a la modea can help you remove your Private Mortgage Insurance

A 20% down payment is usually accepted when getting a mortgage. Because the risk for the lender is often only the difference between the home value and the amount remaining on the loan, the 20% supplies a nice buffer against the charges of foreclosure, reselling the home, and typical value variationson the chance that a borrower defaults.

During the recent mortgage boom of the mid 2000s, it was widespread to see lenders taking down payments of 10, 5 or often 0 percent. A lender is able to endure the added risk of the reduced down payment with Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI. PMI protects the lender in the event a borrower is unable to pay on the loan and the market price of the property is lower than the loan balance.

Because the $40-$50 a month per $100,000 borrowed is lumped into the mortgage monthly payment and oftentimes isn't even tax deductible, PMI can be costly to a borrower. Contradictory to a piggyback loan where the lender absorbs all the deficits, PMI is money-making for the lender because they secure the money, and they get paid if the borrower defaults.

Does your monthly mortgage payment include PMI? Contact us, you may be able to save money by removing your PMI.

How can a homeowner keep from bearing the expense of PMI?

The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 obligates the lenders on nearly all loans to automatically terminate the PMI when the principal balance of the loan equals 78 percent of the original loan amount. Smart homeowners can get off the hook ahead of time. The law promises that, upon request of the homeowner, the PMI must be abandoned when the principal amount equals only 80 percent.

It can take countless years to get to the point where the principal is just 20% of the initial amount of the loan, so it's crucial to know how your home has appreciated in value. After all, every bit of appreciation you've gained over the years counts towards dismissing PMI. So what's the reason for paying it after your loan balance has fallen below the 80% mark? Even when nationwide trends signify plummeting home values, understand that real estate is local. Your neighborhood may not be following the national trends and/or your home may have gained equity before things settled down.

A certified, licensed real estate appraiser can help home owners understand just when their home's equity goes over the 20% point, as it's a hard thing to know. As appraisers, it's our job to know the market dynamics of our area. At a la modea, we're experts at recognizing value trends in Herriman., Salt Lake County and surrounding areas, and we know when property values have risen or declined. Faced with information from an appraiser, the mortgage company will often remove the PMI with little effort. At that time, the home owner can relish the savings from that point on.

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