Chart: Amortization of a $200,000 loan for 30 years at 5.9%

In the first year, 17.6 percent of the payment is credited to principle and the remaining 82.4 percent pays the interest. In year 15 (midway through the mortgage term), 40 percent of the payment is credited to principle; in year 20 (two-thirds of the mortgage term), 53 percent; in year 30 (the last year of the term), 97 percent.