Mortgage Insurance: 4 Things You Need to Know

Mortgage Insurance Protects The Lender

Mortgage insurance, also commonly known as a mortgage guarantee, minimizes the risk for lenders if the borrower were to default on the loan. This insurance policy can compensate a financial institution if the borrower were unable to pay back the debt. Essentially, this insurance policy protects the lender.

According to the CNBC, the average down payment from first-time home buyers was only 7% in 2021. For repeat home buyers, this number was slightly higher at 17% (but still less than the required 20%), so most home buyers will require mortgage insurance for at least some period of time.

There Are Different Types Of Mortgage Insurance

There are five different types of mortgage insurance. Four types fall under the private insurance category, while the other type of mortgage insurance is used to cover government-backed loans.

Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is used to protect conventional loans. When people talk about mortgage insurance, they are often referring to PMI. Here are the other types of PMI you should be familiar with:

Borrow-Paid Mortgage Insurance

One of the most common private mortgage insurance policies is borrower-paid mortgage insurance (BPMI). Your BPMI premium is tacked onto your mortgage payment every month.

The percentage you pay is based on the appraisal value of your home or your home’s original purchase price.

Single-Premium Mortgage Insurance

Just like the name sounds, you pay a single premium in full when paying your closing costs. You may also be able to lump this premium into your mortgage payment depending on the lender.

The benefit of single-premium mortgage insurance (SPMI) is that it tends to have a lower premium. However, if you choose to refinance or sell your home, you may not receive a refund.

Also, if you don’t have a 20% down payment, you may not be able to afford the lump-sum premium. You can always ask the seller or builder if they would be willing to pay all or a portion of your mortgage insurance. You never know how motivated they are to sell their home.

Lender-Paid Mortgage Insurance

Lender-paid mortgage insurance (LPMI) factors your premium into your total mortgage amount in the form of increased interest. This means you will pay your premium over the course of your loan repayment.

Unfortunately, with LPMI you will not be able to cancel your mortgage insurance. The only way to do so would be to refinance your loan to get a lower interest rate.

Keep in mind, your monthly interest rate may still be lower than paying a PMI monthly premium.

Split-Premium Mortgage Insurance

Split-premium mortgage insurance combines a lump-sum payment at closing and a monthly premium payment. Borrowers often choose SPMI if they have a high debt-to-income ratio.

Your lump-sum premium amount may range from 0.50% to 1.25% of your loan amount. Your monthly premium is based on your net loan-to-value ratio.

Mortgage Insurance Premium

Mortgage insurance premium (MIP) protects lenders in case borrowers were to default on government-backed loans. Since conventional loans tend to have stringent underwriting guidelines, many home buyers consider FHA loans due to their minimal down payment requirements.

MIPs tend to be a bit more complex and not as flexible as a PMI. With an MIP, you will need to pay an upfront premium as well as a monthly premium. The upfront premium tends to be a part of your closing cost when purchasing your home.

Mortgage Insurance Premiums Cost

Once you’ve determined you need mortgage insurance, you should understand how mortgage insurance premiums are calculated. Your mortgage insurance premium is based on several key factors, including:

• If you have a fixed or adjustable interest rate
• Your loan term (15 to 30 years)
• Your down payment amount
• Your credit score
• Which premium plan you choose
• Your loan-to-value ratio
• The amount of mortgage insurance required by the lender
• Whether the premium is refundable or not
• Any additional risk factors such as a second home or investment property

Generally, the riskier you are in any category, the higher your premium will be.

Your mortgage insurance premiums are typically about 0.17%-2.81%. A standard amount tends to be about 1% of your loan value. Let’s say you’re purchasing a $200,000 home with a 5% down payment. This would leave you with a $190,000 mortgage.

If your PMI was 1%, this would this would equal $1,900 a year, or $158 a month. This may seem like a significant amount to pay monthly, that’s why it’s important to factor mortgage insurance premiums into your budget. You wouldn’t want to end up in a situation where this additional expense caused financial distress.

It’s Possible To Cancel Your Mortgage Insurance Policy

If your FHA loan was opened after June 2013, you have a 30-year mortgage, or you put less than 10% down on your home, you may not be eligible for cancellation.

However, refinancing may be an alternative option that will allow you to drop your mortgage insurance. There are no prepayment penalties on FHA loans - this means you could refinance at any time. Keep in mind, you must have a loan-to-value ratio of 80% or more in order to refinance.

If you received your FHA loan before June 2013, you may be eligible for cancellation. But you must have over 22% equity in your home and have made timely payments.

With conventional loans, lenders are required by law to drop your insurance once you reach a 78% loan-to-value ratio. It’s important to note that most lenders base your loan-to-value ratio on your most recent appraisal.

Another option is to refinance your current conventional loan. You won’t be required to pay for new PMI if your mortgage is 80% or less of the value of your home. Speak with your lender about requirements before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Navigating the home buying process can be a struggle. That’s why it’s important to understand all the intricacies of purchasing a home. You may be required to purchase mortgage insurance if you don’t have a 20% down payment. So, before you begin browsing the housing market, make sure you understand the financial obligations of buying a home.

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Even if you have a substantial down payment, protecting your mortgage may be a good idea. You don’t want your family to inherit the financial burden of your mortgage in case of your absence.

Our services as completely free, and there is no cost to apply for coverage. Give us a call toll-free today at 855-247-9555, or you can request a free quote online to compare rates and options from dozens of insurance companies in less than a minute.