How to Request a Mortgage Recast From Your Lender

July 15, 2026

Recasting isn’t automatic — it requires a specific request to your loan servicer, and the process (and even whether it’s offered at all) varies by lender. Here’s how it actually works.

Step 1 — Confirm Your Loan Type Is Eligible

Conventional loans (including jumbo loans and those backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) are generally eligible for recasting. FHA, VA, and USDA loans are generally not eligible — if you have one of these loan types, a formal recast likely isn’t an option, though making extra principal payments without a recast usually still is. See the recast terms glossary for the distinction between the two.

Step 2 — Contact Your Loan Servicer Directly

Call or email the company that services your mortgage (this may not be the original lender if your loan was sold or transferred, which happens often). Ask specifically whether they offer recasting, what their minimum lump-sum requirement is, and what fee they charge — not every servicer offers recasting even on an eligible loan type, so this confirmation step matters before making any assumptions.

Step 3 — Confirm the Minimum Lump-Sum Requirement

Most servicers require a minimum principal paydown before approving a recast — commonly $5,000 or more, though this varies by lender. Run your planned lump sum through the mortgage recast calculator to see the resulting payment reduction before committing, so you know the outcome is worth the process.

Step 4 — Submit the Recast Request Form (Before Sending the Payment)

Many servicers require a formal recast request form to be submitted before the lump-sum payment is sent — sending the payment first without the paperwork in place can result in it simply being applied as a regular prepayment instead of triggering a recast. Confirm the correct order of operations with your specific servicer rather than assuming.

Step 5 — Pay the Lump Sum and the Recast Fee

Once the request is approved, submit the lump-sum principal payment along with the servicer’s recast fee — typically in the $150-$500 range, a small flat cost compared to refinance closing costs.

Step 6 — Expect a 45-90 Day Processing Window

Recasting is not instant. Multiple major servicers quote a processing timeline of roughly 45 to 90 days from when the lump sum and fee are received to when the new, lower payment takes effect. Continue making your current (pre-recast) payment amount during this window — the lower payment doesn’t apply retroactively, and missing payments while waiting for the recast to process can cause real problems with your loan.

Step 7 — Confirm the New Payment and Terms in Writing

Once the recast is processed, your servicer should send written confirmation of the new monthly payment amount and the effective date. Compare this figure against what the mortgage recast calculator projected — the numbers should match closely, since a recast follows the same reamortization formula.

What to Watch For

Escrow adjustments — if your monthly payment includes escrow for property tax and insurance, that portion won’t shrink from the recast (only the principal-and-interest portion does), so your total payment reduction will be somewhat smaller than the principal-and-interest-only figure the calculator shows.
Multiple recasts — some servicers allow more than one recast over the life of a loan, others limit it to once; ask specifically if you’re considering a future additional lump sum.
Written confirmation — always get the new payment amount and effective date in writing rather than relying on a verbal confirmation from a phone call.

See mortgage recast vs. extra payments vs. refinancing to confirm recasting is actually the right move for your goals before starting this process, and common mortgage recast mistakes for pitfalls that trip people up along the way.