15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? (2024)

Home Buying

Mortgages

Types of Mortgages

8 Min Read | Oct 24, 2023

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? (1)

By Ramsey

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? (2)

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? (3)

By Ramsey

Wondering what mortgage to get when buying your house? After you weed out all the junky options, it usually comes down to deciding between a 15-year versus a 30-year mortgage. But which one is better?

At Ramsey, we’ve been teaching for decades how the 15-year mortgage is the better option for one simple reason: A 30-year mortgage will cost you way more in the long run.

Let’s look at the numbers!

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: How Are They Different?

Simply put, you’ll pay off a 30-year mortgage in 30 years, while you’ll pay off a 15-year in 15 years. No surprises there, right?

30-Year Mortgage

Because a 30-year mortgage has a longer term, your monthly payments will be lower and your interest rate on the loan will be higher. So, over a 30-year term you’ll pay less money each month, but you’ll also make payments for twice as long and give the bank thousands more in interest.

15-Year Mortgage

On the other hand, a 15-year mortgage has higher monthly payments. But because the interest rate on a 15-year mortgage is lower and you’re paying off the principal faster, you’ll pay a lot less in interest over the life of the loan. Plus, you’ll pay off your house twice as fast.

15- vs. 30-Year Mortgage Comparison

Let’s look at an example. Suppose you want to buy a $300,000 house and have a 20% down payment ($60,000). That means you need a mortgage for $240,000.

Here’s what your expenses would look like on a $240,000 home loan—whether you chose a 15-year mortgage or a 30-year mortgage:

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? (4)

Mortgage Term

15-year

30-year

Interest Rate

3.5%

4%

Monthly Payment

$1,716

$1,146

Total Interest

$69,000

$172,000

Total Mortgage

$309,000

$412,000

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FYI: We calculated the numbers for both monthly payments on our mortgage calculator using principal and interest only. Then, we calculated the total interest and total mortgage amounts on our mortgage payoff calculator.

As you can see, the 30-year mortgage would have you paying over $100,000 (that’s 33%) more than you’d pay with a 15-year mortgage!

Sure, it feels nice on the front end to save nearly $600 a month by choosing the 30-year mortgage—but your interest rate will be higher, and you’ll spend twice as much time in debt!

Is a slightly cheaper mortgage payment on the front end worth a hundred grand on the back end? No way!

Do You Pay More Interest on a 15- or 30-Year Mortgage?

The average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage has been around 0.5–1% higher than a 15-year mortgage for the past several years.1,2

One percentage point may not seem like a huge difference—but keep in mind, a 30-year mortgage has you paying that difference for twice the amount of time compared to a 15-year mortgage. That’s why the 30-year mortgage ends up being so much more expensive.

What’s a Disadvantage of Getting a 15-Year Mortgage Instead of a 30-Year Mortgage?

The only downside to a 15-year mortgage compared to a 30-year mortgage is that it comes with a higher monthly payment—but really, that’s a good thing!

With the higher monthly payment on a 15-year mortgage, more of your money goes toward paying off the principal amount of your loan—instead of getting thrown away on interest.

That’s how the 15-year mortgage allows you to pay off your loan in half the time compared to a 30-year mortgage—and avoid a mountain of interest payments.

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Keep in mind, you never want a mortgage with a monthly payment that’s more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay—otherwise, you’d be house poor! That 25% limit includes principal, interest, property taxes, home insurance, private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners association (HOA) fees.

If a 15-year mortgage has you going over that 25% limit, you might be tempted to choose a 30-year mortgage to lower the monthly payment. But you’re really just trying to buy a house you can’t truly afford. A 30-year mortgage isn’t worth it!

Instead, try one of these ideas to keep the monthly payment on your 15-year mortgage within the 25% limit:

  • Work with a real estate agent who’s skilled at finding houses for sale that actually do fit your 25% limit. Fair warning: You may have to adjust your expectations on what you want in a house.
  • Save a bigger down payment so the monthly mortgage payment on your ideal house does fit your 25% limit.

Is It Cheaper to Pay Off a 30-Year Mortgage in 15 Years?

Some people get a 30-year mortgage, thinking they’ll pay it off in 15 years. If you did that, your 30-year mortgage would be cheaper because you’d save yourself 15 years of interest payments.

