Your guide to fees
Standard Fees
These fees may occur for any normal transactional issue with your mortgage.
Late Charge Fee
What is this fee?
If your payment comes in after the due date and any grace period has passed, a late fee may apply.
Estimated fee amount:
The amount and rules for these fees are based on your loan agreement and the laws in your state.
How to Avoid
To avoid late fees, make sure your monthly mortgage payment is received by the due date—or within the grace period mentioned in your loan documents or monthly billing statement. Setting up automatic payments and alerts can really help you stay on track and steer clear of any late charges.
NSF or Returned Check Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may be charged if your bank rejects a payment when we try to process it.
Estimated fee amount:
The amount can be up to $50, depending on what’s allowed by your state’s laws.
How to Avoid
To avoid a Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) or Returned Check Fee, just make sure there’s enough money in your account before making a payment. Not sure? Online banking and low-balance alerts can help you stay on top of things. And if you ever need more flexibility, check out our different payment options on our website!
Prepayment Fee
What is this fee?
If you choose to pay off your loan early, a prepayment fee might apply depending on your loan agreement.
Estimated fee amount:
The exact amount is determined by your loan documents and by state and federal laws, so it’s a good idea to review those details before making an early payment.
How to Avoid
Thinking about making a big payment or paying off your loan early? Just take a moment to check your loan agreement or reach out to us first. Depending on your mortgage terms, a prepayment fee might apply—and it’s always good to know ahead of time!
Property Valuation Fee
What is this fee?
If we need to determine the value of your home—for an appraisal, Broker Price Opinion, or another type of property valuation—a fee may apply.
Estimated fee amount:
This can be up to $1,000, depending on your state, investor guidelines, and the type of valuation used.
How to Avoid
Check with us first to see if a valuation is needed before making your request. We’re always happy to walk you through when and why this fee might apply, so you can make the best decision for your situation.
HELOC Maintenance Fee
What is this fee?
This fee is an annual or periodic fee charged when maintaining a HELOC loan.
Estimated Fee Amount:
As permitted by your loan documents and applicable state law.
How to Avoid
This fee will be charged for the duration of your loan, until the account is closed.
Default Related Fees and Cost of Services
These fees may occur if you are in a default status with your mortgage.
Attorney Fees and Costs
What is this fee?
A fee may apply if your loan enters legal proceedings—like foreclosure or bankruptcy—and legal help is needed to protect or resolve the matter.
Estimated fee amount:
The amount depends on your loan agreement, investor guidelines, and state and federal laws.
How to Avoid
The best way to avoid legal fees is to stay current on your payments—or reach out to us early if you're having financial trouble. We're here to help and can work with you on solutions to prevent things from escalating to legal action.
Field Visit Fee
What is this fee?
If we need to send someone out to deliver a notice and check whether the property is occupied, a fee may apply.
Estimated fee amount:
This can be up to $85, depending on your state, investor guidelines, and what’s allowed by state law.
How to Avoid
You can avoid this fee by keeping your payments up to date or reaching out to us early if you're going through a tough time. We're here to help and can offer support before things escalate.
Litigation Fees and Costs
What is this fee?
This fee may apply if legal action is taken due to ongoing missed payments or unresolved mortgage issues like a contested foreclosure action or a Lien or title issue.
Estimated fee amount:
The cost is determined by your loan agreement, investor guidelines, and applicable state and federal laws.
How to Avoid
The best way to avoid these costs is to stay in touch with us. If you're having trouble making payments, don’t wait—reach out early. We're here to help and always aim to find a solution with you before legal steps are needed.
Property Inspection Fee
What is this fee?
If your loan becomes significantly past due, we may need to check on the condition of the home, which could result in a fee.
Estimated fee amount:
This can be up to $150, depending on your state, investor guidelines, and the type of inspection required.
How to Avoid
To avoid this fee, it’s important to stay current on your mortgage payments—or reach out to us early if you’re facing financial challenges. We’re here to help with support and loss mitigation options that can keep you on track with your payments.
Property Preservation Fee
What is this fee?
If a property is found to be vacant or abandoned, we may need to step in to help prevent damage—like winterizing the home, maintaining the lawn, or making necessary repairs.
Estimated fee amount:
These services can come with a fee, which varies based on the type of work, your location, investor guidelines, your loan documents, and applicable laws.
How to Avoid
The best way to avoid this fee is to stay in touch with us if you're having a tough time. We’re here to support you with options that can help prevent the need for property preservation services.
Loan or Property Change Related Fees
These fees may occur for any loan changes to your mortgage.
Assumption Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may apply when someone takes over responsibility for an existing mortgage—usually due to a divorce, death, or property transfer. It covers the administrative work involved, like credit checks and preparing documents.
Estimated fee amount:
The cost can be up to $2,000, depending on the type of assumption, your state, investor guidelines, your loan documents, and applicable laws.
How to Avoid
To avoid delays and get a clear understanding of the process, it’s best to reach out to us before starting an assumption request. We’ll walk you through the steps, confirm eligibility, and let you know about any costs upfront.
Lien Release Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may apply when your mortgage is fully paid off and we take care of preparing and recording the official release of the lien on your property.
Estimated fee amount:
It covers the administrative and recording costs involved in finalizing your loan payoff and can be up to $100, depending on what’s allowed by state law.
