Let Appraisal Life, LLC help you learn if you can cancel your PMI

It's widely understood that a 20% down payment is accepted when buying a house. Since the risk for the lender is oftentimes only the remainder between the home value and the sum outstanding on the loan, the 20% provides a nice cushion against the charges of foreclosure, reselling the home, and regular value variations on the chance that a borrower doesn't pay.

During the recent mortgage upturn of the mid 2000s, it was widespread to see lenders making deals with down payments of 10, 5 or sometimes 0 percent. A lender is able to endure the additional risk of the reduced down payment with Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI. This supplemental plan covers the lender if a borrower defaults on the loan and the market price of the house is lower than what is owed on the loan.

Since the $40-$50 a month per $100,000 borrowed is lumped into the mortgage payment and oftentimes isn't even tax deductible, PMI can be pricey to a borrower. Unlike a piggyback loan where the lender consumes all the damages, PMI is favorable for the lender because they acquire the money, and they get the money if the borrower defaults.


Is PMI a lineitem in your monthly mortgage payment? Call Appraisal Life, LLC today at 6145707481 or send us an e-mail. A current appraisal could save you thousands.

How can a home owner prevent bearing the expense of PMI?

As a result of The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998, lenders are forced to automatically cease the PMI when the principal balance of the loan equals 78 percent of the initial loan amount on nearly all loans. The law designates that, upon request of the homeowner, the PMI must be released when the principal amount equals only 80 percent. So, smart home owners can get off the hook ahead of time.

Since it can take several years to get to the point where the principal is just 80% of the original amount borrowed, it's important to know how your Ohio home has increased in value. After all, every bit of appreciation you've achieved over the years counts towards dismissing PMI. So why pay it after the balance of your loan has fallen below the 80% threshold? Your neighborhood may not adhere to national trends and/or your home could have gained equity before things simmered down. So even when nationwide trends signify declining home values, you should understand that real estate is local.

An accredited, Ohio licensed real estate appraiser can help homeowners figure out if their equity has made it to the 20% point, as it's a difficult thing to know. It is an appraiser's job to understand the market dynamics of their area. At Appraisal Life, LLC, we know when property values have risen or declined. We're experts at pinpointing value trends in Delaware, Delaware County, and surrounding areas. When faced with information from an appraiser, the mortgage company will generally remove the PMI with little anxiety. At which time, the homeowner can enjoy the savings from that point on.


Does your monthly loan payment include a fee for PMI? Call Appraisal Life, LLC today at 6145707481 or send us an e-mail. A current appraisal could save you thousands.

Want to learn more about PMI and the Homeowners Protection Act? Click this link:

Cancellation of Private Mortgage Insurance: Federal Law May Save You Hundreds of Dollars Each Year