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Mortgage recast

What a lump sum re-amortized over the same term does to your payment — and how that compares to just paying it as extra principal.

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A recast applies a lump sum and re-amortizes your loan over the same remaining term — lowering the payment while keeping your rate and payoff date. It's quiet, cheap, and not a refinance.

New monthly payment

$2,070/mo

down from $2,329/mo

Current payment$2,329
Lump applied$40,000
Monthly payment drops by$259
Interest saved over remaining term$46,959
Net saving after recast fee$46,709
Payoff dateunchanged (28 yrs)
Recast fee$250

A recast lowers the payment but keeps the same payoff date. The same lump as an extra payment instead would keep your current payment and pay the loan off about 6 yrs 11 mo sooner — lower payment vs. faster payoff is the real choice. Not all loans allow recasting — many conventional loans do; FHA, VA, and USDA generally don't, and jumbo varies by lender. Servicers usually require a minimum lump and charge a small fee. Confirm with your servicer.

Estimates only — not a quote, pre-approval, or offer of credit. Your actual terms come from a lender's Loan Estimate. Your servicer's recast terms decide — eligibility, minimum lump, fees, and timing vary, and some loans can't be recast.

Related read: What is a mortgage recast?
Terms on this page
  • RecastPaying a lump sum toward principal and having the lender re-amortize, lowering your payment at the same rate.
  • AmortizationThe schedule by which your loan is paid off; early on most of each payment is interest, later most goes to principal.
  • RefinanceReplacing your current mortgage with a new one, usually to lower the rate or change the term.
  • PrepaymentPaying extra toward principal ahead of schedule, which shortens the loan and cuts total interest.
  • ServicerThe company that collects your payments and manages escrow after closing — often not the lender you applied with.

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