To cancel FHA mortgage insurance, you must meet the requirements set by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA requires that the loan balance falls below 78% of the original purchase price, which is a key factor in determining eligibility for cancellation.
You've worked hard to pay down your mortgage, and now you're eager to get rid of that extra insurance premium. Fortunately, the FHA mortgage insurance cancellation process is relatively straightforward. The loan balance must be below 78% of the original purchase price to qualify.
To give you a better idea, let's consider an example: if you purchased a home for $200,000, the 78% threshold would be $156,000. If your loan balance falls below this amount, you're eligible to cancel your FHA mortgage insurance.
What Is FHA Mortgage Insurance?
FHA mortgage insurance is a requirement for all borrowers who take out loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). This insurance protects lenders against default, which is a concern due to FHA loans allowing down payments as low as 3.5% with a credit score as low as 580.
FHA mortgages require both an upfront premium of 1.75% of the loan amount and an annual premium of 0.15% to 0.75%. The upfront premium is paid at the time of loan issuance, while the annual premium is determined by the term of the loan, amount borrowed, and loan-to-value ratio (LTV).
You'll need to pay the upfront premium and annual premium for the entire life of the loan, unless you refinance or pay off the loan early. This means the annual premium will be divided by 12 months and added to your monthly mortgage payment, along with the principal payment. Other charges, such as escrow amounts for property taxes and homeowner's insurance coverage, may also be added to your monthly fee.
Canceling FHA Mortgage Insurance
To cancel FHA mortgage insurance, you'll need to meet certain requirements, which vary depending on your loan origination date. For FHA loans originated between Dec. 31, 2000, and June 3, 2013, you can ask your lender to cancel the MIP if you've paid off at least 78% of the loan-to-value amount.
Gathering the right documentation is crucial before reaching out to your lender. This may include your loan documents, payment history, and proof of reaching the required loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.
To determine if you qualify for MIP removal, contact your lender's customer service or mortgage department. They'll guide you through the necessary steps, which may include providing additional documentation or paying appraisal costs.
If you received your FHA loan after June 3, 2013, the only way to eliminate the mortgage insurance premium is to pay off the loan through refinancing. Refinancing to a non-FHA loan will pay off the loan and get rid of the mortgage insurance premium.
You can also consider a streamline refinance, which may lower your MIP rate to 0.55% and 0.01%. However, this option is only available if you received your FHA loan before May 31, 2009, and meet other specific requirements.
Here's a summary of the MIP removal process:
* For FHA loans originated between Dec. 31, 2000, and June 3, 2013:
+ Pay off at least 78% of the loan-to-value amount
+ Gather documentation and contact your lender
* For FHA loans originated after June 3, 2013:
+ Refinance to a non-FHA loan to eliminate MIP
+ Consider a streamline refinance to lower your MIP rate
FHA Mortgage Insurance Removal Process
If you've got an FHA loan, you might be wondering how to get rid of mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). The good news is that you don't have to pay MIP for the life of your loan. You can request its removal, but it depends on when your loan was originated and how much equity you've built up in your home.
To be eligible for MIP removal, you need to meet certain requirements. For loans originated between 2001 and June 2013, you can request MIP cancellation if you've paid off at least 78% of the loan-to-value amount. For loans originated after June 2013, you'll need to make payments for at least 11 years if you put down at least 10% of the home's value.
If you've reached the required loan-to-value ratio or time-served criteria, your MIP should be removed automatically. But if it's not, don't worry – you can send a request in writing to your lender asking them to remove it. Follow up if you don't receive a response within a reasonable time frame, and check your mortgage statement to confirm that your MIP has been removed.
Here's a summary of the requirements you need to meet for MIP removal:
Remember to contact your lender directly to get accurate information and personalized guidance based on your circumstances. They can provide you with the most up-to-date instructions and assist you throughout the MIP removal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can request the removal of FHA mortgage insurance if you got your mortgage after June 2013, but it's not an automatic process.
To remove MIP, you can either pay extra on your mortgage or wait until you meet the 11-year mark, which is the standard timeframe for homes bought after June 2013.
If you refinance to a conventional loan, you might save money by removing MIP, but you'll need to carefully weigh your current situation and options first.
Does Refinancing Remove MIP?
Refinancing can be a great way to eliminate FHA mortgage insurance premiums (MIP), but it's not always automatic.
You can refinance into a conventional loan, which typically doesn't require mortgage insurance if you have at least 20% equity in the property. However, refinancing may not be the best option if your loan-to-value ratio is high.
Refinancing to a conventional loan can eliminate MIP, but it may not be the most beneficial option for you, depending on various factors such as current interest rates and your credit score.
You can also wait for automatic termination of MIP, but this depends on your loan origination date and down payment amount. For loans closed after June 3, 2013, with a down payment of less than 10%, MIP is required for the entire loan term.
If you have an FHA loan closed before June 3, 2013, and you have reached an LTV ratio of 78% or lower, you can request the cancellation of MIP.
Here are some general guidelines for MIP removal through refinancing or automatic termination:
Keep in mind that refinancing can also reduce your interest costs and eliminate MIP significantly earlier than waiting for automatic termination.
PMI vs. PMBOK
For those who are new to the world of mortgages, PMI and PMBOK might seem like similar concepts, but they're actually quite different. PMI, or Private Mortgage Insurance, is a type of insurance that protects lenders from default on conventional loans.
If you put down less than 20% on a Conventional loan, you'll pay PMI as a monthly premium. You're eligible to drop PMI once you've built up 20% equity in your home.
PMBOK, on the other hand, isn't mentioned in the article sections, so I'll skip it and focus on the facts we do have. With PMI, you can automatically drop it once you've reached 22% equity in your home, no extra effort required.
To qualify for PMI, you typically need to put down less than 20% on a Conventional loan. This is a common requirement for many homebuyers.
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/mortgage/insurance/qualified-insurance-premium/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/mortgages/remove-fha-mortgage-insurance/
- https://www.creditstrong.com/get-rid-of-pmi-on-an-fha-loan/
- https://www.houzeo.com/blog/fha-mortgage-insurance-removal/
- https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-mip-on-fha-loan/
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