travelzoo

If you have cash available, the question of paying down your mortgage versus investing the money will depend on many factors. This article will go through the factors to consider and what assumption are implied in the process.

The situation is that the mortgage is $300,000, with an interest rate of 3%, due in 3 years’ time. The current monthly payments are $1500 per month. There is an amount of $200,000 USD which is available to pay down debt or invest. There is no other debt to speak of, and the mortgage is held against a house valued at $700,000 that generates rental income of $20,000 per year. The income of the person holding the mortgage was $80,000 per year and has now been reduced to $40,000 and the income used to be from full-time employment and is now self-employment income. There is assumed to be no other sources of income.

Criterion #1

Is there an aversion to holding debt? If the number one priority is debt reduction or elimination, the cash should be handled conservatively and the debt should be paid off either in lump sum payments where possible or as a large payment at the end of the 3 year period when the mortgage is up for renewal.

Criterion #2

What is the comfort level in taking risk? Another way to say this is: If I lose a large percentage of the money that I have invested, will I panic and lose sleep? Another version of this question is: If I lose a large percentage of my investment, am I willing and able to wait for the investments to recover? How much is a “large percentage”? The typical number I use is 1/3 or 33%. You can insert your worst case scenario figure instead. Where does this worst case figure come from? The number comes from a typical equity market crash scenario or the worst decline in investment value that you can imagine happening. How long does it take for investments to recover? The typical figure is at least 5 years. If you want a lot of certainty in your income, 10 years is more realistic if the drop is long lived. The assumptions here use an equity correction. A real estate correction or a drop in another market can be used as well, but the equities market is the most common exposure.

Criterion #3

How proficient of an investor am I? A related way of phrasing this is: Do I have an alternative way of using my money to generate higher returns? If you are a new or novice investor, paying debt would be preferred because that is likely to be the best outcome. If you would like to learn more about investing or have conviction about how to make money, then you may want to consider alternatives to paying down debt.

Criterion #4

Income generation from the cash can be compared using an equity / fixed income allocation of investments compared to the interest costs of the debt after fees and taxes. Why? Interest costs on debt are paid after taxes, whereas income from investments is typically generated before fees and taxes. Looking at criteria #2 and #3, what is the best return I would achieve from my investments? If you feel you can generate some return, use the equation: Income Return generated less investment fees and taxes compared to debt interest rate you are currently paying.

Let’s say that you plan to invest 50% in equities and 50% in fixed income. The dividend yield on the equities is 4% and the interest return on the fixed income is 2%. The average rate of return is 3%. For the taxes, there are a few additional questions. What is my tax rate right now on my income? Do I have any registered accounts that I can park money into that could change my tax rate? The assumptions so far ignore capital gains because these are unpredictable in the short run. Let’s say that your tax rate is 20% and you have no registered accounts available. The 3% earned on the investments less management fees of 0.25% per year less taxes of 20% * 2.75% = 0.55%. The net return from your investments after taxes is 3% – 0.25% – 0.55% =2.2%. The debt interest rate is 3%. If you believe that the capital gains on your investments will make this worthwhile, you can assume a return for the capital gains portion of the investment and add it to the return. The tax on the capital gain is generally half of your tax rate – in this case 10%.

Within the investment rate of return in this case is the currency exchange rate from U.S. Dollars (USD) to Canadian Dollars (CAD). This would be another factor to consider as well.

Criterion #5

Will the future interest rate change by the time I renew my mortgage? If the investment return exceeds the mortgage return but the future rate in 3 years will rise to 6%, is the investment still viable? If it is not, paying down the debt looks more promising. Should the interest rate drop when the mortgage is renewed, the investment return looks more promising. This decision involves predicting the future which is not easy to do. If it becomes obvious which way the interest rate will go, the decision will become clearer.

Other criteria

Other criteria could be whether the investment rate of return prospects become better – such as after a market correction. You may have a better conviction on a specific market versus the average which would make investments more enticing. Your income may increase to the point that paying down your mortgage is easier and faster, or vice versa. The equity in your house may go up or down which can also change the decision.

This article is meant to examine the thought process of how to make a decision with many unknowns. As you go through the process, the answer for your situation becomes clearer and more applicable to where you are at a moment in time.

As a reverse mortgage loan officer, I see many heart-breaking stories every day. The sad truth is most of us have not planned properly for our retirement I am 64 myself and fall into this category. Most of my friends are already retired and have fat 401K’s or Pensions to fall back on. Nearly all of them worked for large companies.

I took a different path. I was self-employed for most of my life. It gave me a lot of freedoms and the ability to control my own destiny. I was mildly successful, being able to support myself in a comfortable lifestyle, buy flashy cars and clothes and take expensive vacations. I did not put money away for my retirement and will have to retire to the fixed income the Social Security Agency provides. Had I paid my home off, I would be in much better shape and could nearly get by on the $1850 Social Security would pay me if I retired now. If I wait until I and 66 year and 6 months that skyrockets up to $2200 and if I continue to work until I am 70, I’ll get a whopping $2600 per month. The only problem is I haven’t paid off my home.

