
Re-amortizing a loan can be a complex process, but understanding the basics can make a big difference in your financial situation. You can re-amortize a loan by extending the repayment period, which can lower your monthly payments, but it also means you'll pay more in interest over the life of the loan.
Re-amortizing a loan can be a good option if you're struggling to make payments, but it's essential to review the terms carefully. For example, a loan with a 5-year repayment period can be re-amortized to a 10-year period, but this may increase the total interest paid by $3,000.
Re-amortizing a loan can also be a good strategy if you're looking to pay off your loan faster. By making extra payments towards the principal, you can reduce the amount of interest you owe and pay off the loan sooner.
What Is Recasting?
Recasting is a way to lower your monthly payments on a loan without taking on a new loan or refinancing. By making a lump-sum payment toward the principal balance, you can reduce your debt and lower your monthly costs.

You can make a lump-sum payment by paying more than you are scheduled to pay each month, or by contributing a large amount of money at once to pay off the debt. This can be done by paying extra towards the mortgage, or by making a large payment to reduce the principal balance.
A mortgage recast, also referred to as re amortization, allows you to keep the same loan term and interest rate, but with a new, lower monthly payment. This is different from refinancing, which involves taking on a new loan and using it to pay off your existing mortgage.
To qualify for a mortgage recast, you need to have paid off more than you are scheduled to, either by paying extra each month or by making a large payment. Your lender will then reamortize your mortgage with the new, lower balance.
By recasting your loan, you can achieve a major principal reduction and lower your monthly payments. This can be a great option for people who want to reduce their financial burden without taking on a new loan or refinancing.
Benefits of Loan Recasting

Paying a little extra towards your mortgage can go a long way.
By paying more than you're expected to every bill, you can reduce your debt more than you're scheduled to, making you eligible for a mortgage recast.
A mortgage recast can lower your monthly payments while maintaining financial stability.
You'll still have a set date for when you'll be done paying off your loan, but you'll just need to pay a little less towards it each month.
Paying extra towards your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you'll pay.
With a mortgage recast, you can stick with your current lender and keep the same mortgage, but bring your monthly costs down.
You can achieve a major principal reduction in two ways: a recast, which lowers your monthly payment over the same term, or an additional principal payment, which keeps your monthly payment the same but lowers your overall principal balance.
You can pay off a significant portion of your mortgage, like $40,000, and see how it affects your loan term, as in the case of a $200,000 initial loan balance on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 4.99% interest rate.
Using a mortgage amortization calculator can help you see the impact of your payments on your loan balance, and you can use it to check your own numbers and see how different scenarios play out.
Qualifying for Loan Recasting
Qualifying for a mortgage recast can be a bit tricky, but it's worth understanding the basics. Not all lenders offer mortgage recasting, and not all types of mortgages are eligible.
Government loans backed by Ginnie Mae, such as FHA, USDA, and VA loans, cannot be recast. Many lenders also won't recast jumbo loans. Some lenders may not allow recasting at all.
To qualify for a recast, your lender will typically require you to pay off a minimum principal, either as a flat amount or as a percentage of the loan balance. This can be a significant amount, often at least $10,000 in principal reduction payments in the year before recasting.

You'll also need to make at least two consecutive monthly payments at your current amount before a lender recasts your loan. There's usually a small fee of $250 to $500 that comes with the recast, but there's typically no limit on how many times you can recast your loan.
Here are the common lender guidelines for mortgage recasting:
- Lenders will require a minimum principal payment.
- You must make at least two consecutive monthly payments.
- There's a small fee associated with the recast.
- There's no limit on how many times you can recast your loan.
Qualifying for Recasting
Qualifying for recasting can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've got the lowdown. Not all lenders offer mortgage recasting, and not all types of mortgages are eligible.
Government loans backed by Ginnie Mae, such as FHA, USDA, and VA loans, cannot be recast. Many lenders also won't recast jumbo loans. Some lenders may not allow recasting at all, but many do.
To qualify for a recast, your lender will typically require you to pay off a minimum principal, either as a flat amount or as a percentage of the loan balance. This can be a significant amount, often around $10,000 or more in principal reduction payments in the year before recasting.

