06/04/2026
Breaking the Mortgage vs. Getting a Second Mortgage
Breaking your current 5-year fixed early to get cash out can cost you thousands in prepayment penalties.
Banks calculate early exit fees using the Interest Rate Differential (IRD), which can easily skyrocket into a $10,000 to $15,000 penalty if you have years left on your term.
You need $60,000 for a major project or debt payoff, but paying a massive penalty to the bank entirely erases the benefit of refinancing.
Leave your low-rate first mortgage completely alone and place a short-term second mortgage behind it to get the cash you need without the penalty.
DM me! Let's run the math to see if a saves you more than a refinance.