At this point, I would be much better in a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage would eliminate my house payment for the rest of my life and allow me to stay in my home forever. They can never call the loan due unless I pass away, move out of the home or sell the home.

I would be responsible for the taxes and insurance which amounts to about $300 per month. I would also have to pay my Home Owner Association dues which are currently about $325 per month. So out of my $1850 per month from SSA, I would have to live on $1200 per month. Its doable but not very comfortable. Not what I have worked for 40 years to achieve

A reverse mortgage will also give me a line of credit which I can tap at any time. If I don’t tap it, it will grow at approximately 3% per month. It doesn’t sound like a lot but keep in mind its more than the interest I would get at a bank. Once my value is established, they can never cut the amount of my line or credit or call the loan due even if my home falls in value.

If you had a HELOC, a home equity line of credit, the amount of the HELOC can and has been cut in the past due to prevailing real estate values. This happened to nearly everyone in 2008 when the subprime bubble burst. People found that when they needed the money the most, it was not available to them. This caused a lot of people to declare bankruptcy because they were no longer able to pay their bills after being laid off on their jobs.

The Reverse mortgage prevents this from ever happening. They place an insurance policy in the loan called Mortgage insurance that protects the bank in the event the values plummet again. It also protects the borrower from adverse affects of their bank going out of business.

A reverse mortgage was designed for Seniors who were cash poor but had built up a lot of equity in their homes. Its not unusual for me to find Seniors trying to get by on less than $2000 per month but have several hundred thousand dollars in their homes that is just sitting there.

If you find yourself in this situation, look into a reverse mortgage. It will help you with your finances, provide a little more spendable money each month and give you the security of being able to stay in your home as long as you want.

Each of us, have several options, and alternatives, when it comes to our decisions, regarding, choosing how we invest our monies, and, why we choose, one vehicle, over another! Although, there are quite a number of possibilities, the most – often, used, are: the bank; US Treasury obligations; Municipal Bonds; Corporate Bonds; and, Mutual funds/ Individual stocks. The purpose of this article is not to provide investment advice, but, rather, to attempt to clarify, the differences, possibilities, etc. It’s your hard – earned money, so the more you know, and understand, the better, you might be capable of, making the wisest, personal decisions. With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, these 5 choices, and the most, significant impacts.

1. Bank: Some feel most comfortable, putting their funds, in the bank, for a number of reasons. One of the most significant is, their personal comfort zone, as well as convenience, etc! Although, the protections and insurance, banks offer, make it safe, it also, usually, translates to a relatively, low, rate of return, etc. Although,we currently, exist, in a very low – interest, financial environment, and relatively – low, inflation, historically, bank returns, are, nearly, always, lower, than the cost of living, etc!

2. US Treasury obligations: The United States Treasury depends on a variety of debt obligations, with various limitations, due dates, terms, etc. They are usually distinguished, between, bills, and bonds, and, are considered the safest – possible investment vehicles. Obviously, because of this, they generally pay lower interest/ dividend rates, than corresponding, corporate, and municipal, bonds, etc.

3. Municipal Bonds: When municipalities, such as cities, states, and various municipal agencies, etc, need to borrow funds, they generally rely on using, Municipal Bonds. When, one invests in a Municipal Bond, which is from the state, you reside and pay taxes, in, the interest received, is tax – free. Depending on one’s tax level/ rate, and how, he handles risks, etc, as well as the corresponding rate, paid, by both corporate, versus, municipal obligations, these may make sense, for some!

4. Corporate Bonds: When corporations borrow funds, they, often, offer Corporate Bonds, as their financing vehicle. These are, often, rated, based on the overall, financial picture, of the company! Some of these, are backed – up, by the full faith, and earnings/ assets, of the corporation, while some, are only covered by, a specific project, etc. Depending on rating, terms, type, length, quality, etc, the coupon – rate, is determined! These payments are taxable, and, may make sense, or not, dependent on one’s circumstances, needs, etc.

5. Mutual Funds/ individual stocks: One may, also, decide to invest in a variety of individual stocks, or, discover, investing in a Mutual Fund, makes more sense, for him. Remember, there are never, guarantees, when investing in stocks, etc, but, they, sometimes, offer, more potential, etc. A mutual fund, is a managed group of stocks, bonds, etc, with a specific purpose, etc. There are several reliable organizations, who evaluate and consider, a variety of factors, and, then, rate them!

The more, one knows, and understands, about, the options, and alternatives, the better, he becomes, capable, of proceeding, in a wise, prudent, well – informed manner, which makes sense, to him! These 5 approaches, are simply, the tip – of – the – iceberg, and the more you know, the better prepared, you might be!