I haven't tracked the mortgage since March. When I looked at it today, I noticed that I have paid 26%. I still have a long way to go but just getting over the 25% hurdle is a reason to celebrate. I can't wait to get it under $80K!

Mortgage Balance $88,922.33
Minus $3565
New Total = $85,357.33

I am so thrilled to be wiring $3565 to the mortgage payment! Woo hoo!

I made another wire transfer today toward the mortgage! It's not a lot but its something. I will have another wire transfer at the end of the month when I get paid and do a sweep of my checking account.

$50 of the money was from a return that I made at Michaels. I bought a nice wood piece with a black chalkboard map of the United States on it but couldn't find anywhere in my house to hang it.
$133 was a nice check from Ebates.

Balance $94,602.03
Paid -$448.28
New Total $94,153.75

I hope to break the $90K mark soon!

I made a wire transfer today toward the mortgage!
Woo hoo!

Balance $98,405.64
Paid -$3803.61
New Total $94,602.03

This was hard for me because I wanted to buy 'things' like a new stove, dishwasher, dining room chairs and clothes but all of that can wait.

I am thrilled! Super thrilled!

I have been debt free for sometime but since my house is on auto pay I don't log in to see the balance. Yesterday I was listening to an audio book on my drive into the office and got fired up.

I logged in to see that my balance is $103,078.

After my March payment and an additional $3K I will owe $99,248. I am going to put any extra that I can towards this final debt.

I was projecting that I could pay $16500 this year. $27960 for 2016 & 2017 then have it paid off in 2018 before I turn 40 in December!!

After that happens. I will do some updating and repairs to the house then go on a nice vacation as a treat then MAX OUT my retirement accounts! I can't wait for this to happen.

All it tells you is whether you are good at borrowing money and paying it back. That's it. Here is how it is determined.

-35% of your score is based on your debt history.
-30% is based on your debt level.
-15% is based on the length of time you've been in debt.
-10% is based on new debt.
-10% is based on type of debt.

It does not factor in your income. It does not factor in your debt-to-income ratio. No savings accounts either. The only way to have a good credit score is to go into debt and stay in debt.

That is not how I want to live my life. I choose to not have any credit cards. Nope, not even one! I have an emergency fund.

New car? Yep, saving up cash for that purchase. Buy used! I would rather buy a beater than pay a car loan.

Do I have any debt? I do! My last debt is my mortgage. It hangs over my head.

I got a check for $13.15 from Ebates yesterday.
I'm going to put that towards my mortgage. Every little bit helps!

In other news, a wonderful co worker that works in our accounting department decided to quit today. No notice given and she didn't inform HR. She just left her badge and sent an email to a select few and was gone. She had been having problems with her boss. I'm going to miss her.

Last Friday I closed on my refinance for my house. I got a 3.25% rate on a 15yr fixed conventional loan. I've been playing with my spreadsheet and I am aiming to have it paid off before I'm 40yrs old. This is my last debt!

Yesterday, I got a call from a recruiter that I've worked with in the past. The position that she mentioned to me was an Executive Assistant to the CEO and Chairman of the Board for a natural gas midstream company. It's a small and privately owned company here in Downtown Houston. I'd really like something closer to home and she knows this but she did sweeten the deal by saying that they are paying 20% more than what I currently make.

After talking to her I emailed her my updated resume and testing scores. She replied saying that she now has two jobs for me and that we will discuss further today when I meet with her during the lunch hour.

Wish me luck!

I am on a roll today!

I both emailed and mailed a letter to my mortgage company asking what the minimum balance on my mortgage should be for PMI to be removed. I also asked them what the procedure is to cancel it.

Last year when I was trying to do a refi (that I bailed on) I paid for an appraisal that is still good thru 7/2013. It may now come in handy!

I believe I am eligible to cancel the PMI.

I had some leftover money from my November budget so I sent my first extra principal payment for my 2nd mortgage today. I have an 80/20 loan.

Balance $22,960.61
Payment $408.57

New Total $22,552.04

Update - The people that I was doing the refinance with..I let go! It kept dragging on and on. Over charged $25 on the appraisal. $15 charge showed up on my mortgage (from them requesting to see my original note). My insurance company stopped taking my house insurance payment. When I called to inquire why they said that the refinance people said that it would be in escrow. All of this without notifying me before hand! Then a girl from the refi place called me at work and was very rude. Enough was enough. I am proud of myself to have walk away power.

My new game plan is to pay down my second loan that has the high interest rate with any extra money left from my paycheck. Any large sums of money that I come across (bonus and taxes) will go toward some type of home improvement.

Tonight I'm going to Home Depot to take a look at exterior and interior paint samples. Then tonight I will be on pininterest. My stepdad's present to me a few years back was to have my house painted by his crew. He said that he can have them do it the end of this week. Which means I better hurry up and get info over to my association lady.

Thanksgiving week I am off of work and I am thinking about painting the inside of the house. It's just a thought right now. I don't want to get too carried away.

By next year I will decide if I want to refinance or sale.

I had my house appraisal on Friday. I am anxious to see what it appraised for. They charged me $500 when I was supposed to be charged $475. I should be receiving a $25 credit back.

First Loan
Current Principal $88,925
Rate 6.35%

Second Loan
Current Principal $23,144
Rate 8.75%

My rates are so high. Gulp!

My broker got back with me and said that he will know something this evening or tomorrow morning at the latest on the loan. He's got to shop it to see which lender will work the best. He said with my credit score that my rate should be between 3%-4%. Right now my rates are crazy! I am at 6.35% and 8.75% with my current 80/20 loan. My appriasal he said should be between $400-$425 which is great. I paid $500 for an apprisal back in 2010. He said that would be my only expense out of pocket. Everything else would be rolled into the loan. He said we can shop my homeowners insurance to bring that down. I am also wanting to lower the term on the mortgage. Stay tuned!

My house is my last and only debt that I owe. Church Hill Mortgage is unable to work with me because I have paid off and closed accounts and now my credit score is down to 610 and they require a 640. I was referred to someone that I am now working with as of yesterday. I sent him all of my info. Fingers crossed!