

Interest rates are near historic lows, so it's possible to replace a 30-year mortgage with a 15-year loan and still afford the monthly payments. Or, if you've already refinanced at a dirt cheap rate, you can take those savings and pay down your principal faster.

But the allure is more emotional than financial. Mortgage debt provides great financial flexibility, and paying it down fast probably isn't the best way to grow your nest egg.

"Generally speaking, there's no advantage to paying down a mortgage earlier than you need to," says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at





Jim Sharvin, a certified public accountant with the firm McDowell Dillon & Hunter in Torrance, Calif. says if you are thinking of paying down the principal of a mortgage more quickly than necessary -- either by switching to a shorter-term loan or sending extra principal payments to the bank -- consider first doing the following:

-- Pay down all high-interest debt, like a credit card. It's the first priority because it's very expensive debt, and it has no tax or other financial benefit.

-- Build a cash cushion to cover unexpected expenses or loss of income.






There are other situations where it's smart to pay down a mortgage early.

The first scenario is when you're trying to eliminate the cost of private mortgage insurance, or PMI. That's the insurance you must carry if you put down less than 20 percent on your home. It makes sense to speed up payments on your principal until you're allowed to drop the insurance.

It's also good to pay down your mortgage if you don't have the discipline to reinvest extra money wisely. Handing the money to your mortgage company is one way to protect you from yourself.

Even if paying down a mortgage fast is the best choice, there are smarter ways than opting for a 15-year loan. That's because the shorter term locks you into a higher payment, and that can become a burden if money gets tight.

A 30-year loan gives you options. If find yourself with extra money, then pay down the principal as aggressively as you like. But if you're short, scale back to the regular monthly amount. That flexibility is probably worth the slightly higher interest rate on the 30-year loan these days, Sharvin says.



The homeowner with the 15-year loan will have no extra savings after 15 years. But then his mortgage payments will end. He'll try to catch up, but he's starting from so far behind that by the time 30 years are up -- and both loans are paid off -- the homeowner with the 30-year loan will have $124,000 more in savings.