Mortgage Data Shows a Twist on Early Payments

A sizable number of homeowners are trying to pay off their mortgage early, but new data from Rocket Mortgage shows a twist to the narrative: Those with the lowest rates are most likely to do so, even though people with higher rates would benefit the most. The company analyzed nearly 3 million loans and found that 1 in 4 people make an extra payment annually, with the goal of cutting years off their mortgages, reports the Washington Post.

Those who took out mortgages in 2020 and 2021—when rates were sometimes below 3%—are the most likely to do so: about 1 in 4, compared to 1 in 5 for those with more recent mortgages and much higher rates. Financial planners note that paying off a low-rate mortgage early isn't always the best financial strategy. After all, people could invest that cash and reap higher returns elsewhere—unless, as columnist Michelle Singletary argues, the psychological payoff of being debt-free wins out. Besides, those with higher rates might not have any extra money with which to make additional payments, notes Rocket.