The Sheryl Reedy Team - RE/MAX Results
Performance Outsells Promises.

Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later - 8/20/2025

There was a memorable Fram Oil Filter commercial years ago where a mechanic asked a customer during an oil change if he wanted to replace the filter. When the customer declined, the mechanic calmly replied, "That's okay with me. You can pay me now, or you can pay me later." The implication was clear: skipping the small cost of a new filter now could lead to a costly engine rebuild down the road.

That same logic applies to homeownership.

Many people dream of one day having their home paid for free and clear. But how you get there is a matter of choices. You can choose to pay a little more now, or you can pay a lot more later. Those who take the time to make regular additional principal payments on their mortgage are making the decision to "pay now" to avoid the heavier burden of "paying later."

Pre-paying a fixed-rate mortgage will save interest, build equity, and shorten the term of the mortgage. Let's look at the strategy.

Say you have a 30-year mortgage. By adding even a modest amount, say $100 to $200 per month, to your principal payment, you can shave years off your loan term and save tens of thousands of dollars in interest. This not only speeds up your journey to owning your home outright, it also gives you a greater sense of financial security and freedom.

Imagine entering retirement with no house payment. Your cost of living drops dramatically. You may be able to retire earlier, travel more, help the family, or simply enjoy peace of mind. The effort and discipline it took to make extra payments during your working years can pay enormous dividends later.

On the other hand, choosing to live at the edge of your means, buying more house than you need, skipping extra payments, or refinancing to "reset the clock, can keep you chained to a mortgage well into your golden years. Like the oil filter, the decision to not make a small sacrifice now could result in a much larger cost down the road.

The choice is yours. Do you want to sacrifice a little today so you can enjoy more tomorrow? Or will you consume now and keep paying later?

As the Fram commercial reminded us, the cost is coming either way. The smart ones plan for it.  Check out our Equity Accelerator  to see what you can save in interest and how soon your loan can be paid off.

Sheryl Reedy CRS, GRI RE/MAX Results Galesville, WI (608) 780-7653 Real Estate in the Coulee Region (MN and WI) Congratulations on taking an important and key step in your home ownership experience. Using this website, you will be able to view homes for sale in the Coulee Region: both Wisconsin and Minnesota. We are full time real estate agents who are qualified to assist you in buying or selling your home. We have a keen sense of the local market and know property values, appreciation of the market, and how to gain the best exposure for your property. While looking for your new home, we will guide you through the process of understanding what home style is best for your family, as well as assist you with developing a purchase offer that makes sense and fits your needs. When selling your home, we will statistically calculate how to properly price and market your home, walking beside you through the entire transaction process and teaching you along the way. We look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs! Contact Me Visit my Website Send a Referral Subscribe to Newsletter