How to reduce your loan repayment term
It is possible for you to pay off your bond in less than 20years. Below, we will discuss a few small changes that can make a huge difference:
Affordability
You must have a clear idea of what you can afford in terms of expenses and monthly bond installments before you apply for a home loan.
By having a clear idea of what you can afford will determine if you can afford the payments and the costs thats associated with owning a home. This will be your rates and taxes, water and electricity, insurance, maintenance and any other unforeseen expenses that can arise.
Get rid of your short term and unnecessary debt
We sometimes underestimate the influence of little things, it is the small things that add up to big things. Reduce or completely cut out any short-term debt before taking up a home loan.
You can save a lot of money by the slightest change to your daily routine.
Pay extras into your home loan
Being disciplined by not spending extra cash on unnecessary luxuries can cut years worth of interest from your loan term.
Put any extra monies you earn or receive towards your bond repayment and don’t reduce your monthly repayments if a rate cut occurs.
This is an illustration given by Steven Barker, Head of Home Loans at Standard Bank:
Barker says the assumption is that the interest rate remains at 12% for the entire loan term. Making additional payments to your monthly minimum installment of just R300, R500 and R1000 can have a significant impact on the term and interest saved as illustrated below:
Additional payment |
Term reduction months |
Term reduction years |
Interest saving |
R300 | 27 months | 2.3 years |
R179 140.04 |
R500 | 41 months | 3.4 years |
R274 369.29 |
R1 000 | 68 months | 5.7 years |
R454 068.55 |
Save and plan ahead for your Deposit
By saving for a deposit before you purchase a home, will lesson the loan amount, and this will enable you to pay off your bond in a shorter period of time.
Plan ahead, work out your budget and stay within your limits.