Mortgage Recast Versus Refinancing: Which Works for You?

Lower your mortgage payment with a recast or refinance. The right move depends on your loan type, rate, and financial goals.

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If you come into some extra funds, you might want to consider applying them to your mortgage. It’s a great way to pay down the principal or lower your monthly mortgage payment. Lowering your monthly mortgage payment is particularly helpful if you often have cash-flow issues.

There are ways to lower your monthly mortgage by using recasting or refinancing. Each option works differently, so it’s important to understand how they compare.

Recasting a Mortgage

Mortgage recasting is when you make a lump-sum payment to your principal balance. Once done, your lender then calculates a new, lower monthly payment. Your interest rate stays the same.

For example, suppose you owe $250,000 on your mortgage and receive a $50,000 inheritance. If you use all of it to recast your mortgage, your lender will recalculate your monthly payments based on a $250,000 balance, lowering your monthly payment.

Refinancing a Mortgage

With refinancing a mortgage, you take out a new home loan and use it to pay off the outstanding balance of your existing mortgage. This is often done to secure a lower rate. Typically, the new rate results in a lower monthly payment and less overall cost.

Refinancing doesn’t require a lump sum payment toward the principal.

Costs of Recasting and Refinancing a Mortgage

According to Experian, both recasting and refinancing come with costs. For example, you will be charged an administrative fee for a mortgage recast. This typically runs a few hundred dollars, depending on the lender.

Mortgage refinancing has a different cost structure. Closing costs can total two to five percent of the loan amount.

Can All Types of Mortgages Be Recast or Refinanced?

Conventional loans can be recast, but according to PNC Insights, not all mortgage types are eligible. Government-backed loans, including those from the Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are not eligible for recast.

Conventional and government-backed mortgages are eligible for refinancing.

When Do Borrowers Refinance or Recast a Mortgage?

Refinancing, technically, gives you a new mortgage with new interest and terms. For example, if you have a 30-year mortgage, you can refinance to a 15-year mortgage or vice versa.

Most borrowers refinance to obtain a better interest rate or switch from an adjustable-rate to a fixed mortgage. They also may use it to switch equity to cash.

A mortgage recast uses cash to pay down some of the loan’s principal. It is often used when a borrower receives a large sum of money, such as a bonus or an inheritance.

According to PNC Insights, it can be used when a borrower purchases a house before selling the current one. When the previous home sells, the proceeds can be used to recast the new home’s mortgage.

However, the lender may require two months of on-time payments before authorizing a recast.

Advantages of a Mortgage Recast

There are several benefits of a mortgage recast. By reducing your principal, you lower your monthly payment without extending your loan term.

A recast mortgage is not a new loan. So, you will not need a credit check or home appraisal to apply.

If you’re already locked into a low interest rate, it’s a way to keep your current rate while lowering your monthly payment.

There usually are lower administrative fees associated with a recast mortgage. According to Alcova Mortgage, they typically fall between $150 and $500.

According to SoFi Learn, if you make a lump-sum payment to bring your loan down to 80 percent of the home’s value, you can request to stop paying the private mortgage insurance or have it automatically dropped when the value reaches 78 percent.

Disadvantages of a Mortgage Recast

According to Rocket Mortgage, there are cons to a mortgage recast. One disadvantage is that your lender may not allow a recast. You are also limited to a conventional loan, because government-backed loans don’t allow a mortgage recast.

The loan-repayment term is not shortened, either. Your payment goes down, but if you have a 30-year loan, you can’t change it to a 15-year or other-year loan.

Losing access to equity is a problem. Your contributed cash will be tied up in your home equity. This means you’ll need to refinance or apply for a home equity loan or home equity line of credit if you need access to your home’s equity.

Refinancing Mortgage Advantages

You have options when refinancing. The loan conditions can be changed. For example, you can shorten or lengthen your term, take a lower interest rate or refinance to a new loan.

Almost any loan qualifies for a refinance. It may be your only option if you want a lower payment and you have a government-backed loan.

You also have the option to choose a new lender if you’re not satisfied with the current one.

Refinancing Mortgage Disadvantages

Refinancing is a new loan and usually has more costs than a recast. Refinanced loans include origination fees, appraisal fees, and other closing costs.

The clock turns back with a refinanced loan. This means if you’re 15 years into a 30-year loan, if you finance for another 30-year loan, it starts over. You lost the 15 years you already paid for.

With refinancing, since it’s technically a new loan, you pay more in interest at the beginning of your loan. You don’t start paying on the principal until later in the term. This means you could end up paying more interest throughout the life of the loan.

Mortgage Recasting and Refinancing

A mortgage recast lowers your monthly payments and saves you money on long-term interest. But you tie up equity.

However, not everyone qualifies for a recast. If you have a government-backed loan, for example, you’ll need to refinance.

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