Mortgage Fees Archives – Page 2 of 2

Understanding The Role Of A Mortgage Prepayment Penalty Fee When people take out a home loan, it is important to think carefully about how the home loan works. At first, the majority of the monthly payment is going to go towards interest. For example, it is not unusual for 90 percent of the monthly mortgage payments go toward interest during the first year. Then, during the latter part of the loan, most of the payment is going to go towards paying off the principal.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a lot of homeowners are looking for ways to reduce the amount of Interest they pay on a home loan.

For example, some homeowners consider putting a larger down payment on the home in order to reduce the amount of money they have to pay in the form of interest. Another possibility involves paying off the mortgage early; however, a mortgage prepayment fee may apply.

What Is A Mortgage Prepayment Fee?

A mortgage prepayment fee is exactly what it sounds like. This is a fee that some homeowners have to pay if they end up paying off their mortgage early. For lenders, they know that a lot of the money they are going to make comes in the form of interest. Therefore, they also understand that if their home loan gets paid off early, they are going to lose a significant amount of money. Therefore, as a way to disincentivize homeowners from paying off their home loan early and posting them interest, they apply a mortgage prepayment fee.

When Will A Mortgage Prepayment Fee Apply?

Of course, it is also important for homeowners to take a look at the contract carefully and see when a mortgage prepayment fee applies. For example, if homeowners are paying one extra monthly payment per year, then it is highly unlikely that a mortgage prepayment fee is going to apply when the home loan gets paid off early. On the other hand, if a homeowner is looking to pay off an entire home loan in 3 years, then there is a high chance that a prepayment fee is going to apply. In order to avoid this mortgage prepayment fee, every homeowner has to take a look at their contract carefully.

Target The Lowest Borrowing Costs Possible When Applying For A Mortgage When someone is applying for a mortgage, it is important to consider the other costs that go along with taking out this type of loan. While many people focus on the down payment, the size of the loan, and the interest rate, there are other costs that might go along with taking out a mortgage.

These hidden fees are sometimes referred to as “nickels and dimes” that the lender tacks on to the loan to try to make some extra money. When compared to the size of the loan, many borrowers shrug this off because the loan is so big; however, nobody should have to pay more than they should. It is important to aim for the lowest borrowing costs possible when applying for a mortgage.

The Hidden Borrowing Costs Of A Mortgage

There are several hidden borrowing costs when it comes to a mortgage. One of the most common hidden borrowing costs is called origination fees. An origination fee is a fee that is tacked onto the mortgage for printing the papers. It is important for borrowers to ask about origination fees and try to get them waived, if possible.

A second hidden cost when it comes to a mortgage is called points. Points are interest payments due at signing. In this manner, the lender is asking for more money upfront in an effort to earn interest on that money sooner. Borrowers should keep their eyes open for points and avoid them, if possible.

Finally, some borrowers might also be asked to purchase PMI. While this isn’t a “hidden” cost, it is something that borrowers should know. This is mortgage insurance that the borrower purchases for the lender to protect the lender against the risk of default. Borrowers can often avoid this expense as long as they put enough money down; however, this down payment hurdle might be lowered if the borrower has a strong credit history and plenty of assets.

Reduce The Cost Of Taking Out A Mortgage

These are a few of the most common added costs that borrowers might face when they take out a loan. Everyone needs to keep their eyes open for these hidden costs so they don’t pay more than they should.