But doing that is really no different than choosing a 15-year mortgage in the first place. Besides that, choosing to make those extra payments would be up to you.

Good intentions aside, this rarely happens. Why? Because life happens instead. You might decide to keep that extra payment and take a vacation. Or maybe it’s time to upgrade your kitchen. What about a new wardrobe? Whatever it is, there’s always a reason to spend that money somewhere else.

When you have a 15-year mortgage from the beginning, you won’t be tempted to use that money for something else. You’ve got built-in accountability to get your house paid off fast!

Why Choose a 15-Year Mortgage Over a 30-Year Mortgage?

Here are the main reasons we teach home buyers to choose a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage:

1. You’ll save tens of thousands of dollars.

Remember our example from earlier? That 30-year mortgage would cost $100,000 (33%) more than a 15-year mortgage. Imagine what you could do with an extra hundred grand in your pocket by choosing a 15-year mortgage!

2. You’ll build equity in your home faster.

One way to build equity (the value of your home minus what you owe on it) is to pay back the principal balance of your loan, rather than just the interest.

Since you’re making bigger monthly payments on a 15-year mortgage, you’ll pay down the interest a lot faster, which means more of your payment will go to the principal every month.

On the flip side, the smaller monthly payments of a 30-year mortgage will have you paying down the interest a lot slower. So less of your monthly payment will go to the principal.

3. You’ll pay off your house in half the time.

Guess what? If you get a 15-year mortgage, it’ll be paid off in 15 years. Why would you choose to be in debt for 30 years if you could knock it out in only 15 years?

Just imagine what you could do with that extra money every month when your mortgage is paid off. That’s when the real fun begins! With no debt standing in your way, you can live and give like no one else.

Does Dave Ramsey Recommend a 15-Year Mortgage?

For decades, Dave Ramsey has been telling the millions of listeners who tune in to The Ramsey Show the best way to buy a house is with cash. But for those who are going to take out a loan, the only one he ever recommends is a 15-year conventional mortgage with a fixed interest rate and payments that are no more than 25% of their take-home pay.

Dave believes the shortest path to wealth is to avoid debt. And he says the best way to do that is to either buy a house with cash or go with a 15-year mortgage, which has the overall lowest total cost—and keeps borrowers on track to pay off their house fast.

How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Fast

Remember, the goal with any mortgage is to pay it off fast. You don’t want that thing weighing down your budget for the rest of your life. Knock it out in 15 years or less so you can move on to building extraordinary wealth and living and giving like nobody else.

Here are some tips on how to pay off your mortgage early:

  • Make extra house payments. When you find extra money in your budget at the end of the month, it’s too easy to spend it on something you don’t really need. Instead, what if you committed that surplus to paying off more of your mortgage each month?
  • Trim your budget. Imagine how much more money you could throw at your mortgage (and how much faster you’d pay it off) if you eat out less and trim down other unnecessary spending.
  • Refinance. If you already made the mistake of getting a 30-year mortgage, you could refinance to a 15-year term and pay off your mortgage in half the time!
  • Downsize. If you bought a house you feel like you’ll never pay off, an extreme way to crush that mortgage is to sell the house and downsize to something more affordable.

Get Help Choosing the Right Mortgage

It’s simple. Don’t settle for a 30-year mortgage. You can make the right mortgage decision by choosing a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage from the beginning. It’s a smart financial decision that will bless your family for years to come.

Talk to the RamseyTrusted home loan specialists at Churchill Mortgage about getting a 15-year mortgage that fits your budget so you can pay off your home fast.

Get help from a mortgage expert we trust!

Next Steps

  • Talk to a mortgage lender you can trust.
  • Steer clear of 50-year loans—they’re way too expensive in the long run.
  • Get a 15-year fixed rate conventional loan.

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About the author

Ramsey

Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. Learn More.

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15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: What's the Difference? ›

Generally, a 15-year mortgage means higher monthly payments. This means you'll be able to pay the loan off faster and pay less interest over the life of the loan. A 30-year mortgage generally offers lower monthly payments. With this option, the total amount you pay over the life of the loan will usually be higher.

