When you’re buying a home, every dollar counts. One of those crucial costs to be aware of is mortgage insurance. It might seem like another added expense, but it plays a notable role in the home-buying process, especially if you’re putting down less than 20%. Understanding how much mortgage insurance costs and how it impacts your budget can make a big difference.
Let’s say you’re purchasing a house with a 5% down payment. You’re now in the territory where mortgage insurance is likely required, which means you’ll pay an additional monthly premium.
This cost will vary based on factors like the type of loan, your credit score, and the size of your down payment. By knowing these details upfront, you can make a better-informed decision, avoid unforeseen costs, and keep your home-buying budget on track.
Stay tuned as we explain how to calculate the mortgage insurance payment and help you understand the home loan process!
What is Mortgage Insurance and How Much is It?
Mortgage insurance is a policy that homebuyers purchase to protect their lender from the risk of non-payment or default on a loan.
It’s generally required if you make a down payment of less than 20% of your home’s purchase price.
The insurance allows individuals to purchase a home sooner because it lowers the risk for lenders.
The cost of mortgage insurance varies widely, but it mostly ranges between 0.5% to 1.5% of the loan amount annually. This means the annual cost of mortgage insurance on a $200,000 loan could be anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
The mortgage insurance then breaks down to an additional monthly cost of about $83 to $250.
Say you purchase a home with a $200,000 loan and put down 10%.
If your mortgage insurance rate is 1%, you will pay $2,000 per year, or about $167 per month, in mortgage insurance premiums.
Types of Mortgage Insurance
Depending on the type of home loan you choose and the amount of your down payment, different types of mortgage insurance may apply.
Let’s explore the two top forms of mortgage insurance and see how they work.
1. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required for conventional loans when a borrower makes a down payment of less than 20% of the home’s purchase price.
It’s intended to protect the lender from the risk of non-payment or default on the loan.
Be noted that the PMI doesn’t insure you, the borrower. Instead, it’s a safeguard for lenders.
If you stop making mortgage payments and the lender has to foreclose on your home, the insurance will cover a percentage of the lender’s losses.
For borrowers, PMI allows you to qualify for a mortgage with a lower down payment, making home buying more feasible.
Who Needs PMI?
Anyone putting down less than 20% on a conventional loan is likely required to carry PMI.
For instance, if you’re purchasing a $300,000 home and can only put down $30,000 (10%), PMI will be required to bridge the gap.
However, once your loan balance reaches 80% of the home’s original value through regular payments or appreciation, you can request that the lender remove PMI.
By law, the lender must automatically cancel PMI when the balance hits 78% of the original value, assuming you’re up to date with your payments.
How is PMI Structured?
PMI premiums can be paid in several ways, but the most common structure is a monthly premium included in your mortgage payment.
So if the PMI rate is 0.8% of the loan amount and your mortgage is $250,000, you’ll pay an additional $2,000 annually, or around $167 per month, in PMI.
Alternatively, some lenders offer upfront PMI, where you pay the entire premium upfront, either by itself or rolled into the loan amount.
Though less common, a combination of upfront and monthly payments can also be arranged.
Attention: You could also get a mortgage with no PMI with RefiGuide’s help. Go on to weigh your options.
2. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage Insurance
FHA loans are government-backed loan programs, designed to make homeownership more accessible, especially for first-time buyers or those with less-than-ideal credit.
With FHA loans, buyers can qualify with a smaller down payment and looser credit requirements.
However, this flexibility comes with a requirement for an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) and an annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP).
Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP)
The UFMIP is a one-time payment either paid at closing or rolled into your loan amount. The rate is 1.75% of the total loan value.
For example, if you have an FHA loan for $200,000, your UFMIP will be $3,500.
Adding this to your loan balance means you’ll start your mortgage with a higher principal, resulting in slightly higher monthly payments.
Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
In addition to the upfront fee, FHA loans require an annual premium. This is charged yearly but broken down into monthly payments, much like PMI.
The rate varies based on your loan term, loan-to-value ratio (LTV), and loan amount. It mostly ranges from 0.45% to 1.05% of the loan balance.
So if you borrow $200,000 with an annual premium rate of 0.85%, you’ll pay $1,700 per year or around $142 per month.
Unlike PMI, which can be canceled once you reach 20% equity, FHA mortgage insurance stays for the life of the loan if your initial down payment is less than 10%.
If you put down 10% or more, you’ll only have to pay annual premiums for 11 years.
Who Needs FHA?
FHA mortgage insurance is generally suitable for anyone securing an FHA loan.
This loan is ideal for those who struggle with the stricter requirements of conventional loans.
Individuals new to homeownership or those who don’t have savings for a large down payment prefer FHA over PMI.
Also, those with credit scores below the threshold for conventional loans take up FHA as these loans can accept scores as low as 580.
How To Calculate Mortgage Insurance Monthly Payments?
Calculating your monthly mortgage insurance payment involves a few simple steps, based on your loan amount and the mortgage insurance rate.
