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Feb. 09, 2025

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Why is a 30-year mortgage the most popular?


Robert Odom

President, Ameris Mortgage

"From a consumer standpoint, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is typically the most popular because it offers borrowers lower monthly payments while providing long-term stability and predictability. Stretching out the loan over 30 years significantly reduces the monthly payment compared to a shorter term like a 15-year mortgage. This may make homeownership more affordable and attainable, especially for first-time buyers who may not have a lot of upfront cash or significant savings. With a lower payment, there's more wiggle room in the household budget for other expenses. Because a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage offers a set interest rate for the entire loan term, a borrower’s monthly payment stays the same throughout those 30 years, providing peace of mind and budgeting stability."

Principal Writer, Home Lending

“The 30-year loan is the go-to choice for borrowers because it offers the most affordable monthly payments. A 30-year repayment schedule offers a lower monthly payment than a 20-, 15- or 10-year loan. With home prices near record highs and mortgage rates up sharply since the pandemic, most buyers would struggle to qualify for a mortgage with a shorter term. In addition, 30-year loans are popular among financially savvy homeowners who could afford a shorter term but prefer to maximize the mortgage and put the proceeds in the stock market.”

Pros of a 30-year mortgage

  • Lower monthly payment: Repaying a mortgage over 30 years means you’ll have lower, more affordable payments spread out over time compared to shorter-term loans like 15-year mortgages.
  • Stability: Having a consistent principal and interest payment helps you better map out your housing expenses for the long term. (Your overall monthly housing expenses can change, however, if your homeowners insurance and property taxes go up or down.) Of course, this is only true if your mortgage has a fixed rate. An adjustable-rate mortgage won’t give you this same benefit for the whole life of the loan.
  • Buy more house: With lower payments, you might be able to qualify for a larger loan amount and afford a more expensive home.
  • More financial flexibility: Lower monthly payments can provide more cushion in your budget for other goals, like saving for emergencies, retirement, college tuition or home repairs and maintenance.

Cons of a 30-year mortgage

  • More total interest paid: Stretching out repayment over 30 years means you’ll wind up paying more in interest overall than you would with a shorter-term loan.
  • Higher mortgage rates: Lenders usually charge higher interest rates for 30-year loans because they’re taking on the risk of not being repaid for a longer amount of time.
  • Becoming house poor: Just because you might be able to afford more house with a 30-year loan doesn’t mean you should overstretch your budget. Give yourself some breathing room for other financial goals and unexpected expenses.
  • Slower equity growth: It will take longer to build equity in your home because most of your initial mortgage payments will go toward interest rather than paying down your principal amount.

Additional resources for getting a 30-year mortgage

  • Mortgage Percent Icon
    How to get a mortgage
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    Bankrate’s mortgage calculator
  • Mortgage Reviews Icon
    Best mortgage lenders