Is the 50-Year Mortgage Really the Answer to Affordability?

There’s growing conversation about extending mortgages to 50 years as a way to lower monthly payments and make homeownership feel more attainable. And we do care about options that help buyers enter the market — especially in a place like Denver where prices have climbed faster than wages.

But here’s what to understand clearly:

A 50-year mortgage spreads the loan out over a much longer timeline, which lowers the monthly payment — but it also dramatically slows down how quickly you build equity. In the first 5–10 years, the majority of your payment goes to interest, not ownership. That means:

• You could own very little of your home even after several years

• It may be harder to refinance if rates change

• It may be harder to sell without paying money out-of-pocket

• And over the life of the loan, you’ll pay hundreds of thousands more in interest

So while the lower payment feels helpful today, the long-term cost and slow equity growth can limit your financial flexibility and wealth-building tomorrow.  Look at this overview below. You can see the slow growth of equity in your first 5-10 years and then also the staggering amount that it would take to finance and pay off the loan over 50 years.

If you’re considering buying, our goal is to help you find the best overall strategy — not just the lowest payment. Let’s look at the options, run the numbers, and choose a path that supports both affordability and long-term financial health.