Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster!Whether you have an FHA loan or a private mortgage from the bank down the street, the idea of paying off your loan is no doubt attractive. If you’re in a good place financially, there are ways to take your 30 year mortgage and pay it off in half, or even a third of the time, without breaking your budget.

1. Increase Your Monthly Payments

The quickest way to chip away at your mortgage is to increase the amount you pay each month. Even if it’s just by a little each month, you’ll be getting ahead of the game. If possible, try to make an extra full payment once in a while, thus reducing the number of payments you’ll owe. While this is often a money management issue, if you’ve been given a bonus at work, or added income to your home, consider devoting more of these funds to your mortgage payment and less to other spending.

2. Renegotiate the Terms of the Loan

Depending on your loan, you may be able to renegotiate certain terms in order to facilitate faster repayment. If you are able to get a lower interest rate, this will lower your monthly payment. The trick is to continue paying the same amount as before. This acts in the same vein as increasing the amount you pay each month. Additionally, speaking to a financial consultant can help you understand bank-specific tricks to pay off your mortgage faster.

Keep in mind, the goal of these tips isn’t to encourage you to live beyond your comfort level. Even if you can only afford to put a little more toward your mortgage each month, that’s okay, you’re still working to pay off your loan sooner rather than later. Working to paying down your mortgage earlier may just allow you to live with limited housing costs during your retirement.