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FAQ #6 .........At What Point Can I Get Rid Of The PMI Or MI?

By
Mortgage and Lending with George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages NMLS #65149

My fifth blog for the ActiveRain contest that Anna 'Banana' Kruchten established in which we are to respond to the 10 most frequently asked questions that we are asked, was about a topic that actually is the source of at least a couple of Frequently Asked Questions.  So in the fifth blog I answered the question "PMI/MI Why Do I Have To Pay It?" So in this sixth FAQ blog I will answer the question that normally follows:

"FAQ #6 ......... At What Point Can I Get Rid Of The PMI Or MI?"

I can't blame Borrowers for wanting to know when they can get rid of PMI or MI after seeing what it is costing them each month, it is easy to see why they would want to eliminate PMI/MI as quickly as possible.  On a Conventional Mortgage if the Borrower makes the minimal downpayment of 5%, they can expect to see a PMI payment of about $78 dollars per month for each $100,000 they borrow.  On a FHA Mortgage if the Borrower puts down the minimal downpayment of 3.5% their MI payment will be $102.58 each month per $100,000.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI):  On Conventional Mortgages can be eliminated in a couple of ways:

  • By paying down the principle balance on the mortgage to 80% of the beginning Loan Amount the PMI payment will automatically be eliminated.
  • If the property value goes up due to increased Housing Values, the Borrower can request a new appraisal of the property, and if the remaining mortgage balance is 80% or less of the new appraised value (some times PMI Companies might want 78%) they can request that that the PMI be eliminated.

Note:  PMI Companies may require the Borrower to pay PMI for two years before eliminating the PMI.

Monthly Insurance (MI):  On a FHA 30 Year Fixed Mortgages can also be eliminated, but in only one way:

MI can only be eliminated after the Borrower has had the mortgage for at least FIVE YEARS AND (not or), paid down the principle balance on the mortgage to 78% of the original loan amount.

It does not matter how much property values go up during the five year period or after, the MI payment will remain until the principle balance has been paid down to 78%.  Also the MI payment will remain even if the principle balance has been paid down to 78%, until the full five years is completed.  BOTH the five years and 78% principle balance reduction have to be met, no exception on 30 year FHA Mortgages. The only way to avoid paying MI on a FHA Mortgage, is to do a 15 year or less mortgage, and make a 22% downpayment (78% Loan To Value), otherwise the above will apply.

 

Previous FAQ's Blogs.

"What Do I Need To Do To Get Pre-Qualified For A Mortgage?"

"What Do You Mean I Need Money For Closing Costs?"

"Why Do I have To Pay For A Full Year Of Homeowners Insurance Up Font When I Am Paying For It Every Month In My Mortgage Payment?"

"How Can I improve My Credit Scores?"

"PMI/MI Why Do I Have To Pay It?"

 

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  Info about the author:

George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

Posted by

George Souto
NMLS# 65149

C (860) 573-1308
CALL 7 Days/Wk
Fax (860) 760-6891

Email Me
About Me
My Blog

I am a Mortgage Loan Officer who can assist you with all your mortgage & refinancing needs in
CT, and RI

I can assist you with your Conventional,
FHA, CHFA, VA, USDA, & 203K loan programs.

I reside in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Haddam. E. Haddam, Higganum, Chester, Essex, Deep River.

Ā 

Comments (36)

Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

Hi George...I agree with your comments and I have only seen at least two years on the PMI.  Your explanation was spot on!!

May 22, 2012 01:37 PM
Karen Deis
ApartmentToolKit.com - Minneapolis, MN
When In-house training is not enough!

I would like to add that on FHA, the 5-year waiting period is wavied if the borrower took out a 15-year loan and if they make regular monthly payments, that they would reach 78% in about 4 years.

Also, with minimum down payment, and regular monthly payments on both FHA and Conventional, it would take between 10 to 11 years to reach 78% loan to value. 

Karen Deis, Publisher, www.MortgageCurrentcy.com

...because getting a loan approved these days IS rocket science!

May 22, 2012 11:29 PM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Very helpful updated info, thanks.

