| − | Many lenders require private mortgage insurance when equity (or downpayment) is below 20%. The premium can range from 0.5% to 6% of the principal of the loan per year based upon loan factors such as the percent of the loan insured, loan-to-value (LTV), fixed or variable, and credit score.<ref name="TexasPMI"/> The premium may be paid in a single lump sum, annually, monthly, or in some combination of the two (split premiums). In the United States, payments by the borrower were tax-deductible until 2010.<ref name="mgic2"/> | + | Many lenders require private mortgage insurance when equity (or downpayment) is below 20%. The premium can range from 0.5% to 6% of the principal of the loan per year based upon loan factors such as the percent of the loan insured, loan-to-value (LTV), fixed or variable, and credit score.<ref name="TexasPMI"/> The premium may be paid in a single lump sum, annually, monthly, or in some combination of the two (split premiums). In the United States, payments by the borrower were tax-deductible until 2010.<ref name="mgic2"/> |
| | If mortgage insurance is required in the monthly payment (or PITI - principal, interest, taxes and insurance) as it is in most cases, the higher monthly payment can affect the borrowers overall debt-to-income level in qualifying for a [[Fannie Mae]]-backed loan.<ref>Fannie Mae guidelines for prime borrowers typically are expressed as 28/38, or 28% housing expense and 38% all forms of debt service. No more than 28% of a prime borrowers verified income can be used for housing expense and no more than 38% combined with all credit obligations (autos, credit cards, student loans, etc). Exceptions are allowed if the borrower shows other cash value assets, such as stocks, bonds, cash value life insurance, savings, etc.</ref> | | If mortgage insurance is required in the monthly payment (or PITI - principal, interest, taxes and insurance) as it is in most cases, the higher monthly payment can affect the borrowers overall debt-to-income level in qualifying for a [[Fannie Mae]]-backed loan.<ref>Fannie Mae guidelines for prime borrowers typically are expressed as 28/38, or 28% housing expense and 38% all forms of debt service. No more than 28% of a prime borrowers verified income can be used for housing expense and no more than 38% combined with all credit obligations (autos, credit cards, student loans, etc). Exceptions are allowed if the borrower shows other cash value assets, such as stocks, bonds, cash value life insurance, savings, etc.</ref> |
| | + | It should be noted that the lender will only discontinue PMI when the amount of the remaining loan balance is less than 80& of the original loan value. If the value of the house has increased significantly (such as in high-cost living areas), the loan balance may be less than 80% of the house's market value; in those cases, the borrower may be required to obtain an appraisal (at his/her/their own expense) to demonstrate that PMI should be terminated. |