Why amortization schedules matter
Every loan payment is split between interest and principal. Early on, interest dominates; later, principal does. The amortization schedule shows you the exact split for every period.
Biweekly payments are a popular acceleration trick. By paying half the monthly amount every two weeks, you make 26 half-payments — equivalent to 13 full monthly payments — and shorten a 30-year mortgage by 4-6 years.