Tips for Mortgage Amortization Amortization is the most efficient way to pay off a mortgage, and most times you can us a mortgage amortization calculator to help find your payments. For most mortgages, amortization is not automatic. You must schedule it either on your own or through your financial institution's online services . Here are some tips that will help you successfully manage your mortgage amortization. 1) Know how much money you need to pay each month It is important to know how much you need to pay for your mortgage. For this amount to be correct, you need to know two things: the current interest rate and the total outstanding balance . The current interest rate can be obtained from your financial institution or by simply asking a knowledgeable friend or relative. To find out your home's total outstanding balance, you can do one of two things: consult your financial institution's records or obtain a home appraisal . 2) When the mortgage starts to amortize Your mortgage will start to amortize after you've made all of your payments for the first 25 years. Going beyond that point, you will have reached full equity in your home. The amortization schedule will be divided into two parts: the first part is for the years that you have already made payments, and the second part is for the years remaining on your mortgage . 3) Payments during the amortization period Your regular monthly mortgage payment will remain unchanged for the entire amortization period, but the amortization schedule will change. The principal portion of your payment will decrease each month, while the interest portion will increase. This is because you will be paying off the principal amount more quickly than you were during the first 25 years . 4) Balloon payments A balloon payment is a large payment that is due at the end of the mortgage amortization period. This payment is usually much higher than your monthly mortgage payment. It is important to know whether or not your mortgage has a balloon payment, as you will need to budget for it . 5) Prepaying your mortgage You can choose to prepay your mortgage at any time, but there may be penalties associated with it. If you pay off your loan in full , this may affect the amount of interest that you ultimately pay.