May 23, 2012 12:03 AM
Sina Mollaan
W.C. & A.N. Miller, A Long & Foster Company - Washington, DC
ABR, GRI

Fantastic post, great information.  I'm moving on to your other blogs now.

May 23, 2012 12:16 AM
Stephen Grannis Serving Albemarle,Greene,Madison,Orange
Charlottesville Solutions - Ruckersville, VA

Very good post! I will read the past post as well. I have a question. It said that both the 5yr and the 78% had to be fullfilled on the FHA. Does that mean in a declining market, people will have to pay the MI past the 5yrs if they don't have 22% equity?

I think another interesting point would be that the lenders will tend to appraise a house low when someone is already in it and looking to get rid of MI, but if someone were looking to buy the same house it would probably appraise for a lot more.

I agree with the post of getting rid of it! It is just a racket for the banks.

May 23, 2012 12:16 AM
Kunni Biener
First Class Title, Inc. - Rockville, MD

thanks so much for a clear, concise explanation.  

May 23, 2012 12:22 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

George great FAQ for the contest. Very informative and exactly what FAQ contest is all about!  Answering frequenty asked questions!

May 23, 2012 12:37 AM
Ben Yost - 303-587-4297
First Time Home Buyer, Mortgage Rates, Pre-Approval - Denver, CO
FHA, VA, Conventional - Mortgage Loans in De

Good Info for people! There is a lot of confusion out there about MI.

Good Post!

 

T

May 23, 2012 12:38 AM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

Thanks for clarifying not only PMI but also MI, plus how to get rid of the extra payments, George.

May 23, 2012 12:52 AM
Pat & Wayne Harriman
Harriman Real Estate, LLC (203) 672-4499 - Wallingford, CT
Broker/Owners, Wallingford CT Real Estate

Great info George, and congrats on the feature! I've been kind of absent from AR for a while cuz we're really busy, but I plan to go back and read the first five posts, too!

May 23, 2012 01:23 AM
S W
Centerville, KS

I hate the 5 year rule with FHA, it needs to be changed so that once a buyer meets a certain ratio that number drops off. We shouldn't be holding back a borrower from putting more equity into their property because they are stuck with an additional PMI payment for a mininum of 5 years. Thanks for the post and I'll be reblogging!

May 23, 2012 01:54 AM
Edith Schreiber
Luxury Homes, Move Up Buyers, 1st Time Homebuyers, New Construction - Frisco, TX
Dallas Area Real Estate

Hmmmm.....I somehow also missed the first five of your posts - I must go back and check them out!

Good stuff - thanks!

May 23, 2012 03:08 AM
Sharon Sanchez
Ace Home Realty - Carson, CA
Your Number "1" Source For Real Estate.

Good information that buyers as well as agents need to know.  

Also this gives me another reason to stay in contact with my past Buyers to remind them to contact the lender to have their MI/PMI removed if their loan meets the criteria you mentioned above.

Thanks for wonderful post.

May 23, 2012 05:17 AM
Kathie Burby
Coldwell Banker Mother Lode Real Estate - Sonora, CA
REALTOR, SFR, Tuolumne County Real Estate Guide

Great information! Concise & easy for buyers to understand. I will be going back to check out your other posts.

May 23, 2012 06:46 AM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

PMI is such an important issue and few people discuss it....homeowners can save a fortune over the life of teh loan by paying attention to this important issue

May 23, 2012 07:09 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

This is a great post on a subject that we do not see a lot on.  Thanks for the information.

May 23, 2012 09:25 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi George, great post and excellent and clear explanation.  I did know how much per month it was.

May 23, 2012 07:55 PM
Jairo Arreola #SOLDBYVETERAN
PRG Real Estate - San Jose, CA
VA Home Loan Specialist - SF Bay Area

Great Info! Thanks for breaking it down for us =)

Jun 18, 2012 10:07 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

It's good to hear about the FHA MIP requirement only being five years.  It used to be that the FHA MIP was on the loan for the entire life of the loan.  Obviously, this is much better.

Oct 29, 2012 01:17 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

George, great way to break it down for us, this is easier to explain to a customer thanks for sharing

Oct 30, 2012 10:30 PM