Which is better: a 15 or 30 year mortgage term?

15 year term saves you INTEREST_DIFFERENCE, but costs an additional PAYMENT_DIFFERENCE per month.

A 15 year mortgage term will save you INTEREST_DIFFERENCE in interest, but only if you can afford an additional PAYMENT_DIFFERENCE per month. Total payments for a LOAN_AMOUNT, 15 year mortgage at TERM15_INTEREST_RATE is TERM15_TOTAL_OF_PAYMENTS. Total payments for the same loan with a 30 year mortgage at TERM30_INTEREST_RATE is TERM30_TOTAL_OF_PAYMENTS.

Mortgage Comparison
 15 year mortgage30 year mortgage
Loan amountLOAN_AMOUNTLOAN_AMOUNT
Interest rateTERM15_INTEREST_RATETERM30_INTEREST_RATE
Monthly paymentTERM15_MONTHLY_PITERM30_MONTHLY_PI
Total interestTERM15_INTEREST_PAIDTERM30_INTEREST_PAID
Total paymentsTERM15_TOTAL_OF_PAYMENTSTERM30_TOTAL_OF_PAYMENTS

Interest and Income Taxes

Changing your mortgage term can make a difference in not only the interest you pay, but your income taxes. A longer mortgage term can increase your income tax deduction. Take a look at the results below, to see how the different terms stack up.

Interest and Income Tax Comparison
 15 year mortgage30 year mortgage
First months interestTERM15_FIRST_MONTH_INTEREST TERM30_FIRST_MONTH_INTEREST
First months principalTERM15_FIRST_MONTH_PRINCIPALTERM30_FIRST_MONTH_PRINCIPAL
First years interestTERM15_FIRST_YEAR_INTERESTTERM30_FIRST_YEAR_INTEREST
First years tax savingsTERM15_FIRST_YEAR_TAX_SAVINGSTERM30_FIRST_YEAR_TAX_SAVINGS
Avg. years tax savingsTERM15_AVG_TAX_SAVINGSTERM30_AVG_TAX_SAVINGS

15 Year Payment schedule
TERM15_SCHEDULE

30 Year Payment schedule
TERM30_SCHEDULE

Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can not and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.