Loan Amortization

4.2 Mortgages: Calculator Approach

A. Mortgage Definition and Types

A mortgage is a loan that is issued by a financial institution to a borrower to purchase real estate properties (business or residential properties) at a specific interest rate for a specific time period. The mortgage amortization period is the length of time it takes to pay off the entire amount borrowed based on the original mortgage contract. A mortgage term is the length of time for which the mortgage agreement (a specific interest rate) will be in effect. Mortgage agreements are generally negotiated several times during the amortization period. At the end of each mortgage term, the borrower renegotiates and renews for another term. The interest rate, the size of the payment, and payment and compounding frequencies can change each term. Figure 4.2.1 depicts an example of the amortization period and typical renewal terms for a 25-year mortgage.

An example of the amortization period and typical renewal terms of 5, 7, 3, 5, and 5 years for a 25-year mortgage. At the end of each term, the mortgage is renegotiated and renewed.Figure 4.2.1 An example of the amortization period and typical renewal terms for a 25-year mortgage

 

Financial institutions usually offer two types of mortgages: fixed-rate mortgages and variable-rate mortgages. Fixed-rate mortgages have a fixed interest rate for a specific period of time (mortgage term). Once the term is completed, the mortgage is renewed. The new term may have a different interest rate, size of the payment, and payment frequency. Variable-rate Mortgages are the ones in which the interest rate fluctuates depending on changes in the money market. This rate change is usually related to the lender’s prime rate.

Both mortgage types can be either open or closed. Closed Mortgages have a specific term and borrowers would have to pay a penalty for prepaying a large amount, closing the loan, or transferring to another lender. In contrast, open Mortgages allow borrowers to prepay any amount at any time, close, or transfer from one lender to another without being penalized. Because of the flexibility,  interest rates of open mortgages are usually higher than those of closed mortgages. Figure 13.2 summarizes the types of mortgages.

A diagram displaying different type of mortgages including Fixed rate and Variable rate mortgages both of which can be open or closed mortgages.

Figure 4.2.2 Types of Mortgages

B. Payment Amounts and the Outstanding Principal Balance on Mortgages

Calculations of payment amounts and the outstanding principal balance on mortgages are similar to what was discussed previously for all loan types. The next example illustrates.

 

Example 4.2.1: Compute Mortgage Payments for the First and Renewal Terms

John purchased a house for $350,000. He made a down payment of 15% of the value of the house and received a mortgage for the rest of the amount amortized over 20 years. He negotiated a fixed interest rate of 3.8% compounded semi-annually for a 3-year term. a) Calculate the end-of-quarter payment size. b) Find the outstanding principal balance at the end of the 3-year term. c) Calculate the new end-of-quarter payment amount if the mortgage was renewed for another 3 years at 2.5% compounded semi-annually.

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Given information:

  • Interest is compounded semi-annually so [asciimath]C//Y = 2[/asciimath]
  • Payments are made at the end of every quarter so [asciimath]P//Y = 4[/asciimath]

 [asciimath]C//Y != P//Y[/asciimath]  [asciimath]=>[/asciimath]   Ordinary General Annuity

  • Amortization period: [asciimath]t = 20[/asciimath] years
  • Number of payments in the amortization period: [asciimath]N =P//Y*t=4 (20) =80[/asciimath]
  • Nominal interest rate for Term 1: [asciimath]I//Y_1 = 3.8%[/asciimath]
  • Nominal interest rate for Term 2: [asciimath]I//Y_2 = 2.5%[/asciimath]
  • Purchase price [asciimath]= $350,000[/asciimath]
  • Down payment [asciimath]= 15%(350,000) = $52,500[/asciimath]

 

First, we need to find the amount of the mortgage, which is the remaining balance of the house price after paying the down payment.
 [asciimath]PV="Purchase Price"-"Down"[/asciimath]
 [asciimath]PV=350,000-52,500=$297,500[/asciimath]

 

a) We use the TVM worksheet to compute the PMT of the first 3-year term. Mortgage principal is cash inflow, so PV is input as a positive value.

