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Wonder Why

(4,769 posts)
60. If you have enough, put that into a Money Market account as long as it is paying more than
Wed Jan 1, 2025, 12:09 PM
Wednesday

the interest you pay on the mortgage. Then use some of the gains from the money Market to make additional payments. If the Money Market moves to less than the mortgage interest, sell it and pay off the mortgage.

Let's say your mortgage is 3% interest and your MM pays 5%. Three percent goes towards additional payments and the rest reinvested in the MM or used to buy more equities.

You more quickly pay down your mortgage and, at the same time, get more money in income.

If you can't make as much as the mortgage interest at some time because interest rates drip, then the money is there to pay off the mortgage as that "earns" you more than holding on to the MM.

Annually, review how much you owe to pay off the mortgage and transfer the excess from your MM to other securities.

NOTE: Unlike CDs and other interest bearing accounts, MMs are like equities in that the "interest" is considered "dividends" and dividends held over 1 year are taxed at only half their amount so make sure that any withdrawals are set to be FILO (first in last out) so that the payouts are coming from the fully taxable shares and not the ones taxed at half the amount. Many investment companies set payouts to be FIFO so the older ones are sold and taxed less but in your case, you are always taking money out monthly so FILO is best.

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I'd pay off the mortgage. If the economy goes to shit at least you'll own your house Ocelot II Dec 27 #1
That's what I am thinking too. And who knows how they will screw with SS. OAITW r.2.0 Dec 27 #2
There might be snowybirdie Wednesday #51
I paid mine off, it was a better move for me regardless of the tax situation. Ocelot II Wednesday #54
Are you familiar with the Turbineguy Dec 27 #3
I did, once, about 30 years ago. OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #6
If you've got it... 2naSalit Dec 27 #4
I have 2 CD's that would about cover it. About 6 months from maturity. OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #9
Hmm... 2naSalit Saturday #10
Only if you itemize your deductions. Many do not since they changed the law question everything Saturday #14
I thought that didn't matter now with the higher personal deduction, especially on 80k Shellback Squid Saturday #16
It comes down to the total annual interest cost plus annual property taxes IbogaProject Saturday #17
You get a tax deduction on the mortgage interest Felicita Saturday #21
Good advice, thanks. Maybe paying down chunks. over time, is the better way to go. OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #23
Prepaying some of the principal each month is a good option. TheRickles Wednesday #52
The fed has signaled that inflation and interest rates are going up, IIRC. usonian Saturday #5
you'll give up $80K and lose a tax deduction. whats the interest rates for mortgage vs possible msongs Saturday #7
How much interest is in your payments? Renew Deal Saturday #8
Pay off the mortgage. greatauntoftriplets Saturday #11
What's the interest rate on the mortgage and how old is it? PSPS Saturday #12
I paid mine off, with $500 to spare in my account. alfredo Saturday #13
Well, I can tell you, 1st hand, LL Bean's sells quality product. OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #24
your current interest rate on the mortgage? Shellback Squid Saturday #15
I think it's 3.5% OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #18
CDs and short-term treasury bills/other bonds are currently over 4 percent carpetbagger Saturday #20
Debt free is great state of mind. rubbersole Saturday #19
I'm leaning that way, too. OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #25
I paid mine off earlier this year. woven Saturday #22
Welcome aboard! OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #27
No advice, just analysis here HariSeldon Saturday #26
Something to consider. Thanks for posting. OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #28
We were in the same situation 25 years ago - Paid off the mortgage GoneOffShore Saturday #29
Pay off the mortgage FirefighterJo Saturday #30
This is good advice Renew Deal Saturday #32
I have an Acorns account. Something I am trying to get my kids and neices and nephews to use, OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #38
I never regretted paying off my mortgage early. viva la Saturday #31
2008 - and the Maidoff led market collapse. I sat down with my wife. "Lets pay it off now because we don't know 3Hotdogs Saturday #33
I'm kinda where you are, but without the wife. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #39
50 acres. Where is that? The only acre I got is from a bad tooth. 3Hotdogs Tuesday #40
Central Maine. Right smack in the middle of nowhere. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #41
NIce. I had friends who had several acres in Stetson, Me., outside of Bangor. They bought a couple of acres, around '72, 3Hotdogs Tuesday #45
Never had an experience like that. I was on the Planning Board in my town in the 90;s. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #46
Different times ----- different neighbors. 3Hotdogs Tuesday #47
Continuing. 3Hotdogs Tuesday #48
Had a very deep temperature drop 2 years ago. Really cold, then -50F below overnigjt, then really cold again. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #49
How old are you? And are the investments mostly MontanaFarmer Saturday #34
I'm encroaching on 72. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #42
That's tempting to get out of the MontanaFarmer Wednesday #50
Invest a small portion into Quantam computing and Beachnutt Saturday #35
I did it shortly before retiring - smartest thing I could have done under the circumstances. Ocelot II Saturday #36
I am 72. Thinking about a living trust to put the house into and making my kids the beneficiaries. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #43
How do you feel about buying dead horses? lastlib Monday #37
To simplify. I have an $80K mortgage at 3.5% (20 years/ 5 years in). I have CD investment equivalents making 5% OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #44
I've been interested in this thread wryter2000 Wednesday #53
If you have 15 year CDs earning 5%, you would be better off financially to not pay off your mortgage; however, surfered Wednesday #56
Sounds like a good plan. multigraincracker Wednesday #58
Consider what they economic opportunity cost is LogDog75 Wednesday #61
We didn't have a very good loan so it made sense for us to pay off our mortgage many years ago. CrispyQ Wednesday #55
Pay off the mortgage. ificandream Wednesday #57
I had planned on paying my house off when I retired Americanme Wednesday #59
If you have enough, put that into a Money Market account as long as it is paying more than Wonder Why Wednesday #60
money market dividends are not qualified dividends, and so are not eligible for the capital gains rate nmmi Wednesday #62
I stand corrected on that point. They are not eligible for capital gains rate. Wonder Why Wednesday #63
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