Tag: refinance

The Guide to Paying Off Your Mortgage Early

Posted on by First Western Trust Bank

Owning your home outright is a financial dream for many, and paying off your mortgage early can help make that dream a reality. It can save you thousands in interest, free up your budget, and bring a sense of financial freedom. But how do you balance this goal with other priorities like saving for retirement or building an emergency fund? Here’s your ultimate guide to making an early mortgage payoff work for you.

Why Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

  1. Save on Interest
    The longer you hold a mortgage, the more interest you pay—especially with a 30-year loan. Early payoff significantly reduces the amount you’ll pay over the life of the loan.
  2. Achieve Financial Freedom
    A mortgage-free home means fewer monthly obligations, allowing you to allocate funds to other goals or enjoy a stress-free retirement.
  3. Build Equity Faster
    Paying down your mortgage early increases your home equity, which can be a valuable financial safety net if you ever need to access it.
  4. Peace of Mind
    Eliminating a major debt provides emotional relief and financial stability, especially during uncertain economic times.

Strategies to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

  1. Biweekly Payments
    Instead of making one monthly payment, divide your monthly amount in half and pay that every two weeks. This results in 26 half-payments—or 13 full payments—a year, effectively shaving years off your loan term.
  2. Extra Principal Payments
    Add extra money to your principal whenever possible. Even small amounts—like rounding up your monthly payment—can make a big difference over time. For example, applying an extra $100 each month to a 30-year mortgage could save you tens of thousands in interest.
  3. Lump-Sum Payments
    Use windfalls like bonuses, tax refunds, or inheritance money to make large principal payments. Just ensure your mortgage doesn’t have prepayment penalties.
  4. Refinance to a Shorter Term
    Refinancing to a 15- or 20-year mortgage often comes with lower interest rates and forces you to pay off the loan faster. Keep in mind that your monthly payments will likely increase.
  5. Reduce Expenses and Redirect Savings
    Cutting back on discretionary spending or finding ways to increase income can free up funds to put toward your mortgage.
  6. Automate Your Payments
    Set up automatic payments to ensure you stay consistent with your payoff strategy.

Balancing Payoff Goals with Other Financial Priorities

Paying off your mortgage early is a worthwhile goal, but it’s important to ensure it doesn’t come at the expense of other financial needs:

  • Emergency Fund: Before prioritizing extra payments, make sure you have 3-6 months’ worth of expenses saved for emergencies.
  • Retirement Savings: Don’t sacrifice your long-term financial security. Contribute enough to retirement accounts to take full advantage of employer matches and compound growth.
  • High-Interest Debt: Pay off credit cards or personal loans with higher interest rates before focusing on your mortgage.

A balanced approach allows you to enjoy the benefits of paying off your mortgage early while safeguarding your overall financial health.

How First Western Trust Can Help

At First Western Trust, we believe in empowering you to achieve your financial goals, including paying off your mortgage early. Here’s how we can assist:

  • Customized Planning: Our advisors can evaluate your financial situation and develop a strategy to balance early mortgage payoff with other priorities.
  • Refinancing Options: We offer tailored refinancing solutions to help you secure a shorter term or lower interest rate.
  • Guidance on Prepayment Penalties: We’ll help you understand the terms of your mortgage and avoid penalties that could negate your savings.

Our team is here to provide the tools and expertise you need to make informed decisions and move closer to financial freedom.

Final Thoughts

Paying off your mortgage early is an achievable goal with the right strategy. Whether it’s biweekly payments, refinancing, or using windfalls wisely, small actions can lead to big results. Just remember to balance this goal with other financial commitments to ensure you’re building a stable and secure future.

Ready to take control of your mortgage? Contact us today to start planning your path to a mortgage-free life. Together, we’ll help you create a plan that fits your needs and accelerates your journey to financial independence.

