Definitive Guide to Private Mortgage Insurance

Posted by Danny Evatt on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 11:55 AM By Danny Evatt / February 18, 2020 Comment

What is PMI? Homebuyers who make down payments less than 20 percent on a home often must purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) before lenders will approve a home mortgage loan. PMI protects lenders from losing thousands of dollars if borrowers fail to make house payments and foreclose on their homes. Private Mortgage Insurance is also required if borrowers refinance mortgages that have less the 20 percent equity.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage or home loan professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Who Must Pay For Private Mortgage Insurance?

Usually the people who are required to pay for private mortgage insurance include people who try to purchase a home with a smaller than 20% down payment, people who try to refinance with less than 20% equity in the home and people who take out an FHA loan. The lender will tell the borrower when private mortgage insurance is required.

In some cases, borrowers who would normally be required to pay PMI can be exempted from payment by paying a higher interest rate on the loan. For many home buyers, it's difficult to tell whether or not this is a good deal. When trying to decide, factors to consider include the length of the loan, the amount of the PMI, and the amount of the loan. The best way to calculate the total costs of either paying PMI or paying a higher interest rate can be done by talking to a knowledgeable lender.

How Much Does Private Mortgage Insurance Cost?

Annual fees vary for PMIs from 0.3 percent to 1.5 percent of original loans. PMI costs also depend many other factors, such as on the homebuyer's credit score and how much of a down payment they offer the lender. Currently, private mortgage insurance premiums are tax deductible but federal PMI deduction tax code expired last year and the government has yet to re-establish this tax code. Borrowers can choose to pay premiums monthly or make an upfront payment at the time of closing to avoid monthly payments.

Acquiring PMI, Payment for PMI and Discontinuing PMI

Unlike homeowners insurance, the home buyer does not have to shop around for a PMI policy. The policy is selected by the lender. Additionally, the borrower does not have to pay for the entire policy up front. Instead, the borrower must make monthly payments for the policy. These payments are usually wrapped up in the standard mortgage payment. In fact, some homeowners become so used to seeing PMI on their bill that they forget it's there.

Most of the time, a lender will allow a borrower to stop paying PMI after there is 20% equity in the home. Borrowers must maintain good communication with their lender to find out when they can drop private mortgage insurance.

When Can PMI Be Canceled?

Mortgage lenders must cancel private mortgage insurance payments when a borrower's outstanding balance reaches 78 percent of a property's original value. In most cases, homeowners continue paying PMI premiums for several years. In some cases, homeowners keeping track of their loan-to-value (LTV) ratio may ask for cancellation of their PMI from their mortgage company if the ratio falls to 80 percent. To calculate LTV, divide the appraised value of a home by the mortgage amount owed to a lender. For example, if someone owes $70,000 on a mortgage and the property is appraised at $100,000, then the LTV is 70 percent.

Federal Housing Authority Loans and Private Mortgage Insurance

FHA loans are conventional mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Authority, a sub-department of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Although the FHA does provide mortgage insurance to lenders, it also requires a borrower to buy private mortgage insurance. However, borrowers of an FHA loan do not need to buy PMI from regular PMI companies. Instead, premiums for PMI paid by borrowers are sent to the FHA. In other words, the Federal Housing Authority can be considered an insurance company.

PMI payments made to the FHA guarantees mortgage lenders that if homeowners foreclose, the FHA will buy the foreclosed home at the full value of the original mortgage loan. In addition, the FHA mandates two kinds of private mortgage insurance premium payments. One involves the borrower making a large PMI payment (2.25 percent of loan) at closing time.

The other type is making monthly payments as long as a borrower only has 20 percent or less equity in a home. Homes with values higher than they were at the closing may be appraised to show the FHA there is 20 percent equity in the Buda home. Until a home's equity reaches 20 percent, borrowers must continue making monthly PMI premium payments equaling 1/12 of 0.5 percent of the loan amount.

Is There a Way to Avoid Paying for PMI?

Qualified veterans who take out VA loans do not need to pay for PMI. Homebuyers putting down more than 20 percent for a down payment can avoid buying PMI. Paying higher interest rates or taking out a combination loan (10 percent second mortgage, 10 percent down payment and 80 percent first mortgage) is possibly another way homebuyers can forego purchasing PMI.

Contact Your Real Estate Agent

For more information about private mortgage insurance and other important home-buying topics, talk to a professional Spicewood real estate agent. A reputable real estate professional can answer your questions and make the home buying process clearer overall.