Let Routt County Appraisers help you learn if you can get rid of your PMI

When buying a house, a 20% down payment is usually the standard. The lender's risk is often only the difference between the home value and the amount remaining on the loan, so the 20% adds a nice cushion against the expenses of foreclosure, selling the home again, and regular value fluctuations on the chance that a borrower doesn't pay.

The market was accepting down payments as low as 10, 5 and often 0 percent in the peak of last decade's mortgage boom. A lender is able to manage the added risk of the small down payment with Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI. This supplemental policy protects the lender if a borrower is unable to pay on the loan and the worth of the property is less than the balance of the loan.

Since the $40-$50 a month per $100,000 borrowed is compiled into the mortgage payment and often isn't even tax deductible, PMI can be pricey to a borrower. It's beneficial for the lender because they collect the money, and they get paid if the borrower defaults, opposite from a piggyback loan where the lender absorbs all the costs.

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 cost of PMI?

With the implementation of The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998, on most loans lenders are obligated to automatically terminate the PMI when the principal balance of the loan equals 78 percent of the initial loan amount. The law pledges that, at the request of the homeowner, the PMI must be abandoned when the principal amount equals only 80 percent. So, savvy home owners can get off the hook a little early.

Because it can take many years to reach the point where the principal is only 20% of the original amount borrowed, it's essential to know how your home has increased in value. After all, all of the appreciation you've acquired over the years counts towards dismissing PMI. So why should you pay it after the balance of your loan has fallen below the 80% threshold? Your neighborhood might not be heeding the national trends and/or your home could have gained equity before things simmered down, so even when nationwide trends signify plunging home values, you should understand that real estate is local.

An accredited, licensed real estate appraiser can help homeowners understand just when their home's equity goes over the 20% point, as it's a difficult thing to know. It is an appraiser's job to keep up with the market dynamics of their area. At Routt County Appraisers, we know when property values have risen or declined. We're masters at analyzing value trends in Steamboat Springs, Routt County and surrounding areas. When faced with figures from an appraiser, the mortgage company will generally remove the PMI with little anxiety. At which time, the home owner can enjoy 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