Close

See current mortgage rates on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace

Trading in my 30 yr fixed for a 15 yr fixed or using the money elsewhere?

Profile picture for MNelan04

I'm in a great position now to refinance my 30 yr fixed rate at 6.25 % for a 15 yr. fixed at 4.75%.   I don't anticipate having a problem with the higher payments, so it seems like the perfect time for a refi.  However, with the real estate market's recent drops (particularly in my area) is it smarter to sink my money into the stock market for a long term investment, (while I can get in cheap,) than to buy more into a house which may or may not gain in value.  I plan on owning this house for 3 to 5 more years and I've figured in that in 3 years I will regain all the fees and also save an extra $10,000 in interest on top of that. So here's my question--no one can tell the future, but what's your best guess as to whether it is smarter to re-invest in short to mid term real estate or long term mutual funds?

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 07 2008 - US

Replies (12)

Profile picture for CORONA NICK

I am doing the same thing, but I rather pay off what I owe, principle on my mortgage,  than invest in a volatile stock market. 

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 07 2008
Profile picture for DebtFreeDave

You may want to research it a bit more online.....

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 09 2008
Profile picture for Darren916

MNelan, You are one of few property owners who is smarter than the average consumer... I love this methodology... Go buy the book or audio book of Douglas R. Andrew, Missed Fortune 101. It's about taking the equity in your home, which is tax deductible and putting that into a separate investment vehicle to earn more money than you are paying in interest, and at the same time being able to use the tax write-off. I have had this argument with so many people it's not even funny! Most people want to pay there mortgage off asap - WRONG ANSWER. Mortgage it to 80% LTV on a interest only loan.

 

Question: Say you loose your job and now you've fallen behind in mortgage payments. Which one of these scenarios is Mr. Banker likely to foreclose on first?

Scenario A: House worth 500K, 100K mortgage on house

Scenario B: House worth 500K, 400K IO mortgage

- Scenario A is correct. Scenario A thought that they were doing the right thing by paying down there mortgage all these years, they use the money they save from there mortgage payment for everyday expences. Scenario B took there money and invested it wisely. Who came out on top???

 

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 15 2008
Profile picture for 203K Specialist

Darren,

 

Do you work  for Amerisave of Ameriquest? 

 

As long as they make their payments neither gets forclosed on!

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 15 2008
Profile picture for Darren916

Andrew, Have you ever read Missed Fortune 101? Obviously you did not read the question properly, for you being in the business 15 years you sure didin't have a lot to say in response except for trying to discredit my professional experience. I'm trying to applaud a borrower for thinking "outside the box" for once. How about I send you the audio book so you can do some listening, mabey you will learn something.

 

These forms were built to have professionals help consumers with questions and for professionals to talk LIKE PROFESSIONALS amongst one and other. Obviously you seem to want to discredit me in this topic and in another one. You can disagree with me all day, however if you would like to discredit me and talk out of your butt, give me a call or shoot me an email and we can talk outside of the public realm. When I disagreed with you did I try bashing your credentials??? Let's be civil here now....

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 16 2008

if more is better, than even more is even better! mortgage it to 125% and use negative amortization loans! Free money baby!!!! (sarcasm reduced, no way I'm turning it off now!)

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 16 2008
Profile picture for LarryLeftwich

Dumbazz.

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 16 2008
Profile picture for 203K Specialist
Darren,

Your posts do enough to discredit you.

I was pointing out that the bank is not more likely to foreclose in either situation unless they don't make payments. If either don't make the payments they will get foreclosed on.

I am not a financial planner nor do I pretend to be. Some folks would prefer to have a bigger mortgage and invest elsewhere, some are striving to own their home free and clear. I would never tell the person that chooses to invest that he is making a bad decision. I wouldn't tell the person that is paying off his mortgage that he is making a mistake either.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 16 2008

Mnelan.

 

I can get you 3% on a 15 yr fixed. I think you are getting ripped off for 4.75% .

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 16 2008
Profile picture for hogbygardd

Tom, I`d be interested in discussing that 3% with you a little futher, email, Do not want to highjack MNelan`s train of thought.

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 16 2008
Profile picture for jal74

MNelan04

 

If you think your house (the one you live in) is an "investment" you start getting into trouble.  If you think that if your lucky your house will, on average, increase in value approx 0.4 to 0.5% per year over inflation over a 30 year period, your probably right.  To me, that's not an investment, as both stocks and bonds have significantly higher returns than this.

 

The question you need to ask is do you want to own your house without a mortgage sooner rather than later.  Would you rather forgo other investments and or consumption in favor of having the roof over your head paid off sooner.

 

If you ask yourself that simple question I think you will find the answer easily within.  Either way, its your choice

 

Regards

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 17 2008
Profile picture for CORONA NICK

Both are good.... paying off the house is by far a safer bet.  Darren suggests a more risky investment that can provide a higher return, BUT you can also lose money.  Paying off your mortgage reduces you paying interest.  Once your paid off, then you can invest all you want without having to worry about losing the roof over your head if things go bad.  An untapped HELOC will fix any rainy months from a lost job. Darren, your obviously a risk taker.

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
February 17 2008
 
  • Be a Good Neighbor. Be respectful and on-topic. No spam or self-promotion! See our Good Neighbor Policy.

Have a question? Ask it here.

What's this?
Close

By starting a discussion, you can expect more of an interactive, back-and-forth experience where the conversation can go in many different directions.

Or start a discussion
Related Discussions
Profile picture for Andreasmolin
DiscussionHow to select a quote on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace
  • Posted by Andreasmolin
  • 4 days ago
Profile picture for Andreasmolin
DiscussionHow to fill out a loan request on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace
  • Posted by Andreasmolin
  • 4 days ago
Profile picture for Andreasmolin
DiscussionHow to post a Review on Zillow
  • Posted by Andreasmolin
  • 4 days ago
Profile picture for BradRicucci
DiscussionWhy I am not eligible for HARP?
  • Last reply by BradRicucci
  • 4 days ago
Profile picture for Carl Hawthorne
DiscussionZillow Mortgage Marketplace iPhone App!
  • Last reply by Carl Hawthorne
  • April 26
Related Articles
GuideJumbo Loan
GuidePrivate Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
GuideA QUICK ARM 101
GuideA QUICK ARM GLOSSARY
GuideLOANS (A 3-MINUTE ARM GLOSSARY)
Compare Mortgage Rates
Be A Good Neighbor

Zillow® Advice depends on each member to keep it a safe, fun, and positive place. If you see abuse, flag it. More on our Good Neighbor Policy