What is a Defeasance Calculator and How Does It Work?
A defeasance calculator is an essential tool for commercial real estate professionals to estimate the cost of prepaying a CMBS (Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities) loan. Our defeasance calculator 2026 provides accurate estimates for loan prepayment costs including Treasury bond portfolio purchase, legal fees, servicing fees, accounting fees, and rating agency fees. Whether you're refinancing, selling a property, or optimizing a portfolio, this commercial mortgage prepayment calculator helps you plan your strategy.
How does the CMBS prepayment calculator work? Enter your loan balance, coupon rate, current Treasury yield, remaining term, and transaction fees. The loan defeasance cost estimator instantly shows your total estimated cost, Treasury bond portfolio cost, and all fee components. The defeasance vs yield maintenance calculator also helps you compare options.
Defeasance Cost Components Explained
Treasury Bond Portfolio: The largest cost — you purchase U.S. Treasury bonds to replace the property as collateral. Cost depends on the loan's coupon rate vs current Treasury yield. If coupon > Treasury yield, bonds are purchased at a premium.
Legal Fees: $25,000-75,000 for borrower and lender counsel, plus documentation preparation. Higher for complex loans or multiple lenders.
Servicing Fees: $25,000-50,000 charged by the loan servicer to process the defeasance transaction.
Accounting Fees: $5,000-15,000 for CPA review and tax implications analysis.
Rating Agency Fees: $0-25,000 if the CMBS deal requires rating agency confirmation.
Defeasance vs Yield Maintenance: Which is Cheaper?
Defeasance is typically cheaper when the remaining loan term is longer (>24 months) and Treasury yields are favorable. Yield maintenance is often cheaper when the loan is closer to maturity (<18 months). Our defeasance calculator helps you estimate both options.
Defeasance Process Timeline
Total time to complete defeasance: 45-90 days. Steps include: Treasury bond pricing and purchase (2-3 weeks), legal documentation (3-4 weeks), loan servicer review (2-3 weeks), closing (1 week).
Who Uses Defeasance?
Commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, and portfolio managers use defeasance when: selling a property before loan maturity, refinancing at lower rates, restructuring debt portfolios, or optimizing balance sheets.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
Defeasance is governed by the original loan documents and CMBS pooling and servicing agreements. Always work with qualified legal counsel and a defeasance consultant. Our calculator provides estimates only — actual costs vary based on live Treasury prices and specific loan terms.