Monthly Payment for a $250,000 Mortgage
The typical monthly payment for a $250,000 mortgage will be between $1,050 and $1,250. The exact amount will depend on several different factors, as every borrower will have a slightly different monthly obligation that will be based on their financial credentials and the down payment they can afford.
When you apply for a loan, the lender will analyze your income, employment history, assets, savings, credit score, and other indicators to determine an interest rate that correlates with the amount of risk you pose as a borrower. They will then calculate the amount of interest you'll owe over the life of the loan and add that to the unpaid principal, then create an amortization schedule that will reveal your monthly payment.
So, if you buy a $250,000 home with a 20% down payment ($50,000), you have an outstanding balance of $200,000. If you take out a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4.99%, your monthly mortgage payment would be around $1,072. These figures will change slightly depending on your financial profile, but this is generally what you can expect.
Total Interest Paid on a $250,000 Mortgage
Beyond your monthly mortgage payment, it's also important to consider how much total interest you're likely to pay over the life of the loan. Every time you make a payment, some of it will go toward paying interest, while some of it will go toward paying down the principal. So, you will pay interest until the entire loan is paid off.
But the total amount also depends on your interest rate and the length of the loan term. For instance, in the above example of a 30-year fixed rate loan at 4.99%, you'd pay $185,730 in interest on a $250k mortgage. That's on top of the $200,000 in unpaid principal.
However, you have a few options if you want to reduce the interest paid throughout the loan. You could make a large lump sum payment and pay off the loan sooner (although be careful of prepayment penalties). Or you could choose a 15-year fixed rate mortgage which would mean a higher monthly payment but less interest over time. For example, you would only pay $83,995 for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.99%. So, if you can afford it, a 15-year loan is worth considering.
$250,000 Mortgage Amortization Schedule
If you want to see exactly how your monthly mortgage payment is determined and how much interest vs. principal you're paying each month, you should consider creating an amortization schedule. Amortization is the process of paying down a loan balance with consistent installments over time. It sounds like an intimidating concept, but it's quite simple if you break it down.
Here is a look at the amortization schedule for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.99% for the first year.
|
Month |
Principal |
Interest |
Outstanding Balance |
|
1 |
$240.75 |
$831.67 |
$199,759.25 |
|
2 |
$241.76 |
$830.67 |
$199,517.49 |
|
3 |
$242.76 |
$829.66 |
$199,274.73 |
|
4 |
$243.77 |
$828.65 |
$199,030.96 |
|
5 |
$244.78 |
$827.64 |
$198,786.17 |
|
6 |
$245.80 |
$826.62 |
$198,540.37 |
|
7 |
$246.82 |
$825.60 |
$198,293.55 |
|
8 |
$247.85 |
$824.57 |
$198,045.70 |
|
9 |
$248.88 |
$823.54 |
$197,796.82 |
|
10 |
$249.92 |
$822.51 |
$197,546.90 |
|
11 |
$250.96 |
$821.47 |
$197,295.94 |
|
12 |
$252.00 |
$820.42 |
$197,043.95 |
As you can see, with each payment you make, the outstanding balance begins to shrink, which means that the amount of interest owed on each payment slowly shrinks as well, until toward the end of the loan, when you're mostly just making payments toward the principal. You can extend this table to show the loan's entire life if needed.
How to Get a $250,000 Mortgage
A $250,000 mortgage is relatively easy to find and will be offered by virtually every lender offering home loans. However, you must meet the lender's requirements to be approved for a loan. Most conventional lenders will want a credit score in the mid to high 600s but may go as low as 620. If your score is lower than that, you'll want to look at a government-backed loan program such as an FHA, VA, or USDA loan or work on your credit before you apply.
You'll also have to meet the lender's requirements regarding income. Most experts agree that you shouldn't spend more than 28% of your income on housing payments. So, to afford a $250,000 mortgage, you'll need to show at least $45,000 in annual revenue (although exact requirements depend on the lender).
Where to Get a $250,000 Mortgage
You can get a $250,000 mortgage from virtually any lender offering home loans. Most borrowers tend to go with their neighborhood bank or credit union, but online mortgage lenders have also become quite popular and offer attractive benefits for specific borrowers. The best course of action is to research as many options as possible and shop around to get the best rate. Some lenders offer discounts for first-time home buyers or other groups you may benefit from. But you won't know what's available if you don't shop around.