When Does PMI Go Away?

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is typically one of those costs every homeowner hates to pay when they make their monthly mortgage payment. 

The purpose of PMI is to ensure the lender is protected If you default on your loan. 

When a borrower uses a conventional loan and puts down less than 20% of the home’s cost, PMI is required. PMI is also a requirement if you’re refinancing with a conventional loan and your equity is less than 20% of the value of your property. 

So, when does PMI go away, and how soon can you eliminate it? Let’s take a look. 

What is private mortgage insurance (PMI)?

Every home buyer who uses a conventional loan and puts less than 20% down must purchase insurance. PMI shields the lender from the increased risk that a borrower with a low down payment presents. 

PMI might cost between $100 and $300 per month, as it can range from 0.3% to 1.85% of your mortgage balance. 

While mortgage lenders can also provide conventional loans with low down payments and no PMI, these loans frequently come with a higher interest rate to compensate for the higher risk.

By paying PMI, you can purchase a property without having to wait to gather a 20% down payment. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average price of a single-family home was $410,600 in July 2022, a historically high amount. For many first-time homebuyers, a 20% down payment at that price would be over $82,000, which may seem unachievable. 

You can stop renting faster by paying PMI as opposed to delaying buying while saving. 

Owning your own house as soon as feasible allows you to build equity sooner. Homeownership is a successful long-term wealth-building instrument, which makes paying PMI worth it to own your home. 

When does PMI go away?

Once you’ve built up enough equity in your home, you can remove your PMI. 

As the buyer, you can cancel PMI on the majority of loans. The Homeowners Protection Act, which became law back in 1998, allowed this privilege. 

However, not all mortgages—including those backed by the Federal Housing Administration—are subject to these regulations.

Let’s take a closer look at how to stop paying PMI. 

Once 20% of your mortgage is paid 

Once you have paid 20% of the original value of your house, you have the right to ask the loan servicer to terminate PMI. 

Once the loan debt is reduced to 80% of the loan’s initial value, HOPA permits homeowners to request the elimination of their PMI. 

For a $300,000 house, for instance, you can ask to remove your PMI after your loan balance reaches $240,000 (80% of $300,000). You can also multiply your initial home purchase price by 0.80 to get an idea of the amount your mortgage balance must reach to qualify for PMI cancellation.

Making additional mortgage payments will get you to the point of cancellation sooner if you’re able. You can prepay the principal on your loan to lower the balance, which will build equity quicker and save you money on interest costs. 

Even $50 extra per month can result in a significant reduction in your loan balance and the total amount of interest paid during the loan’s lifetime. 

What’s the process to get rid of PMI?

To cancel PMI, you must additionally take the following actions:

• Submit a written cancellation request for PMI to your lender or servicer
• Have a solid payment history and be current on your mortgage payments
• Fulfill additional lending criteria, such as not having any existing liens on the property (i.e., a second mortgage).
• An appraisal may be required. If the value of your property has decreased, you might not be able to cancel PMI since you do not currently have the 20% equity.

If your home value increases

By adhering to your loan payback amortization schedule, you may be able to meet the 20% equity requirement. However, you can reach that 20% threshold sooner if you make home upgrades or take advantage of the expanding local real estate market.

Let’s assume that you pay PMI since you bought the home you live in for $400,000 a few years ago with $56,000 or 14% down. If there’s an increase in real estate values and your home’s current worth is estimated to be $465,000, you’ve accrued 30% equity.

The same idea holds true if you’ve renovated your kitchen, bathroom, or master bedroom in order to raise the home’s appraised value. Your equity has increased if the appraised value of your home has increased since the time of purchase. 

However, before scheduling an appraisal, confirm the requirements with your lender. 

Note: You need to have held the property for at least two years and have a 75% LTV to cancel PMI based on the current value. You can cancel at 80% LTV if you’ve owned the property for at least five years.

Refinance to remove PMI

You may be able to have PMI removed if you refinance your mortgage for a cheaper interest rate. This will work if your new mortgage is for 80% or less of the home’s current appraised value. 

To refinance your mortgage, an appraisal is often required. Depending on the new appraised value of your home, you could have enough equity to drop PMI. However, this method is only effective if refinancing is actually beneficial to you and your situation. 

Make sure to balance the advantages of a refinance against the costs. Refinancing requires closing charges and providing proof of your income, assets, and credit. 

Calculate all your costs with the Homefinity refinance calculator. 

Additionally, you should be mindful of “seasoning rules” or required waiting periods for refinancing after you purchase the home.

Other ways to remove PMI

Does PMI automatically go away after 20%? When your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio falls to 78%, and your mortgage balance hits 78% of the original purchase price, the lender or servicer is required to cancel PMI automatically. 

If you’re in good standing and have not missed any mortgage payments, you’re eligible for this. But it’s an excellent idea to keep track by acquiring a written copy of your timeline for canceling PMI and your lender’s criteria. You’ll be able to track your progress and know when your payments will end as a result.

Let Homeinfinity help you get rid of PMI 

We can help you get rid of your PMI; connect with a loan officer today. 

Whether buying a new home or refinancing, Homefinity is here to guide you all the way, and answer your questions about PMI. 

From the beginning of the mortgage application process to closing, we offer friendly, honest recommendations and proven knowledge to get you the best custom rates possible. 

Contact us today!

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