As soon as you take out a mortgage, you probably can't wait until the day when you pay it off. But when that day finally comes, what do you do? Show Don't kick your feet up just yet. Once you pay off your mortgage, there are a few steps you have to take to complete the process of establishing that you now fully own the home outright. While the rules can vary a bit based on your state and lender, the process is similar. Receive the DocumentsOnce your mortgage is paid off, you'll receive a number of documents from your lender that show your loan has been paid in full and that the bank no longer has a lien on your house. These papers are often called a mortgage release or mortgage satisfaction. You'll likely receive:
In many cases, your lender will file a certificate of satisfaction with your county government, which releases the home's deed to you and indicates that you are now the sole owner. Ask your lender if they will do this for you. If they will, be aware that it can take a few weeks or months for it to be filed. Once your lender has told you they've filed the documents, contact your local records office to confirm that their records show your mortgage has been cancelled. If your lender says they don't file it for you, you can file it yourself—just check with your local county clerk or registrar to find out what the process entails. Update Your Insurance and TaxesHere's the bad news: Your property taxes and homeowners insurance don't go away once you pay off your mortgage. If you have money in escrow that your lender used to pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance for you, it's possible that you'll have extra money leftover in your escrow account. If there is any extra, the lender should refund you by mailing a check. If you're not sure, ask your lender if you'll be getting a refund. Once your mortgage is paid off, you no longer have a lender requiring you to have homeowners insurance. While you aren't federally required to have it, it's important to keep your coverage since it protects you financially if your home incurs major damage or if someone is injured on your property. If your homeowners insurance was paid by your lender via escrow, once your mortgage is canceled, contact your home insurance provider to inform them that you paid off the mortgage. Let them know that you are now the sole owner of the property and will now be handling the bill yourself. Also, make sure your premiums are set up to deduct from your bank account, not your lender's. Property taxes, on the other hand, aren't optional, and you now have to remember to pay them. Check with your state, county and local taxing authorities to have your property tax invoice sent to you. Find out their billing frequency, since some charge annually and some charge quarterly, and make sure to start budgeting for this expense. Allocate the Extra FundsOnce you no longer have a mortgage payment, a big chunk of your monthly income is now freed up for other goals and expenses. To make sure you don't fritter it away, put careful thought into what you'll do with the extra money. Here are some ideas:
Monitor Your CreditOnce all of the paperwork associated with your mortgage repayment is completed and filed, check your credit report to ensure it accurately reflects that your mortgage has been satisfied. |