long to pay off a 30-year mortgage, you’ll pay considerably more interest over the life of the loan. Pros and Cons of 15-Year Mortgage Pros: You’ll cut the loan term in half, enabling you to reach mortgage-free status much more quickly. Even if you sell the home before the loan is fully paid, you’ll have more equity built up than you would with a 30-year mortgage. The interest rate on a 15-year mortgage is generally as much as 0.750% lower than it is on a 30-year mortgage, but… Because the loan will be paid off in half the time, you’ll pay substantially less interest over the life of the loan than you will on a 30-year mortgage. Cons: A much higher monthly payment. The higher payment might make it more difficult to qualify for the loan. A higher payment may also limit your ability to purchase a higher priced home. The income tax deduction for home mortgage interest will disappear much more quickly than it will on a 30-year mortgage. Because the payment is higher, you won’t have the extra funds available for other purposes, like paying off non-housing debt or investing. #ap83130-ww{padding-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center;font-size:12px;font-family:Lato,Arial,sans-serif}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-indicator{text-align:right}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-indicator-wrapper{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap83130-ww-text{display:block}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap83130-ww-label{display:none}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-text{margin:auto 3px auto auto}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-label{margin-left:4px;margin-right:3px}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-icon{margin:auto;padding:1px;display:inline-block;width:15px;height:15px;min-width:15px;min-height:15px;cursor:pointer}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-icon img{vertical-align:middle;width:15px;height:15px;min-width:15px;min-height:15px}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-text-bottom{margin:5px}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-text{display:none}#ap83130-ww #ap83130-ww-icon img{text-indent:-9999px;color:transparent} Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad #ap83130-w-simple-rate-table{max-width:675px;margin:0 auto}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-title{font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:25.9px;font-weight:700;text-align:left}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-subtitle{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:32px;font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:2;font-weight:normal;text-align:left}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-updated{font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#9AAAB9;font-size:14px;line-height:29px;font-weight:400;margin:10px 0 0 0;text-align:left}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-hint{font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#9AAAB9;font-size:11px;line-height:29px;font-weight:400;text-align:left}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-ctas{display:flex}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-cta{width:50%;margin-top:24px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-cta p{font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-cta .cta-text-1{color:#3750DC;font-size:18px;line-height:29px;font-weight:700;margin:5px 0 0 0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-cta .cta-text-2{color:#000;font-size:14px;line-height:29px;font-weight:400;margin:5px 0 0 0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-cta a.w-simple-rate-table-btn{display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;color:#fff;font-size:15px;line-height:18px;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:none;background:#FF7C34;border-radius:80px;padding:15px 20px;min-width:150px;margin:15px 0 0 0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-cta a.w-simple-rate-table-btn:hover{color:#fff;background-color:#FF6321}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-tables-wrap{display:flex}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-table-wrap{width:50%;text-align:left}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table .w-simple-rate-table-table-wrap strong{font-size:21.8px;font-weight:600;font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;line-height:1.78}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table{margin:20px 0 0 0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table.left{margin-right:2%}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table.right{margin-left:2%}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table thead.w-simple-rate-table-thead tr{border:0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table thead.w-simple-rate-table-thead th{font-family:Montserrat, Verdana, sans-serif;color:#000;font-size:12px;line-height:29px;text-transform:uppercase;text-align:left;width:50%;border:0;font-weight:400}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table thead.w-simple-rate-table-thead th:last-child{text-align:right}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table tbody.w-simple-rate-table-tbody{border:0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table tbody.w-simple-rate-table-tbody tr{border-bottom:1px solid #c4c4c4}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table tbody.w-simple-rate-table-tbody tr:last-child{border:0}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table tr.w-simple-rate-table-tr td{font-family:Montserrat,Verdana,serif;color:#000;font-size:14px;line-height:29px;background:#fff;border:0;padding:8px 0 8px 0;width:50%}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table tr.w-simple-rate-table-tr td:first-child{font-size:14px;line-height:29px;font-weight:400}#ap83130-w-simple-rate-table table.w-simple-rate-table-table tr.w-simple-rate-table-tr td:last-child{text-align:right} Today's 15-Year and 30-Year Mortgage Rates 15-Year Product Interest Rate Fixed 15 Year 2.61% 30-Year Product Interest Rate Fixed 30 Year 3.7% View Rates View Rates Factors to Consider in Choosing a 15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage Many financial advisors, websites and blogs recommend a 15-year mortgage over a 30-year mortgage, often as a “no-brainer”. Unfortunately, that’s an oversimplification. Before