The TVM Worksheet with input value to find PMT of the first term

The size of the quarterly payments is $5317.62. Note that PMT is rounded to the nearest cent, and then the rounded value is re-entered in the PMT key.

 

b) The number of payments by the end of the 3-year term will be

Number of payments in Term 1 = [asciimath]P//Y *"Number of years in Term 1" = 4(3) = 12[/asciimath]

To find the outstanding balance at the end of the first 3-year term, we use the AMORT worksheet and set P1 = P2 =12 (P1 can be any value less than and equal to 12 but make sure P2 = 12).

The AMORT Worksheet with input value

Therefore, the outstanding principal balance at the end of the first 3-year term is $265,830.61.

c) The renewed term will have a new PMT as the nominal interest rate has reduced. To compute the new PMT, we use the TVM worksheet and the information for Term 2:

A timeline for this example displaying the the original amortization period of 20 years and the first and second terms of 3 years. The renewal date is at the end of the first 3-year term. The new amortization period at renewal is 17 years.

New amortization period = Original Amortization period – the first term

  • New amortization period: [asciimath]t_2[/asciimath] [asciimath]= 20 \ "years" - 3 \ "years" = 17 \ "years"[/asciimath]
  • The present value is the balance at the end of the first term: [asciimath]PV= $265,830.61[/asciimath]
  • Number of payments in the new amortization period: [asciimath]N = P//Y (t_2)=4(17)=68[/asciimath]
  • New nominal interest rate [asciimath]I//Y_2 = 2.5%[/asciimath]

The TVM Worksheet with input value to find PMT of the renewed term

Therefore, the size of the quarterly payments in the renewed term is $4807.70.

The above figure includes a bar chart displaying the interest and principal portions of both the payments already made and those projected until the end of the amortization period. Also, it features line charts depicting the outstanding principal balance for Term 1 (covering the first 12 payments) and Term 2 (encompassing payments 13 to 24). It is noteworthy that due to the lower interest rate in the second term, the size of the payments and the interest portions are smaller compared to those in the first term. The slider tool allows you to zoom in and focus on a specific period within the chart.

 

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Section 4.2 Exercises

  1. Sheniqua purchased a house for $930,000. He made a down payment of 16% of the value of the house and received a mortgage for the rest of the amount amortized over 25 years. She negotiated a fixed interest rate of 3.56% compounded semi-annually for a 5-year term. a) Calculate the size of month-end payments. b) Calculate the principal balance at the end of the 5-year term. c) Calculate the size of month-end payments if the mortgage was renewed for another 5-year term at a fixed rate of 2.97% compounded semi-annually.
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    a) PMT = $3,925.08

    b) BAL = $674,757.75

    c) New PMT = $3,725.93

  2. Sarah purchased a house for $1,770,000. She made a down payment of 15% of the value of the house and received a mortgage for the rest of the amount amortized over 25 years. She negotiated a fixed interest rate of 3.2% compounded semi-annually for a 4-year term. a) Calculate the size of month-end payments. b) Calculate the principal balance at the end of the 4-year term. c) Calculate the size of month-end payments if the mortgage was renewed for another 4-year term at a fixed rate of 2.01% compounded semi-annually.
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    a) PMT = $7,275.27

    b) BAL = $1,336,349.88

    c) New PMT = $6,499.72

  3. Arman bought an apartment for $850,000. He made a down payment of 26% of the value of the apartment and received a mortgage for the rest of the amount amortized over 25 years. He negotiated a fixed interest rate of 3.96% compounded semi-annually for a 7-year term. a) What was the size of month-end payments? b) Calculate the principal balance at the end of the 7-year term. c) What is the size of month-end payments if the mortgage is renewed for another 7-year term at a fixed rate of 3.9% compounded semi-annually?
    Show/Hide Answer

     

    a) PMT = $3,295.04

    b) BAL = $509,698.20

    c) New PMT = $3,279.57

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