Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Mortgage Prepayment Penalties - Just Say No


One of the most common terms found in a new home loan is a prepayment penalty. This type of penalty says that if the borrower pays off the loan early, commonly during the first five years of the loan, then the borrower will be responsible for paying an additional amount of money, typically about six months interest on 80% of the mortgage balance. Sub-prime market loans will typically carry prepayment penalties more than standard mortgage loans.

You may plan on keeping the house for the entire duration of the prepayment penalty, and be tempted not to worry about it much. But sometimes life circumstances change, so it's wise to avoid any type of prepayment penalty if you can. A typical prepayment penalty might equal five months worth of monthly loan payments, so it's worth checking on. Of course, you should always ask (before you sign) if a new loan has a prepayment penalty. In fact, ask the lending officer to point out to you in the document where a prepayment penalty is discussed.

Most items in a loan are subject to negotiation. If you haven't signed loan papers yet, and you find that your loan has a prepayment penalty, you might offer to pay an additional closing point or so to see if it can be removed. The key at this stage is that if you agree to the prepayment penalty, you should try to find ways to reduce either the amount, the term, or both as much as possible.

If you already have a loan, you are bound by the terms of the document, unless you can negotiate them. There are perfectly legitimate reasons why you may want to pay off a note early - most often, due either to refinancing or selling the house. You may be able to contact your lender to see if they will waive the prepayment penalty if they are able to provide refinancing. If interest rates have dropped a lot, and you can't get out of the prepayment penalty, it may be worth rolling that amount into a new loan. And of course, try to get the new loan without a prepayment penalty.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

US mortgage applications hit 8-year low
Times Online, UK - Aug 20, 2008
... mortgage applications fell to an eight-year low last week as Americans delay or abandon purchases and fewer people seek to refinance their loans. ...
US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Fell 1.5% (Update1) Bloomberg
Mortgage application volume hits multiyear low The Associated Press
Mortgage volume fell 1.5% last week: MBA MarketWatch
USA Today - International Herald Tribune
all 242 news articles


Housing And Economic Recovery Act
Mondaq News Alerts (subscription), UK - 7 hours ago
The Act also expands the target population served by the FHA and creates the "Hope for Homeowners" voluntary FHA-insured mortgage refinance program. ...


COMMENTARY: FHA is riding to the rescue, taxpayers beware
Reuters - 2 hours ago
(Ann Schnare is an economist specializing in housing and mortgage finance. She was former senior vice president for corporate relations at Freddie Mac and ...
Consumers feel fallout from Fannie, Freddie CNNMoney.com
all 45 news articles


Mortgage Rates for Best Borrowers Rise as Bonds Slump (Update2)
Bloomberg - 30 minutes ago
21 (Bloomberg) -- A decline in mortgage bond prices is raising interest rates on US home loans, even for borrowers least prone to default. ...


The Money Times

Fannie, Freddie: Plunge then rebound
CNNMoney.com - 46 minutes ago
The Wall Street Journal Thursday said that the firms needed to refinance $225 billion in mostly short-term debt by the end on September. ...
Business Highlights Forbes
Freddie and Fannie Bail-Out Imminent Sovereign Society
Fannie and Freddie crisis deepens FT Alphaville
The Australian - Forbes
all 1,783 news articles


Housing market keeping couples together
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 3 hours ago
If one wants to keep the home, it's difficult to refinance the mortgage so the departing spouse can be cut loose from the debt. And evaporated home equity ...


Economist

A Treasury bailout of Fannie and Freddie is all but a foregone ...
FT Alphaville, UK - 11 hours ago
Failure to refinance would be an immediate signal to the Treasury to step in; it would force its hand. Mish Shedlock notes that $225bn is an aweful lot to ...
Rising Cost of Debt Stokes Fears Wall Street Journal
Freddie And Fannie Bailout Fears Mount Investor's Business Daily (subscription)
all 278 news articles


Boston Globe

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Newsday, NY - Aug 20, 2008
They can't refinance because housing prices in those markets have nose-dived, and lenders are now demanding full documentation of income and assets. ...
FDIC to offer better terms on thousands of IndyMac mortgages MarketWatch
FDIC Details Rescue Plan for Homeowners With IndyMac Mortgages ABA Journal
all 350 news articles


Refinancing not always an easy ride
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Aug 19, 2008
I recently refinanced my mortgage, and I can tell you that I don't ever want to do that again. Even for people who read, read and read the fine print, ...


Combating the mortgage crisis
Bridgeport News, CT - 3 hours ago
She is based in Bridgeport and currently has 70 clients trying to refinance with her assistance. “We have relationships with the lenders,” Latorre said. ...

mortgage refinance - Google News

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