Pay off debt sooner and own your home outright
EarlyPayoff explains mortgages, debt, credit and household money in plain language, with primary sources and worked numbers. We started the site in 2013 as first-time buyers leaving the rental market, and paid off our own house in 8 years instead of 30.
Popular guides
- How to calculate an early mortgage payoff: the math behind extra payments, with a worked example.
- Early mortgage payoff tips: the methods that actually shorten a loan.
- When to refinance your mortgage: how to find your break-even point.
- How to prioritize which debt to pay first: avalanche, snowball and when each makes sense.
- How to read a mortgage amortization schedule: where each payment really goes.
Latest articles
- How to Qualify for an FHA LoanFHA loans accept scores down to 500 and 3.5% down at 580, but mortgage insurance often lasts the life of the loan. Here are the rules and the cost next to a conventional loan.
- How to Raise Your Credit Score Before Buying a HomeFix report errors, time your card paydowns and avoid new credit. Here is a month-by-month plan and what a better score can save on a mortgage.
- Rent vs. Buy: How to DecideBuying wins only if you stay long enough. A worked example with today’s mortgage rates finds the break-even year and shows how appreciation and time change it.
- How to Lock In a Mortgage RateA rate lock guarantees your rate and points until a set date. Here is how to time it with your Loan Estimate, choose a lock length, and weigh extension costs against a quarter-point rate move.
- Debt Consolidation With a Personal LoanA short-term personal loan can cut the cost of card debt, even with a fee, but a long term can erase the savings. A $15,000 example shows when consolidation pays.
- What Is a HELOC and How Do You Apply?A HELOC is a revolving credit line secured by your home, with a variable rate tied to prime. See how payments jump after the draw period, how it compares with a home equity loan or cash-out refi, and how to apply.
- How to Get Out of Credit Card DebtPaying a fixed amount instead of the shrinking minimum is the biggest lever. A $6,000 example shows minimums vs. fixed payments, how a balance transfer pays off, and when to call your issuer or a credit counselor.
- Closing Costs: How to Estimate and Lower ThemUse the Loan Estimate’s Sections A-H to estimate closing costs on a $350,000 loan, see which fees can change at closing, and learn how points, lender credits and seller concessions affect what you pay.
How we work
Every article cites the agencies that publish the rules and data, such as the CFPB, IRS, Federal Reserve and FDIC, shows its calculations, and is fact-checked by someone who didn’t write it. Notes marked “From the editor” come from our own experience, and every article says who an approach doesn’t fit. We don’t use affiliate links or paid placements. Read our editorial standards.
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EarlyPayoff is for general education, not personalized financial, tax or legal advice.