Ditech : Private Mortgage Insurance – What You Need to Know to Avoid Overpaying

If you are in the process of taking out a mortgage and your lender is requiring you to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance, there are several things you need to know. Private Mortgage Insurance is expensive and can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly payment amount. Here are several tips to help you avoid paying this unnecessary expense or even drop Private Mortgage Insurance if you are currently paying it.

Private Mortgage Insurance is usually required for borrowers purchasing their homes with less than a 20% down payment. This insurance protects your mortgage lender from certain losses if you default on the loan. Private Mortgage Insurance is an unnecessary expense as there are loan programs that can help purchase your home without it.

80 / 20 Mortgage Loans & Private Mortgage Insurance

The easiest way to avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance is to purchase your home using an 80/20 loan. 80/20 mortgages are actually two loans, one for 80% of the purchase price and a second loan for the remaining 20%. These loans are typically from two separate lenders; because your home is secured by two mortgages the interest rate on your second mortgage is typically higher. The advantage of using these two loans to purchase your home is that you will not be required to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance.

Mortgage Refinancing to Drop Private Mortgage Insurance

If you are currently paying Private Mortgage insurance on your existing mortgage, refinancing the loan could help you drop this costly expense. Private Mortgage Insurance is normally cancelled once you have 20 percent equity in your home; however, you do not have to wait this long. Mortgage Refinancing could save you a lot of money in Private Mortgage Insurance premiums.

Ditech : Applying for Your First Home Mortgage? What You Need to Know

The following home mortgage tips will help you figure out how to best go about the home mortgage loan process for your situation.

Home Mortgage tip #1 Interest Rates

Before applying for your first home mortgage loan you will want to shop around and see what average home mortgage loan rates are. Shopping for home mortgage rates online is a timesaver and frequently have lower rates as well. Your home mortgage rate will affect how much money you have to pay back over the term of the loan, so the lower the better.

Home Mortgage Tip #2 Fixed or Variable Interest Rate

When it comes to your home mortgage loan there are more options than just a loan you pay back over a set amount of years. You can choose different home mortgage interest rates that work best for your current and future situations. So, before you apply for a home mortgage loan do some research on variable and fixed interest rates to find what will work best for you.

Home Mortgage Tip #3 Down Payment

When applying for a home mortgage loan for the first time you might not be aware of the general down payment you will be required to make. Many times a home mortgage loan requires between 10 and 20% of the price of the home, but if you have good credit sometimes you can make a lower down payment and still get a good deal on your home mortgage. This depends on the home mortgage lender, so shop around.