When the situation arises that you have a lump sum of cash to pay down your existing mortgage, there may be different options available. Pre-paying principal on a fixed-rate mortgage shortens the term of the mortgage but the payment stays the same.

Conversely, recasting a mortgage with a lump-sum principal payment lowers the principal and interest payment but leaves the term intact with the same payoff date.

The interest rate on the mortgage will stay the same regardless. Prepaying principal can be done at any time but may not be applied until the next payment date. Recasting cannot be done within the first 90-days of a mortgage.

Pre-paying principal is like driving faster on a trip to a specific destination to get you there sooner. Recasting/Re-amortization gets you to the destination at the same estimated time of arrival but using less fuel.

Most loans allow you to pre-pay principal, but recasting is not allowed on FHA, VA, and GNMA. If you have a conventional loan, check with your lender to see if it is possible.

Contact your mortgage servicer for specific information on pre-paying or recasting your mortgage before acting.

Do you remember if or when you have replaced your washing machine hoses? Are they the original hoses and if so, how old is your washing machine? It is recommended that washing machine supply hoses should be replaced every five to seven years.

Washing machines, like all appliances, are expected to work and when they don’t, it’s time to have them fixed or replaced. However, there is a critical connection from the water supply that may even be older than your washing machine itself.

Eventually, unless hoses are replaced, they will fail, which on the mild side could be slow leaks or burst entirely, and could cause a catastrophic flood in the home. The failure could come from a number of causes including age, improperly installation, poor-quality materials or poor design.

The hoses are generally under the same pressure as the other plumbing in the home. Imagine having an open faucet running directly on your floor.

Ask someone whose hose broke while they were asleep or out of town and you’ll hear stories of how quickly the water can damage walls, flooring, and furniture. Almost anyone with a pair of pliers can replace the hoses for under $30.00 to avoid this potential disaster.

As you’re shopping for the replacement hoses, consider the braided stainless steel connectors available at any home center. The advantage is that the stainless steel offers additional protection in case a soft spot develops in the hose beneath. They’ll cost a little more but offer considerably more protection for a nominal additional price.