Bonds are often something which can lead to a lot of confusion for many people. This is due to the fact that the process of figuring out how the monthly payment is calculated can be somewhat confusing. In reality the formula is relatively basic math but unfortunately many people simply don?t know the formula and therefore do not understand what is involved in the process.

A number of factors play into what the monthly payment will be on a bond. The most obvious factor is the amount which is actually borrowed. The larger the bond the higher the monthly payments are going to be. Another major factor in determining the monthly payments on a bond is the number of years the term is on the bond. Bond terms can vary depending on a number of factors but typically they are set for 10, 15 or 20 years. In some rare cases people can acquire a bond for as long as 30 years but this is generally considered rare. It is however, important to remember that the longer the loan the more you will pay back in interest. This is due to the fact that the interest rate will be applied to the remaining balance every month for the entire length of the loan. In fact, on a longer loan can quickly lead to a person paying back as much as twice what they initially borrowed.

The final factor which goes into determining the monthly payment on the bond is the interest rate. The interest rate on a bond is calculated using a number of different figures. Your credit history, employment status, employment history, age, existing debt, and even income all play a role in the interest rate you will pay. The higher the interest rate the more you will pay over the course of the bond and the more per month you will pay.

After these simple figures have been determined the bank now needs to figure out how much interest you will be paying per month. The interest rate that you receive is actually an APR or annual percentage rate. This rate is based on an entire year. To acquire your monthly interest rate you take the APR and divide it by 12.

The final step in determining your monthly payment on a loan amount over the course of the term is to perform some simple math. The actual formula is not terribly complex. There are also a large number of bond calculators available which are capable of performing these simple equations for you quickly and easily. A number are also available which are designed to perform the same figures in reverse. The purpose of this is to determine how large of a bond you can afford to acquire based on the amount per month you can afford to pay back.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African bond origination portal. For more information visit: http://www.bondcredit.co.za/

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