A Financial Analysis of Consumer Mortgage Decisions
In This Section
Title: A Financial Analysis of Consumer Mortgage Decisions
Date: 6/25/2009
Author(s): Andrew J. Kalotay and Qi Fu
Executive Summary:
This study provides financial planners, housing counselors and potential homeowners with a deeper look into some of the complex mortgage decisions consumers face, as well as methods for analyzing mortgage choices. Using standard, well-understood approaches and tools that are used by corporate and municipal treasurers, the authors illustrate how these can be adapted for residential mortgages.
The main topics covered are:
- The importance of a homeowner's planned ownership horizon in determining the appropriate mortgage product and rate/point tradeoff
- How to determine the right time to refinance by balancing the gain from lowering payments today against the loss of option value from refinancing too early
- The costs and benefits of paying down a mortgage versus other potential investment choices