How to Avoid
This fee is usually standard when a loan is paid off, but feel free to ask us ahead of time for the exact amount. This fee is disclosed on every payoff quote requested—it can be up to $100, depending on your state’s laws.
Maturity Extension Fee
What is this fee?
If you request to extend the original term or maturity date of your loan, a fee may apply. This helps cover the review and processing of your request, including updates to your loan terms and paperwork.
Estimated fee amount:
The exact cost will be outlined in your Maturity Extension Agreement.
How to Avoid
To avoid this fee, try to stick with your original loan schedule and pay off the loan by the maturity date, if possible. But if you think you’ll need an extension, reach out to us early—we’ll walk you through your options and give you a clear estimate of any costs involved.
Partial Release/Land Transaction/Trust Fee/CEMA/COOP
What is this fee?
This fee may apply if you request a legal or title-related change to your loan—like releasing part of the land from the mortgage, transferring the property into a trust, completing a COOP transaction, or processing a CEMA (Consolidation, Extension, and Modification Agreement) in New York.
Estimated fee amount:
The fee can be up to $300, depending on your state’s laws.
How to Avoid
Let’s chat first — it could save you from unexpected fees. Whether you're planning to transfer your property into a trust, release part of the land from your mortgage, or complete a COOP or CEMA transaction (especially in New York), we’re here to help. Reach out before you get started. We’ll walk you through what to expect, let you know if any fees apply, and make sure all the paperwork goes smoothly. It's important to note, no fee will be charged until the request and accurate documentation is needed.
Recasting Fee
What is this fee?
If you make a large, one-time payment toward your mortgage and ask us to recalculate your monthly payments based on the new, lower balance, a fee may apply. This can be a great way to lower your monthly payment without changing your interest rate or loan term.
Estimated fee amount:
The fee is up to $300, depending on what your state allows.
How to Avoid
To keep things simple and avoid any surprises, it’s a good idea to check in with us before making a large payment. We’ll let you know if your loan qualifies for recasting and what the fee will be. We’re always happy to walk you through how it works and the potential benefits.
Recording Fee
What is this fee?
This fee covers a standard charge from your local government to officially record property-related changes—like a lien release, loan modification, or ownership transfer—in public records.
Estimated fee amount:
It can be up to $600, depending on your state, county, the type of document, and what local laws allow.
How to Avoid
Since this fee is set by your local county or municipality, it usually can’t be waived. But don’t worry—we’ll always let you know ahead of time if a recording fee applies, so you’ll have all the details before moving forward.
Subordination Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may apply if you’re refinancing a second mortgage or home equity line of credit and need us to agree to stay in a lower lien position. It covers the administrative work involved in reviewing and processing that request.
Estimated fee amount:
The fee can be up to $300, depending on what your state allows.
How to Avoid
To help avoid any surprises, it’s best to reach out to us before you start your refinance. We’ll walk you through the subordination process, explain the timeline, and go over any fees that might apply.
Title Search Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may come up when we need to verify the ownership history of your property or check for any legal claims—usually during a refinance, assumption, or legal process. It helps ensure all property records are accurate and up to date.
Estimated fee amount:
The fee can be up to $350, depending on your state, investor guidelines, loan documents, and applicable laws.
How to Avoid
If this service is requested—or required as part of managing your mortgage—it’s often handled by a third party, and the fee usually can’t be waived. That said, we’ll always let you know in advance if a title search is needed and what it will cost, so you’re never caught off guard.
Document Related Fees
These fees may occur for document requests, preparations, or delivery.
Loan Document Fee
What is this fee?
If your payment comes in after the due date and any grace period has passed, a late fee may apply.
Estimated fee amount:
The amount and rules for these fees are based on your loan agreement and the laws in your state.
How to Avoid
To avoid this fee, you can use your online account to access available documents for free. If you’re looking for something specific, just reach out—we’ll help you figure out if a fee applies and find the best way to get what you need.
3rd Party Verification Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may apply when you authorize us to share your loan information with another company—like a lender, financial advisor, or housing counselor. It covers the cost of securely preparing and sending the information, either by overnight delivery or mail.
Estimated fee amount:
The fee is up to $10.
How to Avoid
To avoid this fee, it’s worth checking if the third party can receive documents electronically—that’s often free. And if you’re unsure, just reach out. We’re happy to help you figure out which services are free and which ones might come with a charge.
Expedited Document Fee
What is this fee?
This fee may apply if you ask for specific loan documents to be processed and delivered on a rush basis. It helps cover the extra time and resources needed to get everything to you faster than the standard processing time.
Estimated fee amount:
The fee can be up to $10.
How to Avoid
To avoid this fee, it’s best to request documents with the standard turnaround time whenever possible. If you’re unsure how long something might take, just reach out—we’re happy to walk you through your options and help you choose what works best.
Helpful Articles
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What Are Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) Fees and How Can I Avoid Them?
Do you have enough money in your bank account to cover your upcoming mortgage payment? If the answer is “no”, you will be hit with a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee.
How to Avoid Late Payments and Late Fees
Missing even one mortgage payment could impact your credit score. Read this guide to avoid the negative impacts of a late payment.
What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?
Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is an insurance policy that you pay for that protects your mortgage lender from financial loss if you stop making mortgage payments. Your lender may have listed PMI as a requirement in your mortgage, dependent on your credit score, down payment and other factors.