Multi-Task Properties can help you remove your Private Mortgage InsuranceWhen getting a mortgage, a 20% down payment is typically the standard. Because the risk for the lender is usually only the remainder between the home value and the amount outstanding on the loan, the 20% provides a nice cushion against the costs of foreclosure, selling the home again, and natural value variationsin the event a borrower is unable to pay. The market was accepting down payments as low as 10, 5 and even 0 percent in the peak of last decade's mortgage boom. A lender is able to handle the added risk of the minimal down payment with Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI. This added policy guards the lender in case a borrower defaults on the loan and the market price of the home is less than what is owed on the loan. PMI is costly to a borrower in that the $40-$50 a month per $100,000 borrowed is rolled into the mortgage monthly payment and frequently isn't even tax deductible. It's money-making for the lender because they collect the money, and they get paid if the borrower doesn't pay, separate from a piggyback loan where the lender takes in all the deficits. Does your monthly mortgage payment include PMI? Contact us, you may be able to save money by removing your PMI. How home buyers can keep from paying PMIWith the implementation of The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998, on nearly all loans lenders are obligated to automatically cancel the PMI when the principal balance of the loan reaches 78 percent of the initial loan amount. The law states that, upon request of the home owner, the PMI must be abandoned when the principal amount reaches only 80 percent. So, acute home owners can get off the hook ahead of time. It can take many years to reach the point where the principal is only 20% of the initial amount of the loan, so it's important to know how your home has appreciated in value. After all, any appreciation you've accomplished over the years counts towards dismissing PMI. So what's the reason for paying it after the balance of your loan has fallen below the 80% threshold? Despite the fact that nationwide trends signify plunging home values, be aware that real estate is local. Your neighborhood might not be heeding the national trends and/or your home could have acquired equity before things calmed down. The toughest thing for many homeowners to understand is just when their home's equity rises above the 20% point. An accredited, licensed real estate appraiser can surely help. It is an appraiser's job to understand the market dynamics of their area. At Multi-Task Properties, we're experts at pinpointing value trends in Jonesboro, Henry County and surrounding areas, and we know when property values have risen or declined. When faced with information from an appraiser, the mortgage company will most often remove the PMI with little trouble. At that time, the homeowner can enjoy the savings from that point on.
Want to learn more about PMI and the Homeowners Protection Act? Click this link: |