The Benefits of a Mortgage Recast

Posted on by First Western Trust Bank

Homeowners understand that their monthly mortgage payment is based on the initial down payment and the loan term. Many homeowners who acquired a mortgage with high-interest rates often seek to refinance when interest rates drop. Others attempt to pay off their mortgage quicker by paying more toward the principal each month. Both options are viable solutions for reducing the amount of the monthly payment. A third option is a mortgage recast, which is a particularly beneficial solution when interest rates are high.

What is a Mortgage Recast?

Put simply, a recast mortgage is a mortgage that has been recalculated to reduce the monthly premium. When recasting mortgages, a lender will calculate a homeowner’s new monthly payment based on the outstanding balance and the number of years remaining on the mortgage.

A mortgage recast should not be confused with a mortgage refinance. Refinancing a mortgage means creating a new loan with a new interest rate, a new term, or both. But refinancing isn’t always a possibility when interest rates remain high. Additionally, many lenders charge closing costs for a refinance.

With a recast mortgage, a new loan is not created, and the interest rate on the loan does not change. Instead, the monthly payment is recalculated, and the remaining loan term and any equity in the home also remain unaffected.

Benefits of a Mortgage Recast

The primary benefit of a recast mortgage is, of course, lower monthly mortgage premiums. But there are many additional benefits to recasting mortgages, including:

No Credit Check or Lengthy Paperwork Processing

When a homeowner refinances a mortgage, a lender will perform a credit check. Typically, additional paperwork is required that is almost on par with the paperwork necessary for a standard mortgage. And while many lenders have facilitated the process, it can still take time for everything to be fully processed. However, there is no credit check requirement with a mortgage recast, and the process can be completed much faster.

No Closing Costs

Another significant benefit of recasting a mortgage is no closing costs. There may still be a fee for a mortgage recast, but it is far less than the closing costs for a refinanced mortgage. Depending on the lender, the fee may be only a few hundred dollars. 

Less Money Paid Towards Interest

A mortgage recast means not only lower monthly payments but also less interest paid as well. Mortgage recasting reduces the actual interest paid over the life of the loan, which decreases the total amount of the loan overall.

The Loan Term Remains the Same

When refinancing a loan, it is common to increase the loan term. For example, a homeowner who has already paid a loan for five years on a 30-year loan and then decided to refinance will likely start over with a new 30-year loan term.

Things to Know Before Recasting a Mortgage

While the benefits of a recast mortgage certainly seem great, there are some things to be aware of before homeowners opt for this solution.

The Interest Rate Remains the Same

Homeowners seeking to take advantage of lower interest rates when they have a mortgage with high interest cannot do so with a mortgage recast. The interest rate remains the same. However, recasting a mortgage can be a great option if interest rates are still high or have risen even higher than the homeowner’s current rate. It might also be prudent to look at other non-traditional mortgage options designed to fit the needs of homeowners focused on wealth planning.

Cannot Access Home Equity

When a homeowner refinances, they often can refinance the loan for a larger amount — essentially tapping into their equity to receive extra cash. Refinancing the loan for a larger loan is not an option when recasting a mortgage. 

Not Available with All Lenders

Not all lenders offer a mortgage recast option. Additionally, not all types of loans are eligible, and there may be restrictions depending on the current state of the mortgage.

Final Thoughts

A mortgage recast might be a better option for some. One of the best ways to determine if recasting a mortgage is the smart thing to do is to figure out the ultimate purpose of your current loan. Are you simply seeking to lower your monthly payment? Or do you have plans to access some of your home equity? Do you want to use the savings from a mortgage recast to improve your future wealth planning potential, or do you wish to take advantage of a much lower interest rate?
Homeowners that want to know how to recast a mortgage and whether it is a good option for them can contact First Western Trust to learn more. First Western Trust specializes in providing customized mortgages and understands the unique financial situations of its clients. With several lending options and a highly experienced team of professionals, First Western Trust is ideally suited to help with a mortgage recast and other home lending needs.