You'll also need to make at least two consecutive monthly payments at your current amount before a lender will recast your loan. And, be prepared for a small fee of $250 to $500 that comes with the recast.
Some lenders, like Rocket Mortgage, require that you have at least two consecutive on-time payments on your current loan before recasting. This is to ensure you have a good payment history.
Here are some common requirements for recasting a loan:
- Lender minimum principal payment: $10,000 or more in the year before recasting
- Consecutive monthly payments: 2 months at current amount
- Recast fee: $250 to $500
- Payment history: 2 consecutive on-time payments (some lenders require)
How Soon Can You Recast?
Recasting your mortgage can be a great way to save money, but you might be wondering how soon you can do it. You only need to wait 2 months after establishing an initial amortization schedule to recast the loan.
This means you'll have made your payments as agreed during that time, which is a good thing, because you'll want to be on track with your payments before making any changes.
Requirements and Standards

To recast your loan, you'll need to meet certain requirements and standards set by your lender. You must satisfy equity requirements, which can be a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of your principal balance.
You may need to have a certain amount of equity in your loan before qualifying for a recast. This can vary depending on your lender's specific requirements.
Your lender might require a history of on-time payments before allowing a recast. Rocket Mortgage, for example, requires at least two consecutive on-time payments on your current loan.
Meeting these requirements will determine your eligibility for a loan recast.
Alternatives to Loan Recasting
If you're not a fan of loan recasting, there are other options to consider.
Refinancing your mortgage can be a viable alternative. In the example of reducing principal through a mortgage recast, the monthly payment decreased by $201.62, from $1,072.43 to $870.81.
You can also try a loan modification. This involves working with your lender to temporarily reduce or suspend your payments, which can give you some breathing room.
The total interest paid over the life of the mortgage decreased by $45,722.17 in the recast example, from $186,071.54 to $151,864.49.
Another option is to make extra payments on your existing loan. This can help pay down the principal balance and reduce the amount of interest you owe.
The principal balance decreased by $40,000 in the recast example, from $200,000 to $160,000.
Consider consulting with a financial advisor to determine the best course of action for your unique financial situation.
Calculating and Understanding Loan Recasting
A mortgage recast can be a game-changer for your finances. To get one, you'll need to pay extra towards your mortgage, reducing your debt more than you're scheduled to.
You can calculate a mortgage recast yourself, but it's a good idea to use a mortgage recast calculator or let your lender provide the information. Your lender will look at how much you've paid off your debt and compare it to your repayment schedule.
To calculate the new monthly payment, you'll need to know the date you intend to make the lump-sum payment and the remaining years on your loan. You'll then calculate your monthly payment using the new balance and the same interest rate.
A recast can lower your monthly payment, but it won't change the overall term of your loan. You'll still have a set date for when you'll be done paying off your loan, but you'll be paying less each month.
You can also calculate loan amortization manually, but using a mortgage amortization calculator can make the process easier. This can help you see how different scenarios, such as making an additional principal payment, will affect your loan.
Reducing Principal
Making extra payments can significantly reduce the principal balance of your loan. You can either recast your mortgage or make additional principal payments. Recasting requires a large payment toward your principal loan balance, which will lower your monthly payment over the same term. On the other hand, making additional principal payments keeps your monthly payment the same but lowers your overall principal balance.

A recast can reduce your principal balance by as much as $40,000, as seen in the example where the principal balance went from $200,000 to $160,000. This reduction can also lower your monthly payment by $201.62.
Alternatively, making additional principal payments can also reduce the principal balance. For example, if you pay $100 extra each month towards principal, you can cut your loan term by more than 4.5 years and reduce the interest paid by more than $26,500.
Here's a comparison of the two methods:
Paying extra towards your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you'll pay.
Amortization and Loan Recasting
Amortization is the reduction of debt by regular payments of principal and interest over a period of time. This is how your loan balance decreases over time.
A mortgage recast, also known as a re amortization, is an elegant way to bring down your monthly payments while maintaining financial stability. To get a mortgage recast, you need to pay extra towards the mortgage, more than you are scheduled to every bill, or contribute a large amount of money at once to pay off the debt.
You can achieve a major principal reduction in two ways: a recast, which lowers your monthly payment over the same term, or an additional principal payment, which keeps your monthly payment the same but lowers your overall principal balance.
What is Amortization?
Amortization is the reduction of debt by regular payments of principal and interest over a period of time. This process typically starts with a larger portion of each payment going towards interest and a smaller amount towards paying down the principal balance.
As you make regular payments, more of each payment goes towards paying down your principal, reducing your debt over time. In the case of a mortgage, for example, a monthly payment may cover a significant amount of interest at first, but as the loan term progresses, more of each payment goes towards paying down the principal.
Mortgage amortization is a gradual process that takes place over the life of the loan, with the majority of each payment initially covering interest and a smaller amount paying down the principal.
Extending Amortization
Extending amortization is possible, but it can be costly and may require loan modification or refinancing. You can reamortize a 15-year mortgage into a 30-year mortgage through refinancing, but be aware that this will trigger prepayment penalties if your mortgage has them.

