Is a 50-year mortgage a good idea?

[AviatorTom]

President Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) introduced 30-year mortgages almost 100 years ago. Now, in 2025, the Trump administration is considering introducing 50-year mortgages to the housing market, which would make homes more affordable, if you only consider the monthly payment, though the total cost would be higher.

What do you think of a 50-year mortgage? Would you be interested in one? Why or why not?

Please vote in the poll and let us know the details in an opinion.

50-year mortgage is a GOOD idea

50-year mortgage is a BAD idea

I only PAY CASH for my home, never a mortgage

[Massageman]

In the broad scope, and IF the borrower is going to run the full term of the loan, they will be paying a LOT more in interest to gain a very modest reduction in monthly payments. I certainly wouldn't it. It's certainly possible that there will still be a balance to be paid upon the death of the borrower: not a good position for any kids/relatives. We paid off our mortgage as soon as we could.

[AviatorTom]

@Massageman I agree with you. When we bought our first house, back when interest rates were really high, we got a 15-year mortgage, because the rates were lower than a 30-year mortgage, and a variable-rate mortgage was too risky, impossible to plan for. It was a struggle, but we made it work. We refinanced, twice, lowering the rate each time, and paid off the final 15-year mortgage in 12 years by making early payments. From the start of the first mortgage until the house was paid off was 17 years.

[DryGermanGuy]

I have read an example where 50y versus 30y terms would mean 86% more in interest.

[Friendlybro79]

It's amazing how you're only a little more than 10 years older than me and were able to do a 15 yr mortgage. I'm happy you were able to do that and pay it in 12. The 15 yr mortgage was way too much of my net income so I did a 30yr at a really low rate (I'm so lucky and I know it) and pay extra to cut it down to about a 20 yr. Most people my age or younger for sure couldn't do a 15 yr with today's prices.

[Massageman]

Good for you. Another easy way is to pay half the monthly payment every two weeks, making the equivalent of 13 payments every 12 months, after the 4.3 weeks each month catches up with the months. Of course, this would require dividing by two, so I'm not sure some current borrowers could stand the strain. ;- )

[Friendlybro79]

I add an extra amount per month directly to principal that equals a little more than one more mortgage payment a year. I was able to do it that way. If I get promoted next year I could double that. I'd like to not have a mortgage in my 60s.

[Friendlybro79]

My taxes where I live are enough to make someone shit their pants

[Massageman]

Thanks for the MHO.

[FreyaRed]

People start working at 20. +50 years it makes 70. Honestly most people are too sick to work with 70. Banks will be happy because they got money all the years and then short before those people pay it back they take it as their asset when people can pay their mortgage rates/interest anymore.
50 years self inflicted serfdom isn't a good idea.

[midnightmoon05]

Wow!! Hope people are smart enough to not get into it. Save save and save.. then do 20 years. pay off in 7 years. Once no mortgage… it’s financial freedom for life.

otherwise They will be slave to the bank.

Our first home was a20 yr loan or 15 yrs… I don’t remember which order… we refinanced… paid off total 13 yrs…

[exitseven]

I paid off my first 30 year mortgage in 27 years, I paid off my second house in 11 years. Now i have no debt.

[midnightmoon05]

@exitseven such good feelings to be financially free! 👍😊

If I was as smart as my older siblings with math 😂 I world have done even better… but I’m doing okay.
I used to ask them about teaching me how to buy my first apt. At age 22… they didn’t teach me and I was scared… . Once I learned enough I jumped into it and have been just as successful as my older siblings 😊
Now, we all help our little sister buy their second property without the bank!! Charging 1% They could pay off in 3 yrs… but they chose 5 years.
We are planning to do the same for our kids. No debt… that’s the legacy I am leading for this family. 😊

[OneViewpoint]

A 50 year mortgage is a great idea. For lenders. It's a moronic idea for borrowers. Womb to tomb debt your entire life from age 25 to 75. And then you die. Lets take a middle of the road case that starts Nov of 2025.

$750,000 purchase price

$150,000 or 20% down payment

$600,000 Principal

5% interest rate

30 year term. Loan originated at age 25 is paid off at age 55

$559,534 total interest paid

Or this...

$750,000 purchase price

$150,000 or 20% down payment

$600,000 Principal

5% interest rate

50 year term. Loan originated at age 25 is paid off at age 75

$1,034,900 total interest paid

That's an 85% increase in interest paid over the life of the loan.

• Who benefits?
• Are you gonna work until 75?
• Will you leave your estate / kids a mortgage to pay off?

This is a monumentally moronic idea for borrowers already saddled with student loans, $50,000 cars, and a gig economy with no social safety net. If you want to be an economic slave of the 1% your entire life, go for it.

[OneViewpoint]

This stupid idea is just tRump pandering to his MAGA base that sucks at math and economics. Same as the $2,000 "Tariff Rebates. He has no intention for following through with either idea. He just wants the vote of the most stupid people in this country. And you know what, they'll do it. Again.

[Friendlybro79]

@OneViewpoint Spot on. Except avg first time home buyer is 38-40. So you'll most certainly be dead before paying it off.

[RingOfFire]

As a financial expert who also has experience in mortgage banking I can state with confidence that it depends on your personal situation. For some people this is an excellent solution to the meet the cost of the housing market that has skyrocketed over the last 4 years or so. But for others it could be a drag on their finances.

It is not a simple analysis.

