The expert named effective ways to speed up mortgage payments.

Most borrowers believe that early repayment of a mortgage is possible only at the cost of austerity and abandoning their usual lifestyle. However, in practice, the main barrier turns out to be psychological, not financial. Yulia Arkhangelskaya, head of the Commercial services department at the Mangazeya development company, told Izvestia on February 1 about why additional payments are perceived as deprivation and which strategies work more effectively.

According to her, many people perceive the mortgage payment as a fixed budget boundary, beyond which it is dangerous to go, and any additional contributions as a loss of current comfort. This is confirmed by the data from the Mangazeya survey conducted on the Yandex View platform: more than 40% of respondents admitted that the main obstacle to accelerated repayment of the loan remains the feeling of excessive workload. As a result, early debt repayment seems to be something random, like a successful bonus or inheritance, rather than a manageable process.

At the same time, borrowers' motives often go beyond saving on interest. For two out of five study participants, the key goal was a sense of security and tranquility that comes from fully purchased housing. About a third of the respondents primarily seek to reduce overpayments to the bank and close the debt faster. Arkhangelskaya notes that one of the common mistakes is sending additional funds to reduce the monthly payment.

"Many borrowers expect quick relief, but in the early years most of the payment is spent on interest, so the effect is almost invisible. When there is no result, motivation disappears," the expert explained.

According to her, the strategy of regular small contributions to shorten the loan term is much more effective. Even an additional 5-10 thousand rubles reduces the body of the debt and the base for calculating interest for the rest of the period, creating the effect of increasing savings. The survey showed that a quarter of respondents consider this approach to be the most realistic, and the same number are ready to look for additional sources of income specifically for accelerated mortgage repayment.

In order for additional payments not to be perceived as self—limitation, Arkhangelskaya advises focusing on about 10% of monthly income - an amount that gives tangible results, but does not destroy the usual standard of living. Regularity plays a crucial role here: one-time contributions rarely lead to a systemic effect, whereas a consistent approach allows you to keep the goal in focus. The expert also recommends dividing unexpected income — bonuses, tax deductions or earnings from part—time work - in half, sending one part to the mortgage, and leaving the other for current expenses. Such a compromise, she says, reduces the risk of emotional burnout and internal conflict between responsibilities and desires.

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As the study shows, the source of funds for accelerated payments is more often not radical savings, but a review of everyday expenses. Almost half of the respondents are ready to give up spontaneous purchases without feeling serious deprivation, and one in five pointed to subscriptions and habitual small expenses as a reserve for freeing up money. Arkhangelskaya emphasizes that this is not about the austerity approach, but about the redistribution of emotional spending in favor of a long-term goal.

The choice of strategy largely depends on the interest rate. With a mortgage at 8-9%, the expert considers it reasonable to have a calm schedule with 10-15% over the standard payment to shorten the loan term. If the rate exceeds 10%, the logic changes.: First, it is important to bring the monthly workload to a comfortable level, and then proceed to accelerated repayment. Separately, Arkhangelskaya advises considering refinancing, noting that even contacting other banks often forces the current lender to offer more favorable terms.

Another crucial point is the availability of a financial safety cushion. The expert considers it risky to send the last savings to the mortgage, since in case of loss of income or unforeseen expenses, the borrower will have to take out new loans, which will negate the benefits of early payments. According to the survey, every fifth participant now puts other priorities above mortgages — repairs, education or health, and this, according to the expert, is part of a healthy financial balance.

As a result, early repayment of the loan without abandoning the usual life is possible if we consider it not as a one-time feat, but as a controlled process, summarizes Arkhangelskaya. Regular small steps, an understandable strategy and a psychologically comfortable payment scheme, according to her, turn out to be much more effective than waiting for a good opportunity or large one-time receipts.

The second half of 2025 was a record year for mortgage lending in the secondary housing segment. Experts from Sberbank Domclick noted on January 21 that secondary loans increased by 215% compared to the first half of the year, and lending volumes consistently exceeded 50 billion rubles per month, peaking in December at about 85 billion rubles.

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