QuestionHannah signs on a $148,500 mortgage at a 4.5% annual interest rate for 20 years. This results in a monthly payment of $938.48. If only the minimum payment is made in month one, how much of the first payment goes toward reducing her balance?First let's find the amount of interest she paid in month 1, then find the amount toward reducing the balance.
Q. QuestionHannah signs on a $148,500 mortgage at a 4.5% annual interest rate for 20 years. This results in a monthly payment of $938.48. If only the minimum payment is made in month one, how much of the first payment goes toward reducing her balance?First let's find the amount of interest she paid in month 1, then find the amount toward reducing the balance.
Calculate Monthly Interest: To determine how much of the first payment goes toward reducing the mortgage balance, we first need to calculate the amount of interest charged in the first month. The interest for one month is calculated by taking the annual interest rate, dividing it by 12 to get the monthly interest rate, and then multiplying it by the current balance of the mortgage.Calculation: Monthly interest rate = Annual interest rate / 12Monthly interest rate = 4.5%/12Monthly interest rate = 0.045/12Monthly interest rate = 0.00375Interest for the first month = Mortgage balance × Monthly interest rateInterest for the first month = $148,500×0.00375Interest for the first month = $556.875
Calculate Amount Towards Balance: Now that we have the interest for the first month, we can calculate how much of the first payment goes toward reducing the balance. The amount that goes toward the balance is the total monthly payment minus the interest portion.Calculation:Amount toward reducing the balance = Total monthly payment - Interest for the first monthAmount toward reducing the balance = $938.48 - $556.875Amount toward reducing the balance = $381.605