A. Assume you are paying $1,000 per month on a 30 year mortgage of $150,000 and are on payment number 12 of the 360 monthly payments. You notice that your home equity has only increased (the principle owed decreased) by $650 so far because early payments are mostly interest. You change jobs and get a $500 monthly raise. Yes or no, should you use the pay raise to pay more each month on your mortgage, and why?
B. Assume you pay $500 extra each month on the mortgage starting with payment 13, and doing so shortens your payment timetable to just 21 years total. How much extra have you paid into the equity of the home?