You can remove MIP after 11 years if your original down payment was at least 10% of the purchase price. If your down payment was less than 10%, you must pay MIP for the life of the loan, unless you refinance.
FHA mortgage loans don't require PMI, but they do require an Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium and a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) to be paid instead. Depending on the terms and conditions of your home loan, most FHA loans today will require MIP for either 11 years or the lifetime of the mortgage.
For FHA loans opened on or after June 3, 2013
Most home buyers with newer FHA loans will have a harder time canceling their annual MIP payments. That's because the FHA made annual MIP permanent for many borrowers starting in 2013.
You can often request PMI removal once you own 20% equity in your home. And lenders generally must drop PMI automatically when your loan-to-value ratio (LTV) hits 78%. In this article, we'll go over the basics of PMI and what it covers, and we'll also show you how and when you can stop paying it.
Conventional loans require monthly private mortgage insurance (PMI) when borrowers put down less than 20%. By refinancing to a conventional loan once you have 20% equity, you can eliminate FHA MIP and you won't be subject to PMI. Or, you could refinance into a conventional loan with PMI now.
FHA loans require borrowers to pay a mortgage insurance premium, which is usually much higher than private mortgage insurance on conventional loans. Conventional loans generally have lower interest rates than FHA loans and can be easier to qualify for because they don't have minimum credit score requirements.
For recent FHA loans, you will need to pay insurance premiums for at least 11 years, and you may need to pay them for the life of the loan. Some FHA homeowners refinance into a Conventional loan to stop paying for mortgage insurance. Learn more about how to stop paying for mortgage insurance.
You can refinance an FHA loan to a conventional loan, but you'll need to meet minimum requirements. If you don't meet the equity minimum for a conventional loan, you'll need to account for continued PMI costs until you've reached at least an 80% loan-to-value ratio (or lower).
An FHA loan may be a better option if you have a lower credit score, a higher DTI ratio, or less money saved for a down payment. On the other hand, a conventional loan may work better if your finances are sound and you can qualify for favorable loan terms.
How long will you pay FHA MIP? If you get a 30-year FHA loan and put 3.5 percent down, you'll be paying MIP for the entire term (or for as long as you have the loan). If you put down at least 10 percent, you'll pay for 11 years.
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is typically required when your down payment is less than 20% of your new home's value. PMI is automatically removed when your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio reaches 78%. You can request to have PMI removed from your loan when you reach 80% LTV in your home.
Moving out before the one-year requirement without a valid reason could be considered a violation of FHA loan terms.
Some reasons a seller might refuse an FHA loan include misconceptions about longer closing times, stricter property requirements, or the belief that FHA borrowers are riskier.
With FHA loans, you also have to pay an upfront mortgage insurance fee. This can be financed, but it will cause your mortgage insurance payments to be more expensive than with a conventional mortgage. Inspection standards: To qualify as an FHA-eligible property, a home must go through a property standards inspection.
Since your home must meet FHA property minimums, the appraisal process may include more requirements than a conventional home loan. The appraisal is required to be performed by an FHA approved appraiser and may have additional inspections which could result in a higher appraisal cost.
If you meet the eligibility requirements to remove MIP from an FHA loan, your mortgage servicer should automatically cancel the premiums once you meet the criteria (a 78 percent LTV ratio or 11 years, depending on the loan). That's assuming you're in good standing with a record of on-time mortgage payments.
If you can afford it, putting 20% down on a house is ideal. It helps you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), reduces your loan amount, and lowers monthly payments.
To calculate, multiply the base loan amount (not including the UFMIP) by the MIP rate of 0.55% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage when your down payment is less than 5%. Then divide by 12. For example, $100,000 Loan amount X 0.55% = $550 MIP ÷ 12 = $45.83 Monthly MIP.
Rent Out Your Primary Residence
If you relocate for your job and need to buy a second home, you may be allowed to rent your current home purchased with an FHA loan as long as you lived there for at least 1 year. The rental income from your tenants should cover your mortgage payments.
FHA Rule 75 states that 75% of the rental income must exceed the monthly mortgage for the property to be self-sufficient. This percentage must be at least enough to cover the mortgage payment, known as PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance.)