I would not advise to pay PMI upfront. It's likely there will be a refinance opportunity in the near future and by prepaying PMI, when you refi, you'll flush that away and likely have PMI still on the new loan unless you're at 80% loan to value.
Paying down would not only yield the monthly savings on PMI, but also additional savings on regular monthly mortgage interest for the amount of principal paid down. If you go this route please be certain to put in writing that the additional funds are for paying down principal directly.
The Bottom Line. PMI is expensive. Unless you think you can get 20% equity in the home within a couple of years, it probably makes sense to wait until you can make a larger down payment or consider a less expensive home, which will make a 20% down payment more affordable.
Legislation making PMI tax deductible was passed in 2006. It applied the deduction to policies issued in the 2007 tax year going forward. The measure has been periodically renewed, but expired after the 2021 tax year. Currently, PMI is not deductible for the 2022 or later tax years.
Requesting a Refund
A refund of an upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) payment can be requested through HUD's Single Family Insurance Operations Division (SFIOD). On the FHA Connection, go to the Upfront Premium Collection menu and select Request a Refund in the Pay Upfront Premium section.
While private mortgage insurance (PMI) can't be deducted for a personal residence, it is deductible for an investment property. That's because, with rental properties, mortgage insurance is treated as an ordinary and necessary business expense.
PMI can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly payment – but you don't need it forever. 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%.
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is a type of mortgage insurance you might be required to buy if you take out a conventional loan with a down payment of less than 20 percent of the purchase price. PMI protects the lender—not you—if you stop making payments on your loan.
Typically, a lender will require you to pay for PMI if your down payment is less than 20% on a conventional mortgage. You can get rid of PMI after you build up enough equity in your home. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team.
Get an Appraisal
Many lenders (like Fannie Mae) also require a two-year “seasoning requirement,” meaning you can't have PMI removed until you've made two years' worth of on-time payments—even if your equity has grown above 20%. If it's been less than five years, you might even be required to have 25% worth of equity.
Your mortgage lender will determine the PMI rate and multiply the percentage by the loan balance. For example, if the PMI rate is 0.5% and your loan amount is $300,000, your PMI will cost $1,500 annually or $125 monthly.
In California, the average annual cost of PMI usually ranges from 0.58% to 1.86% of the mortgage loan amount. To determine the typical monthly cost, you would multiply the loan amount by the above percentages and divide by 12.
If you're buying a fixer-upper, you should keep extra cash on hand to cover the cost of sprucing up the home rather than paying off PMI. You won't break even on the extra expense of upfront PMI. Upfront PMI only makes sense if you'll be in your home long enough to recoup the cost of the premium.
Fixed premiums: You may be able to negotiate PMI with your lender. However, the FHA sets the UFMIP and annual MIP rates, and you can't negotiate them.
Like principal and interest, private mortgage insurance premiums generally don't change after your loan closes. So you can eliminate that as well. That leaves home insurance premiums. Providers do increase them from time to time, however there are steps you can take to reduce this cost.
Is mortgage insurance tax-deductible? No, private mortgage insurance isn't tax-deductible now. The mortgage insurance deduction was only available for eligible homeowners for the 2018–2021 tax years.
A borrower can request PMI be canceled when they've amassed 20 percent equity in the home and lived in it for several years. There are other ways to get rid of PMI ahead of schedule: refinancing, getting the home re-appraised (to see if it's increased in value), and paying down your principal faster.
PMI is generally required for conventional loans when the down payment is less than 20% or the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is over 80%.
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.
If you've paid the principal balance below 80% of the home's original value, PMI can typically be removed. This process involves getting a new appraisal to determine the home's current value and ensuring it meets the lender's requirements under the Homeowners Protection Act.
Yes. You have the right to ask your servicer to cancel PMI on the date the principal balance of your mortgage is scheduled to fall to 80 percent of the original value of your home. The first date you can make the request should appear on your PMI disclosure form, which you received along with your mortgage.
You may look for ways to reduce costs including turning to your tax return. Some taxpayers have asked if homeowner's insurance is tax deductible. Here's the skinny: You can only deduct homeowner's insurance premiums paid on rental properties. Homeowner's insurance is never tax deductible your main home.
You pay for PMI as part of your monthly escrow payment. That means in addition to paying your property taxes and homeowners insurance into your escrow account, you also pay your monthly PMI fee into the escrow account as well.