A mortgage payoff letter can come in two forms. One form tells borrowers the remaining principal amount and interest they have to pay to close out the loan.State Home Mortgage Official Payoff Request form . The key part - "You tell them what day you want to pay it off. " They absolutely need this information to give you the correct payoff amount. It also often gives information on how best to deliver the payoff funds, etc. It's more akin to a form letter, rather than a periodic statement. What Is a Letter of Explanation? A letter of explanation is a document that the lender may request to learn more about your specific financial situation. This form is a statement of final loan terms and closing costs.