This might be duh for some people, but if you’re like me and considering a mortgage; at today’s rates in the US at around 5-6%, over 30yr mortgage you will pay about same in interest as you will for your house price.
Your $500k house will cost you around $1M total over thirty years.
I was surprised.
Anything above and beyond the monthly payment can go towards the principal, which is an especially big deal at the start of the mortgage. But be sure to verify that the bank is actually applying it all to the principal as you intend.