If you’re unable to make a down payment of 20% or more on a conventional mortgage, there’s a good chance you’ll have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI).
PMI, which is arranged through a third-party insurance company, is designed to protect the lender if you’re unable to make payments. PMI doesn’t protect you against loss — if you don’t make payments, you could still face foreclosure — and it won’t prevent your credit score from dropping if your mortgage payments are late.
The annual cost of PMI usually ranges from 0.22% to 2.25% of the total amount of your mortgage, depending on your credit score. If your FICO score is higher than 740, your PMI payment on a $300,000 mortgage will likely be about $660 a year, or $55 a month. The lower your credit score, the higher your PMI will be.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
If you have to pay PMI, there are several ways to do it. With borrower-paid PMI, your premium is added to your monthly mortgage payment. Alternatively, you can pay PMI in a lump sum at closing. It may be less expensive to pay the annual cost upfront, but the premiums aren’t refundable if you sell your home before you reach 20% equity.
How to avoid private mortgage insurance
Even if you can’t afford a 20% down payment, there are several ways to avoid PMI. One option is lender-paid PMI, in which your lender pays your premiums as a lump sum and in exchange you pay a higher interest rate than you would pay otherwise. Lender-paid PMI may be a good choice if it would cost you less overall than monthly PMI payments and you itemize on your tax return, which would allow you to deduct interest on your mortgage.
A “piggyback mortgage” is another way to bypass PMI. With this strategy, you take out a second mortgage — usually a home equity line of credit — and finance the home with 10% from a down payment, 80% from the primary mortgage and 10% from the second mortgage. You’re borrowing 90% of the value of the home, but the primary mortgage accounts for only 80% of the value, allowing you to skip PMI. However, you’ll likely pay a higher interest rate for the second mortgage, and the rate may be adjustable.
This strategy could make sense if you can pay off the second mortgage relatively quickly, in which case the cost could be lower than paying PMI. Before agreeing to a piggyback, ask your lender to provide a quote for the same loan structured as a single mortgage with PMI so you can compare costs.
Another option is to seek out government home loans that don’t charge PMI. Mortgages from the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) allow borrowers to make down payments as low as 0% to 3.5% without paying PMI. However, you may be required to pay up-front fees, and the loans have stringent eligibility requirements.
If none of these strategies is available to you, or the benefits don’t outweigh the costs, your best bet is to make mortgage payments on time until you reduce your loan balance to 80% of the home’s value. Your loan servicer is required to terminate PMI when your principal balance is scheduled to reach 78% of the original value of your home. However, you can ask your servicer to cancel PMI before that date, when payments have reduced the principal to 80% of the original value.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related Content
-
4 Career Moves to Make Now if You're Worried About a RecessionWorried about a recession? These steps to protect your job prospects will help you professionally whether a downturn develops or not.
-
How StoryCorps Works and How You Can Tell Your StoryStoryCorps has recorded conversations between thousands of people, and anyone can participate. National facilitator Alan Jinich explains how to share your story.
-
4 Career Moves to Make Now if You're Worried About a Recession
Worried about a recession? These steps to protect your job prospects will help you professionally whether a downturn develops or not.
-
How StoryCorps Works and How You Can Tell Your Story
StoryCorps has recorded conversations between thousands of people, and anyone can participate. National facilitator Alan Jinich explains how to share your story.
-
Vacation Couture: Why Wealthy Americans Are Flying to Europe to Save on LuxuryTariffs are making high-end shopping in the U.S. pricier — so savvy travelers are heading overseas, where VAT refunds and favorable exchange rates can offset the extra cost.
-
Think Twice Before Getting a Credit Card Cash AdvanceA credit card cash advance can be a quick solution when you need emergency help with money. But you'll pay for the convenience with high interest and fees.
-
My Mortgage Rate is 6.5%. Should I Refinance If Rates Fall By Half a PointA half-point dip may not be enough to offset closing costs. Here's the magic number that makes refinancing pay off.
-
5 Home Run Hotel Packages Every Baseball Fan Will LoveFrom Fenway to Yankee Stadium, these bundled hotel-and-baseball deals combine savings, perks and unforgettable fan experiences.
-
Retire in This Asian Country for a Warm Culture and Relaxed LifestyleWith its fabulous beaches, delicious food, and affordability, this Southeast Asian country is a haven for expats from around the world.
-
My First $1 Million: Retired Marketing Consultant, 74, Southern New HampshireEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
