Understanding Prepayment Penalties When you pay off your mortgage early, whether by selling your home, refinancing, or switching lenders, your lender may charge a prepayment penalty . These fees compensate lenders for the interest they lose when a borrower pays off their loan sooner than expected. Red Deer, Alberta, where smart mortgage planning helps homeowners avoid prepayment penalties. In Alberta, the amount depends on your mortgage type: Fixed-rate mortgages  often use t