Am I better off with a 15 or 30-year mortgage? ›

The rate on a 15-year mortgage is generally lower than on a 30-year mortgage. The average APR on a 15-year term was about 0.75 percentage points lower than that on a 30-year term, as of April 2024.

Is it cheaper to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 15 years? ›

Some people get a 30-year mortgage, thinking they'll pay it off in 15 years. If you did that, your 30-year mortgage would be cheaper because you'd save yourself 15 years of interest payments. But doing that is really no different than choosing a 15-year mortgage in the first place.

What is one advantage that is common to both 15-year and 30-year mortgages? ›

One advantage that is common to both 15-Year and 30-Year Mortgages is the ability to purchase a home without having to pay the full cost upfront. Both types of mortgages allow borrowers to make monthly payments over an extended period of time, which makes homeownership more affordable and accessible.

What is the disadvantage of a 15-year mortgage? ›

The 15-year mortgage has some advantages when compared to the 30-year, such as less overall interest paid, a lower interest rate, lower fees, and forced savings. There are, however, some disadvantages as well, such as higher monthly payments, less affordability, and less money going toward savings.

How many years is best for a mortgage? ›

Choosing a 25-year term will be cheaper in the long run, but make sure you can afford the higher monthly payments. If a shorter term makes repayments too expensive, consider the longer 30-year term.

What happens if I pay 3 extra mortgage payments a year? ›

Paying a little extra towards your mortgage can go a long way. Making your normal monthly payments will pay down, or amortize, your loan. However, if it fits within your budget, paying extra toward your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you'll pay.

What happens if I pay an extra $1000 a month on my mortgage? ›

Throwing in an extra $500 or $1,000 every month won't necessarily help you pay off your mortgage more quickly. Unless you specify that the additional money you're paying is meant to be applied to your principal balance, the lender may use it to pay down interest for the next scheduled payment.

How to pay off a 300k mortgage in 5 years? ›

Increasing your monthly payments, making bi-weekly payments, and making extra principal payments can help accelerate mortgage payoff. Cutting expenses, increasing income, and using windfalls to make lump sum payments can help pay off the mortgage faster.

How much is a $200000 mortgage payment for 30 years? ›

As far as the simple math goes, a $200,000 home loan at a 7% interest rate on a 30-year term will give you a $1,330.60 monthly payment. That $200K monthly mortgage payment includes the principal and interest.

Is 50 too old for a 30-year mortgage? ›

If you can demonstrate an ability to repay the loan before you're 75 years old, they will consider your application no matter your age! For example, if you needed to borrow $300,000 and were 50 years old, the standard 30-year mortgage term could be reduced to 25 years and your loan would be approved.

What is America's most popular mortgage? ›

America's most popular mortgage is the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, but it's not your only option. One alternative to the 30-year fixed is the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage. People with a 15-year term pay more per month than those with a 30-year term.

Why do some people choose a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year? ›

Lenders charge a lower interest rate for 15-year loans because it's easier to make predictions about repayment over a 15-year horizon than it is over a 30-year horizon. Another reason for the savings? Home buyers are borrowing the money for half the time, which dramatically reduces the cost of borrowing.

Why would someone choose a 30-year mortgage? ›

A 30-year fixed-rate loan is predictable, and gives you the “sleep well advantage.” Knowing your payment will remain consistent makes things a little less stressful, and makes it easier to make other financial plans. With this loan, you know that your monthly payment will always be $X.

Do you get a better rate on a 15-year mortgage? ›

One major advantage of a 15-year mortgage is its lower interest rate. Compared to a 30-year loan, a 15-year mortgage can carry an interest rate that's about three-quarters of a percentage point lower. In fact, 15-year loans are some of the cheapest money you'll find. That's the upside.

Why would it be beneficial to take out a 30-year mortgage? ›

A 30-year mortgage spreads out the cost of your home over the 30-year term. That gives you more time to pay it off. Because of this, you pay a lower monthly payment than you would for the same property with a 15-year or 20-year mortgage.

Why do people do 30-year mortgages? ›

Lower monthly payments: A 30-year mortgage spreads out the cost of your home over the 30-year term, giving you additional time to pay the loan back. As a result, you make a lower monthly payment than you would with a 15-year or 20-year mortgage for the same property.

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