The amount of your monthly PMI payment depends on your credit score and down payment, but generally it ranges between 0.3% and 2% of the original loan amount each year. That cost is on top of your mortgage interest. In most cases, PMI is added to your mortgage payments.
PMI requirements by loan type
The amount charged and term required (either the full loan period or 11 years) depends on the size of your down payment. Requirements include a "funding fee,” which ranges from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount, depending on your down payment and whether it's your first VA loan.
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.
If the borrower is current on mortgage payments, PMI must be cancelled automatically once the LTV reaches 78 percent based on the original amortization schedule or when the midpoint of the amortization period is reached (i.e., 15 years on a 30-year mortgage).
You can avoid paying PMI by providing a down payment of more than 20% when you take out a mortgage. Mortgages with down payments of less than 20% will require PMI until you build up a loan-to-value ratio of at least 80%. You can also avoid paying PMI by using two mortgages, or a piggyback second mortgage.
The amount you pay in PMI is a percentage of your principal mortgage loan amount. It is not impacted by appraisal. However, if your home increases in value to the point that you have gained substantial equity, a home appraisal will help prove to your lender that you qualify for PMI removal.
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.
Yes. If your home value increases — either by housing market trends or by you investing to upgrade the property — you may be eligible to request a PMI cancellation. You'll likely need to pay for a home appraisal to verify the new market value, but that cost can be well worth it to avoid more PMI payments.
At the time of writing, the PMI deduction is not available. If you qualify for past years, you may still be able to deduct PMI. However, the best strategy for eliminating PMI is to pay down your mortgage and request PMI cancellation once you reach 20% equity in your home. Internal Revenue Service.
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%.
Your PMI payments are calculated by multiplying your loan amount by the PMI rate, and then divided by 12 to represent your monthly PMI cost. Your PMI rate typically ranges between 0.58% and 1.85% of the loan amount (see how your PMI rate is determined).
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.
Just multiply your original home purchase price by 0.80 for an estimate of when you'll be rid of PMI payments. If you purchased a $300,000 home, for example, you can cancel your PMI when the principal balance reaches $240,000.
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.
If a home is appraised to be higher than the asking price, the lender will only issue a mortgage for the appraisal amount. This leaves the borrower to either cover the remaining cost on their own or return to searching for a home with a listed price that matches the appraised value.
Building Equity
You can request to have your PMI removed when you're scheduled to reach 80% LTV, but you can also take steps to build equity and reach 80% LTV more quickly. One of the most effective ways to do that is to make extra principal payments on your mortgage.
LTV ratio: Higher LTV ratios can result in higher PMI costs since lenders typically prefer a ratio of 80% or lower. Down payment: Smaller down payments often lead to higher PMI rates since it'll take longer for you to reach 20% equity.
The higher your LTV ratio, the higher your PMI payment. Your loan type: Because adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) carry a higher risk for lenders, your PMI might be more expensive with an ARM than with a fixed-rate loan. Your down payment amount: The closer your down payment is to 20 percent, the less your PMI.
All you have to do is request in writing that the private mortgage insurance be canceled (most lenders have a brief form which must be filled out) and provide the lender with proof of sufficient equity over 20%. In most cases, the necessary proof is a state certified appraisal.
This means that from the start of your purchase, you have 20 percent equity in the home's value. The formula to see equity is your home's worth ($200,000) minus your down payment (20 percent of $200,000 which is $40,000). You only own $40,000 of your home.
Once your PMI is removed, your monthly mortgage payment will decrease since you'll no longer be required to pay for the insurance.
The lender decides the exact PMI rate based on your down payment, credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and other factors. Check out our Loan Estimate Explainer for more information about closing costs, including mortgage insurance.
Appraisal is lower than the offer: If the home appraises for less than the agreed-upon sale price, the lender won't approve the loan. In this situation, buyers and sellers need to come to a mutually beneficial solution that will hold the deal together — more on that later.
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.