U.S. MORTGAGE GUIDES
Make a clearer mortgage payoff plan
Practical explanations for homeowners considering extra principal payments. Check your lender’s rules and use the calculator to model your own numbers.
What an extra $100 a month can doSee why a small recurring principal payment can change interest and payoff time.
Should you make a lump-sum payment?Balance interest savings, liquidity and lender rules before using a windfall.
How to make a principal-only paymentConfirm that an extra payment actually lowers your unpaid balance.
How to estimate your payoff dateUse your balance, rate and payment history for a more useful scenario.
Prepayment penalty checklistQuestions to ask before a large partial or full payoff.
Prepay or refinance?Compare a principal payment with a new loan using total costs.
Keep an emergency fund firstProtect accessible cash while building a repayment plan.
Fixed vs adjustable mortgagesWhy future rate changes matter when estimating savings.
Do biweekly payments save interest?Compare payment timing, fees and monthly principal alternatives.
Mortgage recast explainedUnderstand how a recast differs from simply shortening the term.
How extra payments reduce interestWhy reducing principal earlier can change the repayment schedule.
Lump sum or recurring extra payment?Compare timing, flexibility and lender questions.
Before you prepay: a checklistFees, emergency savings and payment instructions to verify.