5.If the Sommers had chosen the original 15-year, 6.25% mortgage proposal, how much tax shelter would they have lost (over the last five years) as compared to the 30-year, 7.25% mortgage?

6.If the house is currently worth $355,000 and most lenders are willing to lend up to 90% of home value, how much excess equity can the Sommers cash out?

7.Should Jacqueline and Keith cash out the excess equity that they have built up? Assume money market rates are 2.15%.

8.If the Sommers had increased each payment by one-twelfth (since the beginning of the loan), what would their current loan balance amount to?

9.Using the assumption in question 8, how many total years would it take for the Sommers to pay off the existing loan? Demonstrate your answer with an amortization schedule.

10.Should Jacqueline and Keith close the 2.75%, 15-year mortgage? Explain your answer with suitable calculations.

8 Loan Amortization Paying Off That Dream House When Jacqueline and Keith Sommers were "house hunting five years ago, the mortgage rates were pretty high. The fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage was 7.25%, while the 15-year fixed rate was at 6.25%. After walking through many homes, they finally reached a consensus and decided to buy a $300,000, two-story house in an up-and-coming suburban neighborhood in the Midwest. To avoid prepaid mortgage insurance (PMI), the couple had to borrow from family members and come up with a 20% down payment and the additional required closing costs. Since Jacqueline and Keith had already accumulated significant credit card debt and were still paying off their college loans, they decided to opt for lower monthly payments by taking on a 30-year mortgage, despite its higher interest rate. Currently, due to worsening economic conditions, mortgage rates have come down significantly and a refinancing frenzy is underway. Jacqueline and Keith have seen 15-year fixed rates (with no closing costs) advertised at 2.75%, and 30-year rates at 3.75%. Jacqueline and Keith realize that refinancing is quite a hassle due to all the paperwork involved, but with rates being down to 30-year lows they don't want to let this opportunity pass them by. About two years ago, rates were down to similar levels, but they procrastinated and missed the boat. This time, however, the couple called their mortgage officer at the Uptown Bank and locked in the 2.75%, 15-year rate. Nothing was going to stop them from reducing the costs of paying off their dream house this time! 34 8 Loan Amortization Paying Off That Dream House When Jacqueline and Keith Sommers were "house hunting five years ago, the mortgage rates were pretty high. The fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage was 7.25%, while the 15-year fixed rate was at 6.25%. After walking through many homes, they finally reached a consensus and decided to buy a $300,000, two-story house in an up-and-coming suburban neighborhood in the Midwest. To avoid prepaid mortgage insurance (PMI), the couple had to borrow from family members and come up with a 20% down payment and the additional required closing costs. Since Jacqueline and Keith had already accumulated significant credit card debt and were still paying off their college loans, they decided to opt for lower monthly payments by taking on a 30-year mortgage, despite its higher interest rate. Currently, due to worsening economic conditions, mortgage rates have come down significantly and a refinancing frenzy is underway. Jacqueline and Keith have seen 15-year fixed rates (with no closing costs) advertised at 2.75%, and 30-year rates at 3.75%. Jacqueline and Keith realize that refinancing is quite a hassle due to all the paperwork involved, but with rates being down to 30-year lows they don't want to let this opportunity pass them by. About two years ago, rates were down to similar levels, but they procrastinated and missed the boat. This time, however, the couple called their mortgage officer at the Uptown Bank and locked in the 2.75%, 15-year rate. Nothing was going to stop them from reducing the costs of paying off their dream house this time! 34