Prepayment Penalty

This Issue in United States

Prepayment Penalty in the Context of Mortgage Refinancings

In this context, a definition of Prepayment Penalty may be distilled, worded as follows: Extra fees that may be due if you pay off your loan early by refinancing the loan or by selling the home. The penalty is usually limited to the first 3 to 5 years of the loanâ?™s term. If your loan includes a prepayment penalty, make sure you understand the cost. Compare the length of the prepayment penalty period with the first adjustment period of the ARM to see if refinancing is cost-effective before the loan first adjusts. Some loans may have a prepayment penalty even if you make a partial prepayment. Ask the lender for a loan without a prepayment penalty and the cost of that loan.