Becoming debt free in America today is a popular theme. The problem, of course, is the methodology. What really works? What is the safest and fastest way to debt freedom? Well, paying off your mortgage seems like the logical place to start.



If you are a typical American homeowner, then you have probably bought or refinanced a home in the last 5-7 years. That means that you are putting out a large wad of your cash each month to pay the interest on your mortgage. Notice that the lion's share of your mortgage payment is going toward interest. That's their profit for issuing you a loan. Hey, everybody's got to make a buck, right?

Banks are banks and you can love then or hate them. But face it; if it weren't for the bank, then you would probably not be making payments on your own home. You would be paying rent. So count your blessings for that interest payment and be thankful to your lender. But understand this...just because you are stuck with a mortgage, does NOT mean that you have to pay every bit of that interest. And make no mistake, that interest is stealing your retirement. Now you can get it back.

I'm not saying that your lender will give you an interest refund. No they won't. Once you pay it to them, it is theirs. Done deal. The big idea is to eliminate as much interest as possible from the equation. If you don't pay it, they don't keep it. But how? The answer lies in your principle. When you pay off your principle balance faster, the lender has less principle balance to charge you interest on. Make sense? They can only charge you interest on the current amount that you have borrowed. When that amount goes down, so does the amount of interest you will pay.

The sticky part is, naturally, how to pay off more principle faster. Well, there are several ways to do that. And friends, you will do yourself a big favor when you start to do them. Be of good cheer, because there are plenty of time-tested and true methods for principle reduction, and a crop of companies and products out there that want to show you the way.

You have probably heard them on the radio, seen them on TV, or read them in the paper. Stop being passive and check them out. Some are just debt consolidation plans or debt roll down plans. Those are nothing more than short term band aids. Some are fancy new loan packages with an accelerator built in. These can be great for you, and can cut down your mortgage term significantly, but the closing costs and administrative fees might be a problem.

If you've done any research into paying off your mortgage, you will inevitably come across the big boys in mortgage elimination. We're talking United First Financial, Sydney Financial Group, Macquarie, and CMG to name a few. Don't be intimidated by the sheer volume of advertisers and agents. And don't allow yourself to be distracted by the naysayers and scam alarmists. These are solid companies with proven track records. They really work, so take the time to check them out. You will be glad you took the time when you see you payoff time and interest load cut in half or more. These folks will help you get your retirement back!

I suggest going online to the Better Business Bureau and looking for unresolved issues. Then get in contact with a representative to find out how they can benefit your family. Nothing makes it as real as seeing your own numbers. I also like to send people to G Edward Griffin's website. He is a brilliant financial analyst and watchdog. Go see what he says about all this. Also, ask the representatives from these companies to demonstrate how their products work. Find out about guarantees, customer service, corporate experience, stability, and track records. Inquire about their customer satisfaction and product retention rates.

Once you have done a little leg work, you are going to want to find out if you even qualify for a mortgage acceleration product. The agents that you work with should be able to tell you after a quick analysis of your situation. The more advanced methods will include the use of a Line Of Credit. Don't be scared. You are going to need one, and it can become a wonderful tool and financial friend.

The problem these days may be getting you into a line of credit. The Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC for short, is getting increasingly rare these days due to dropping home values and the credit crunch. You may need to look at a Personal Line of Credit or a Business Line of Credit. Your agent should be able to help you. And one of these companies may be able to show you how almost anybody can use credit card as the line of credit. Making the program available to almost everybody!

Finally, here is some timeless advice. Get out of debt and build some wealth to leave for your grandkids and your children. You won't really be able to do that until you pay off your house. This is do-able people. Get out there and find the right product for you, and get yourself in position to be debt free.You may discover the best investment opportunity of your life.