Early payments are mostly interest. As the loan matures, more goes to principal. This is called amortization — your payment stays the same but the split changes every period.
Down payment impact
In Canada, less than 20% down requires CMHC mortgage insurance. In the US, less than 20% typically requires PMI. Both add to your total monthly cost.
Bi-weekly payments save money
Switching from monthly to bi-weekly means 26 half-payments per year — equivalent to 13 full months. This alone can cut years off your mortgage and save tens of thousands in interest.