PMI - Lowering your down payment - Which Choice is for You?

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PMI Mortgage Insurance.

This page was last updated May 23, 1995.

May 23 update

I have lived in my home for 5 years and am in the process of selling it. I had to buy PMI insurance because I did not have 20% down. Am I entitled to any type of refund once I sell the house?

Entitlement to a refund and the amount would depend on the mortgage insurance plan type and the refundable or non-refundable/limited option chosen at origination. Your best bet is to ask your lender directly, as there are many different mortgage insurance plans and combinations.

I think banks are being very greedy in demanding a secured loan plus PMI and still wanting a perfect credit rating for 7 years. My husband and I are trying to buy a home. We have a good credit rating, but not perfect credit for 7 whole years. If you guarantee the loan, what is their problem in granting it?

Mortgage insurance does not guarantee the loan, it only insures a designated portion (commonly only 12-30%) of the loan against default. The combinations of loan characteristics (credit, collateral, MI, etc.) are established as requirements by investors. Loans usually end up in mortgage backed securities. The mortgage securities may be purchased by investors, for example to go into Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's), 401K plans, etc. The investment funds for IRAs, 401Ks, etc., have risk and return requirements which ultimately dictate the loan characteristics.

If mortgage insurance is canceled, are any pre-paid premium amounts refunded (particularly if they were originally paid by adding them to the loan amount)?

If all the mortgage insurance was financed at the time of origination and is canceled prior to it's maturity you may be entitled to a refund if the refundable option was chosen at time of origination. However, if the no refund/limited option was chosen no refund is due.

If a borrower currently has an FHA loan w/MI, after the LTV has reached 80% or less can the MI be canceled?

It is best to refer back your lender for specific information on FHA loans. PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. does not insure FHA loans and therefore can not respond regarding FHA policies.

March 4 update

Can you give an example of how the mortgage insurance escrow's get applied to the payment?

Your lender collects moneys on escrow and remits to PMI when the premium is due. Typically, on an annual premium plan, the lender collects 14 months premium at closing. Twelve months of the premium is paid to PMI as the initial premium. The remaining two months is used to start the escrow account. The lender then collects 1/12 of the renewal every month thereafter. It is hard to give a general rule on a monthly premium plan. The plan was developed in 1994 and lenders have developed unique escrow procedures.

Premise: Mortgage insurance covers the lender for the difference between the loan amount and 80% value of the property. So for a borrower who puts 10% down, in effect mortgage insurance covers the 10% difference. What are approximate rates in premium say per $1000 dollars? Does credit history have a bearing on the premium?

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