Steps to Calculate Monthly Mortgage Insurance:
- Identify the Loan Amount: This is the total amount you are borrowing from your lender.
- Determine the Mortgage Insurance Rate: You will receive this rate from your lender and it will vary depending on your lender, your credit score, the type of loan, and how much you are putting down.
- Calculate the Annual Premium: Multiply the loan amount by the mortgage insurance rate. For example, if your loan amount is $250,000 and your mortgage insurance rate is 0.8%, your annual premium would be $250,000 x 0.8% = $2,000.
- Calculate the Monthly Premium: Divide the annual premium by 12 months. Continuing the above example, $2,000 / 12 = $166.67 per month.
Suppose you are purchasing a home and have secured a loan amount of $180,000.
The lender has provided a mortgage insurance rate of 0.7% due to your excellent credit score and a down payment of 15%.
Your loan amount is $180,000.
Your mortgage insurance rate is 0.7%.
Calculate the annual premium: $180,000 x 0.7% = $1,260.
Calculate the monthly premium: $1,260 / 12 = $105.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Mortgage Insurance
When determining the cost of mortgage insurance, several factors come into play. Let’s briefly break down some of these.
· Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio
This ratio is the relationship between the loan amount and the appraised value of the property.
A higher LTV (like 90% or more) means a higher mortgage insurance cost because there’s more risk involved for the lender.
If you borrow $270,000 on a $300,000 home, your LTV is 90%, which would result in a higher insurance premium compared to a lower LTV.
· Credit Score
Higher scores indicate lower risk for lenders and result in lower mortgage insurance premiums.
Someone with a credit score of 750 might pay less than someone with a score of 650.
· Loan Amount and Type
The amount you borrow affects your premium. Larger loans result in higher premiums due to increased lender exposure.
Also, different types of loans have unique insurance structures. FHA loans, for instance, always require mortgage insurance, regardless of down payment size.
· Down Payment Size
A larger down payment generally leads to lower mortgage insurance premiums. So if you put down 10% on a $200,000 home, your premium will be higher than if you put down 20%.
Interestingly enough, you can also buy a home with zero down payment, but that’ll surely take some extra work.
· Geographic Location
In certain high-cost areas or locations where foreclosure rates are higher, mortgage insurance premiums may be higher due to increased lending risks.
How to Minimize Mortgage Insurance Costs?
Paying for mortgage insurance is often unavoidable, but there are effective strategies to reduce its impact on your budget.
Here are some of them:
· Increase Down Payment
A higher down payment directly lowers your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, reducing your lender’s risk and resulting in lower insurance premiums.
If you’re able to increase your down payment from 10% to 15% or 20%, you could significantly lower or even eliminate the need for PMI).
· Improve Credit Score
If your score is below 700, work on paying down debts, avoiding new credit accounts, and making timely payments.
Raising your score from 650 to 700+ can lead to substantial savings on your monthly insurance premiums.
But if you want to buy a home with a bad credit score, that could also be doable. RefiGuide will help you here.
· Shop Around for Different Lenders and Rates
Mortgage insurance rates vary by lender. Don’t settle for the first rate offered.
Shop around, compare lenders, and find one that provides better terms and lower premiums.
· Explore Alternative Loan Programs
Certain loan programs might provide better insurance rates or different structures.
For instance, if you’re a veteran, a VA loan might help you avoid mortgage insurance altogether.
USDA loans offer a similar benefit for those in eligible rural areas.
Conventional loans with lender-paid mortgage insurance (LPMI) might also reduce your monthly premiums.
Is Mortgage Insurance Tax Deductible?
In the past mortgage insurance was tax deductible. In 2024, private mortgage insurance is not tax-deductible. Congress does have the ability to renew tax deductibility in 2025.
Summing Up
Mortgage insurance impacts your effort to secure a home loan with a smaller down payment or less-than-ideal credit.
Whether it’s Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) required for conventional loans or the insurance tied to FHA loans, these policies shield lenders by reducing their financial risk.
As a result, this helps more people access homeownership opportunities.
Understanding the factors that affect your mortgage insurance costs, such as the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, credit score, loan type, and down payment, is crucial.
Calculating your monthly premiums accurately lets you plan and budget more smartly.
While it can be an added expense, mortgage insurance enables many buyers to qualify for a mortgage and purchase a home sooner than they would otherwise.
Be realistic about your budget, explore your options, and make the best decision for your financial situation.
For the best mortgage insurance advice, RefiGuide should be your go-to.
About RefiGuide
Bryan Dornan is a financial journalist and currently serves as Chief Editor of RefiGuide.org. Bryan has founded several mortgage and marketing companies and has worked as a loan officer and mortgage broker in the industry for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in providing mortgage clients with the highest level of service in the industry. Bryan's continual focus is to promote affordable home-ownership to consumers like you across the United States. He also writes for RealtyTimes, Patch, Buzzfeed, Medium and other national publications. Find him on Twitter, Muckrack, and Linkedin
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