What triggers interest to accrue in a mortgage?

Interest accrues on a mortgage primarily when the principal amount remains unpaid. This means that as long as the borrower owes money on the mortgage, the lender will charge interest on the unpaid balance. The computation of interest typically begins on the principal amount at the time the funds are disbursed to the borrower, which usually occurs during the funding of the mortgage.

While the mortgage is only funded once the financial institutions have finalized all documentation and the borrower has accepted the terms, interest does not start accumulating with the application or upon a sale of the property. It specifically relates to the outstanding balance of the loan, reinforcing the concept that interest expenses are directly associated with any amounts that the borrower has not yet repaid. This understanding is key in both calculating payments over time and managing one’s mortgage effectively.