Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you have questions about your loan with American Financial Resources and would like to speak to someone, please call us at 844-681-3189. Our Homeowner Care team members are available Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 8:00 pm ET and our Ally department is available Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 8:00 pm ET.
Accessibility & Language Access
Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Servicing Fee Schedule
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Mortgage Recast
What is a Mortgage Recast?
A mortgage recast is a financial option available for
conventional loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac – which allows borrowers
to apply a lump-sum payment toward the principal balance of their mortgage and
request a re-amortization of the loan. While the interest rate and maturity
date remain unchanged, the monthly principal and interest payment is
recalculated based on the reduced unpaid principal balance, resulting in a
lower monthly payment.
If I Recast my Mortgage, will my monthly payment remain the same forever?
Recasting your mortgage only affects your monthly principal
and interest amount. The payment amount will remain lower, however, if you have
an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) you may see small variances up and down
through the rest of your loan term and the Escrow portion of your payment may
change in the future, both of which could affect your overall monthly payment.
Is there a minimum lump-sum requirement?
Yes, a minimum lump-sum payment of $10,0000 is required. The
payment can be submitted as:
- A single lump-sum payment, or
- Multiple principal reductions totaling at least $10,000,
received within a three-month period, starting from the date the recast request
was received
Is there a processing fee?
Are there specific eligibility requirements to qualify for a recast?
Yes.
- Recasts are available for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
conventional loans only.
- Recasts are not available for FHA, VA, or USDA loans.
- Some investors may permit only one recast within a 12 month
period.
- Recasts are limited to first lien mortgages; second liens
are not eligible.
- The account must be current, with no delinquencies or active
bankruptcy.
- The loan must not be in an interest only period.
- For Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs), there must be no
interest rate change scheduled within the next 30 days.
- All outstanding fees must be paid in full prior to recast
approval.
- The loan must not be scheduled for servicing release within
the next 15 days.
Why are interest only and adjustable rate mortgages ineligible?
Interest only loans are structured so that the borrower pays
only the interest portion for a set period. Since no principal is being paid,
there is no amortization to adjust. ARM loans have fluctuating interest rates
and payments. If a rate change is set to occur within 30 days, the loan is
considered ineligible for recalculating payments as the payment will “recast”
with the ARM change automatically.
Which part of my payment will a recast affect?
The recast affects only the principal and interest portion
of your monthly payment.
- Escrow payments (taxes and insurance) remain unchanged.
- If you have an ARM, future rate adjustments may still affect
your monthly payment.
You may be eligible for PMI removal following the recast,
subject to appraisal and balance criteria. This is a separate request. Please
reach out to our Homeowner Care Team at 844-681-3189 anytime [CCare available
timetable] with further questions regarding PMI and escrow.
How do I request a Recast?
To iTo initiate a recast request, please contact our Homeowner Care Team at 844-681-3189 Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 8:00 pm ET.
- Your request will be forwarded to the Special Loans team.
- You’ll receive amortization schedules based on your
curtailment amount.
- Once the payment and fee are received, a Recast Agreement
will be mailed.
- Once the notarized and executed agreement is returned,
system updates will be completed, and a new billing statement will be generated
to reflect the new payment.
- Please anticipate a 45-90 day processing time depending on
documentation and investor cutoffs.
Where do I send my payment?
Please remit your principal reduction and fee either via
mail to:
American Financial Resources
Attn: Special Loans
3138 E Elwood Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
You may also utilize the following wire instructions to
remit the principal reduction and fee:
BANK NAME: Servbank
BANK ADDRESS: 3201 Orchard Rd. Oswego, IL 60543
BENEFICIARY: Servbank
ABA ROUTING NUMBER: 071993214
CHECKING ACCOUNT NUMBER: 10000207844
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Loan Number/Recast