However, it is 100% a good idea to have it available as an option so people can decide for themselves what is best for them.

It is ALWAYS better to have an option than not to have it. In fact, that is one basic principle in the study of finance.

[ManOnFire]

One of the most ridiculous ideas ever thought up. You would never be able to pay off all that interest, and very likely that most people will die before they finish paying it off seeing as most people who buy their first house are in their late 30s.

At that rate you might as well just rent a house or an apartment if you're just going to spend most of your life paying anyway.

[MisterWack]

Our life expectancy is 78 years…
I looked it up, you save money in the short term but the long game is expensive.

A 15 yr mortgage is cheaper than a 30, so imagine what 50 will be like.

It just isn’t a good idea, it is to prey off of young people looking to buy a house and will nod to the cheap option not realizing how bad it will be financially in the long run.
Even my parents are screaming this at me as a Gen Zer.

[MisterWack]

I don’t see a Boomer or a Millennial being the main target demographic, it seems to be Gen Z.
We should have our opinion on this matter taken more seriously since it is targeted to us. I don’t trust it.

[Miristheiss]

My home is paid off so luckily this doesn't affect me. I do not know enough about it so I am not sure.

It sounds like it could be bad to be in debt for 50 years.

Are the payments less so that you aren't paying hundreds ot thousands or a million plus more in the long run?

I do not know the structure, payment plan and interest affects between the 2.

[DrPepper12]

Conventional 30 year mortgage is only became popular due to the Great depression and banking regulation from FDR because prior to that it was 5 years of interest followed by a balloon payment for the entire amount.

ANYONE who signs up for any loan-term beyond 5 years, unless it's for a house, is a fool.

[blackeagle007]

Cars, debt yes. But houses are insanely high. I seen ranches that are $500k. That’s half a mil! This flatiron is out of whack

[blackeagle007]

Inflation

[Likes2drive]

It’s only good if you want small payments for a few years if you know you are going to sell the house to get something else with a smaller amount of years and amount later on, I know I won’t be paying off my mortgage until the the last year, I will sell and find something cheaper and maybe not have a mortgage

[purplepoppy]

If that's the only way people can afford homes then it's a good idea. Personally I think limiting the number one person can buy alongside more favourable rates for local people, and a lower deposit might be better.

[ohsheeT]

The only way that it's a good idea is if you have a big , healthy down payment

And then plan on paying it off within thirty years

Otherwise you're gonna be paying double for that house with a fifty year mortgage payment

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s a good idea for the lenders. It’s a bad idea for the borrowers.
This is a simple fact that almost everyone overlooks when talking about a “good” economy versus a “bad” economy. We’ve never once in the history of our species ever had an economy that worked for EVERYONE, and we’ve never once in the history of our species had economy that failed EVERYONE.
Whether something is good or bad is entirely a matter of perspective. “Success” is similarly subjective.

[lightbulb27]

of course not. it's enslavement.

that is the system by way of the printing press continuing to erode the property away from people.

The fed is the problem imho.

[slatyb]

It could be. I could be happy with an interest-only mortgage, as I have no need to leave an estate to anyone. I wouldn't care if the house went back to the lender after I was done with it.

[douride2]

50 years is a ridicules amount of time for a mortgage. You would be retired & dead before it's paid for

[Med_guy1978]

Mortgage in translation from Latin is death grip and that's exactly what it is. If you find yourself in a situation where you must get a mortgage for 50 years, you're better off moving somewhere rural and living off the land. Especially in the US where employees are not protected at work. Housing should be affordable and accessible for everyone.

[Mike_Whocheese_Harry]

If it makes homes cheaper, it makes sense to get younger people into homes. There's nothing indicating you have to stay in a 50 year mortgage once your salary starts to increase.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

A 50 year mortgage is literally getting yourself ripped off beyond imagination.

The interest rate at that length of time would be huge.

Not to mention you will most likely never own a home because the person will be dead.

[noohair]

Anything that is better for the bank is a bad idea...

[AviatorTom]

@noohair It may not be better for the bank. The bank would get less money up front, and the longer period would increase the risk of default. People would get 50-year mortgages because they can't afford 30- or 15-year mortgages.

[noohair]

ok...

[DJB72]

Prior to the 1990s Japan had hundred year mortgages that worked well. What's the big deal of half that?

[loveslongnails]

Another dumb ass idea from the king of dumb ass ideas.

[msc545]

I don't know if it's a good idea or not. It depends a lot on your individual financial situation and your financial goals.

[Surely]

Not too many years ago. They were talking about generational mortgages for farmers.

[Cidknee]

I don't mortgage and I'd hate to pay the interest accrued over 50.

[ArrowheadSW]

It is a bad idea. In fact I think even a 30 year loan isn't all that great of an idea. Too long to owe money.

[exitseven]

I suppose it gives people an otther option. However the savings is not that great at the end of the month. The way to help the problem is to increase the housing supply.

[OddBeMe]

Against what? Perhaps regulating high interest variable loans? Yes.

[RedInnocent69]

It’s a sad reality. So many people keep refinancing that they retire with mortgages 🤷‍♂️

[Sal_Monella]

The average price of a home in 1945 was $4,600. The average price of a home in 2025 is $522,200. The Consumer Price Index in 1945 was $18.00 The Consumer Price Index in 2025 is 321.05

[Shiprex]

It's generational DEBT that shifts prosperity toward banks, not people

[888theGreat]

another scam to keep housing market going.