If you've been thinking about accelerating the repayment of your mortgage loan, but aren't sure how to get started then this post is for you! The easiest way to payoff your mortgage faster is by making additional principal payments. This can be accomplished by sending in additional payments yourself or signing up for a service that does it for you, such as the BiWeekly Advantage Plan.
An additional principal payment is money you pay towards your principal balance that is above and beyond your regular monthly mortgage payment. Typically this payment can be made anytime, but for ease many people opt to make additional principal payments at the same time as their monthly mortgage payment.
To ensure the funds sent are applied to the principal balance, be sure to indicate how much you've sent and where those funds are to be applied. Your lender will not automatically know. This can be easily accomplished by indicating the extra payment on your lender supplied mortgage statement or payment coupon you send in with your monthly payment. If you make your payments online, there is most likely an option on the payment screen to indicate your additional principal payment. If not, contact your lender for instructions on how to make additional principal payments to ensure your payments are properly credited.
For Citi customers, who have registered for online account maintenance, principal payments can be made online by logging into your account from the CitiMortgage website. Once you have logged in, select make a payment. The Online Payment page will display. You can find the additional principal payment option under the "Step 2: Tell us how much you want to pay" section (illustrated below). Simply enter the amount of your additional principal payment and select submit.
Making additional principal payments can save you money and reduce the repayment term of your loan. The amount and frequency of your additional payments will impact how much is saved, but every extra payment you make towards the principal balance will make an impact. Be sure to contact your lender if you have any questions about making additional principal payments to your mortgage.
I want to know why Citimortage holds any principal payment in an additional funds account (non interest) and won't apply them until they equal one mortgage payment. We are better off hold the money ourselves then.
Help me find a way to get any extra principal payment applied right away. Anyone know how to do that?
Reply to this comment by Sheri Fermanich on 02/23/2012
Sheri, I asked one of our managers to contact you about this. I understand that Sara made contact with you and was able to address your concerns. Thank you for the post.
Reply to this comment by CitiMortgage on 03/19/2012 in response to Sheri Fermanich
Can you advance your monthly payments if you pay ahead?
Reply to this comment by Mandy Paulson on 02/15/2012
Hi Mandy. I'm not sure I understand your question. If you are asking if you can pay ahead the answer is yes, but just in case that isn't the information you were looking for I've asked one of our Customer Service specialists to contact you directly. I understand she left you a phone message earlier today. Thank you for contacting us.
Reply to this comment by CitiMortgage on 03/19/2012 in response to Mandy Paulson