text: what are the oregon real estate laws regarding having a hardship to waive the pre-payment penalties?   i don't think oregon real estate laes cover prepayment penalties on mortgages. the investor that make the morgage determines the penalty.  why do you have a pre-payment penalty on your mortgage? normally prepayments are for 2 or 3 years and prehaps 5 years in some instances.  before the loan closes some lenders offer to allow you to buy the prepay out or take a yearor two off it.  now let's answer your question, most lenders have no way of you getting out of the prepay,because you signed a contract with this in the contract.  one way to get out of most prepays is to sell the property the prepay is waived if you have what is normally called a soft prepay.   if you refinance you are accessed a hard prepay and you must come to grips with the fact that this must and will be paid.  there is no hardship waiver in any mortgage contract that i know of.  your best bet if here is any action to be taken on your behalf is to call you lender and see if there is anything they can do.  don't stop talking with the first person you are passed to ask to speak with a manager or vice president of loans.   i hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.  "fight on"