Mortgage Insurance
Dazed and Confused: What Kind of Private Mortgage Insurance (pmi) Should You Choose?
So, you’re putting less than a 20% down payment on the house you are buying and you are getting a conventional loan. Your lender has given you the option of paying a monthly private mortgage insurance (PMI) premium or offering you a higher rate where the lender pays it, known as lender paid mortgage insurance (LPMI). Which scenario is better for you? You’re confused and don’t really understand it all; you’d prefer to just have the decision made for you rather than weigh the options yourself. However, if you don’t consider all the options, you could be making a financial mistake.
PMI protects the lender against default and is required on loans that are deemed higher risk If you are investing less than 20% of your own money into a home, a lender considers it easier for you to walk away from your debt obligation if you find yourself in a pickle and can’t pay your mortgage. Your lender can buy/pay your mortgage insurance for you, but to do so, they charge you a higher rate plus a profit margin. To make a decision as to which route to take, you need to weigh the pros and cons.
You have more interest to deduct on your taxes because of your higher rate when you have LPMI. But if you and your spouse make $100,000 annually or less, or individually you make $50,000 annually, your monthly mortgage insurance is deductible. Depending on your tax bracket, the higher interest rate may or may not benefit you. You should crunch the numbers or ask your accountant’s advice.
PMI automatically terminates when your loan to value (of the original property value) reaches 78%, and but you can request it terminated when it reaches 80%. Some lenders will allow you to terminate the insurance when the appreciated loan to value reaches 80%. So, how long are you keeping this loan? Will you be paying down the principal balance rapidly? Is this your forever home and your forever mortgage rate? Then perhaps LPMI isn’t such a hot option. You can review an amortization schedule when making this decision to figure out just what payment will get you to that target loan to value (LTV). If you know that you will be making extra principal payments regularly, your lender should be able to help you analyze that scenario as well. However, if you’re going to be in the house a short time, than LPMI might just be the way to go.
Finally, just look at your basic payment both ways. Which way is more affordable for your current needs? The pricing on these products fluctuates. One product may be cheaper than another based on loan amount, term, down payment and other factors. You may also qualify for a second mortgage to make up the remaining 20% down payment and avoid private mortgage insurance altogether. What works best for your needs?
When considering your options, discuss your plans with your lender. Consider the above points and discuss them with her/him. By doing so, you should be able to clear the fog and make an educated decision.
About the Author
Let My Experience Work For You!
Email your home loan financing questions to Kristin Abouelata, Home Loan Specialist with Mortgage Investors Group, at question@kristinmortgage.com or call
direct: (865) 567-0113
Toll Free: 1-800-489-8910.
For more information visit her website at Home Loans Plain Talk.
|
|
Audio Music CD Compact Disc of RUSTY HUDELSON Holiday Tunes 2004, by PMI Mortage Insurance Co. $14.00 1. Seasonal wishes to you 2. The Christmas song 3. What child is this 4. Carol of the bells 5. Winter Wonderland 6. Santa’s Merry Chase 7. Little Drummer Boy 8. Jingle Bells 9. Silent Night 10. Pachelbel’s Canon 11. Most Wonderful Time of the Year 12. Away in a Manger 13. White Christmas 14. Winter Magic 15. O Holy Night…. |
|
|
Calculated Industries 3405 Real Estate Master IIIX Real Estate Finance Calculator $33.49 Calculate complete P&I, PITI and FHA payment solutions, amortization, and more (view larger). Calculate complete payment solutions, amortization, combo loans, ARMs, rent versus buy comparisons, and much more with the Real Estate Master IIIX finance calculator (model 3405) from Calculated Industries. Designed for real estate and mortgage professionals, the Real Estate Master IIIX perform… |
|
|
Ten Truths of Wealth Creation Investment pioneer John E. Girouard exposes how the investment industry (Wall Street, mutual fund companies, banks with CDs, online trading houses, and so on) offer investors hope, but not much more. Misleading statistics and hidden conflicts of interest are common and help rob people of opportunities to create wealth and achieve financial independence, however one defines it. The solution, he sho… |
|
|
Real Estate License Exams For Dummies $9.26 Every year, thousands of Americans make the leap to an exciting, rewarding new career in real estate. If real estate is your dream career, passing the real estate license exam is the first step to success. With real estate basics and unbeatable study tips, Real Estate License Exams For Dummies will help you pass the test with flying colors â and get your new career off to a great start.If you… |
|
|
Storyselling for Financial Advisors : How Top Producers Sell $12.88 Learn what makes a client trust you to be their financial advisor. Put the power of story telling into selling financial products. The authors explain the process of making these intuitive connections, then translate their findings into understandable and practical strategies that any financial professional can use. They present actual stories, including many by Warren Buffet, one of the greatest … |
|
|
TurboTax Home & Business Federal + State + Federal efile 2009 $42.89 If you’re a sole proprietor, consultant, contractor or single-owner LLC, TurboTax Home & Business will get you the biggest tax savings. Get Your Refund Fast: Efile Your 2009 Taxes with TurboTaxHere’s how efile works: Start your return and efile with TurboTax today. The moment the IRS starts accepting returns, scheduled for January 15, 2010, TurboTax will submit your efiled return. The IRS wil… |
|
|
Calculated Industries 3415 Qualifier Plus IIIX Real Estate Finance Calculator $47.89 Gain instant access to P&I, PITI and FHA Payments, and complete buyer qualifying(view larger). Qualify home buyers right on the spot with the versatile, easy-to-use Qualifier Plus IIIX real estate finance calculator from Calculated Industries. Perfect for all real estate finance professionals, including agents, brokers, bankers, mortgage originators, title officers, trainers, and more. The… |
|
|
Calculated Industries 3430 Qualifier Plus IIIFX Real Estate Finance Calculator $48.50 Advanced residential real estate finance calculator with cash flow and complete buyer qualifying.The Qualifier Plus IIIFX is the ideal tool for real estate investors agents and mortgage lenders. In addition to both common and advanced real estate finance problems it calculates multiple cash flows and internal rate of return (IRR) as well as net present and net future values (NPV/NFV). Provide f… |