Refinancing a mortgage pays off the original mortgage, which can lead to prepayment penalties, even if it seems like you're just extending the mortgage.
Loan modification can be an attractive option for those struggling to make their mortgage payments, allowing you to extend a 30-year mortgage. However, it's essential to speak with your lender to understand if this will result in additional interest.
Pros and Cons
Re-amortizing a loan can be a smart financial move, but it's not without its drawbacks. Here are some key pros and cons to consider.
Re-amortizing a loan can save you thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of the loan, as seen in the example where a borrower saved $12,000 in interest payments by switching to a 15-year loan. This is because you're paying off the principal balance faster, which reduces the amount of interest you owe.
However, re-amortizing a loan may require you to make larger monthly payments, which can be a challenge for some borrowers. For instance, the same borrower who saved $12,000 in interest payments had to increase their monthly payments by $300.
Should You Pay Off Debt Early?

Paying off debt early can save you a significant amount of money in interest payments. Paying a little extra towards your debt can go a long way in lessening the time it takes to repay your loans and the amount of interest you'll pay.
Making your normal monthly payments will pay down, or amortize, your loan, but paying extra toward your principal can make a big difference. Paying off your debt early reduces the amount that you'll pay over time.
Paying off debt early requires discipline and a solid budget, but it can be a great way to achieve financial freedom. Paying extra toward your principal can be a great way to lessen the time it takes to repay your loans.
Pros
Recasting a mortgage can be a smart move for homeowners who want to save money on interest and lower their monthly payment. You can keep your current interest rate, which is a big plus.

A recast can be especially helpful if you have a large amount of money to put toward your loan, but aren't sure how your income will change in the future. This way, you can save on interest without taking on a higher monthly payment.
You don't need to worry about credit score requirements or appraisal fees, which are typically associated with refinancing. Recasting is a more straightforward process that can save you time and money.
You can apply your lump sum directly to the principal, which is a great way to pay off your loan faster. If your lender doesn't offer this option, you can ask about recasting.
Here are some key benefits of recasting a mortgage:
- Recasting is less expensive than refinancing.
- You can keep your current interest rate.
- No credit or appraisal requirements are needed.
- You can save on interest and lower your payment.
- You apply your lump sum directly to the principal.
Cons
Some lenders may not allow extra payments to be applied directly to the loan principal, instead using them to cover the next month's payment. This can still get you ahead on your payments, but it won't save you money on interest.

You may not qualify for a recast, which is a process that allows you to make a lump-sum payment to reduce your monthly mortgage payment. Government loans, such as those backed by the FHA and VA, generally don't qualify for recasting.
To qualify for a recast, you typically need to make a minimum lump-sum payment that's a specific fixed amount or a percentage of your principal. You'll also need to pay a fee, on top of the payment itself.
Your monthly payment will go down with a recast, but your term length will remain the same. This means you won't be paying off your loan any faster than you would with your original payment schedule.
Any extra cash you contribute through a recast will be tied up in your home equity, making it difficult to access if you need to in the future. You may need to refinance, get a home equity loan, or take out a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) to access the money you've already paid into your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to re-amortize a mortgage?
Re-amortizing a mortgage typically costs a small fee of around $250 to $500. This minimal cost allows you to take advantage of lower interest rates without additional expenses.
What is the difference between recast and Reamortize?
A mortgage recast is a process where a lump-sum payment reduces the principal balance, while reamortization is the subsequent calculation of new monthly payments based on the updated balance. In essence, recast is the action, and reamortize is the result of that action.
Sources
- https://7thlvl.com/re-amortization-vs-refinance/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/recast-mortgage
- https://www.wellsfargo.com/financial-education/homeownership/loan-amortization-extra-payments/
- https://www.quickenloans.com/learn/mortgage-recast
- https://lendsmartmortgage.com/blog/re-amortizing-or-refinancing-your-home-which-is-right-for-you/
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