Delaware Home Valuations can help you remove your Private Mortgage Insurance

When purchasing a home, a 20% down payment is usually the standard. The lender's only exposure is often just the difference between the home value and the amount remaining on the loan, so the 20% adds a nice buffer against the charges of foreclosure, selling the home again, and regular value fluctuations on the chance that a borrower defaults.

The market was taking down payments dropping to 10, 5 and frequently 0 percent in the peak of last decade's mortgage boom. A lender is able to endure the increased risk of the low down payment with Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI. PMI covers the lender in the event a borrower is unable to pay on the loan and the value of the property is lower than what the borrower still owes on the loan.

Since the $40-$50 a month per $100,000 borrowed is lumped into the mortgage monthly payment and frequently isn't even tax deductible, PMI can be costly to a borrower. Different from a piggyback loan where the lender takes in all the deficits, PMI is beneficial for the lender because they obtain the money, and they receive payment if the borrower doesn't pay.


Has your real estate appreciated since you first purchased? Call Delaware Home Valuations today at 3029338607 to see if you can get rid of your Private Mortgage Insurance payment.

How can homebuyers avoid paying PMI?

As a result of The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998, lenders are required to automatically cancel the PMI when the principal balance of the loan reaches 78 percent of the initial loan amount on most loans. The law pledges that, upon request of the homeowner, the PMI must be dropped when the principal amount equals only 80 percent. So, keen homeowners can get off the hook a little early.

Since it can take several years to arrive at the point where the principal is just 80% of the initial amount of the loan, it's necessary to know how your Delaware home has increased in value. After all, all of the appreciation you've gained over time counts towards removing PMI. So what's the reason for paying it after the balance of your loan has fallen below the 80% mark? Even when nationwide trends indicate falling home values, understand that real estate is local. Your neighborhood might not be reflecting the national trends and/or your home may have acquired equity before things cooled off.

An accredited, Delaware licensed real estate appraiser can help homeowners figure out 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 Delaware Home Valuations, we're experts at pinpointing value trends in Millsboro, Sussex County, and surrounding areas, and we know when property values have risen or declined. When faced with figures from an appraiser, the mortgage company will often cancel the PMI with little effort. At that time, the home owner can delight in the savings from that point on.


Is PMI something increasing your monthly mortgage payment? Call Delaware Home Valuations today at 3029338607 or send us an e-mail. A current appraisal could save you thousands.

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