Now that we may or may not have 20% down let’s touch on how Mortgage insurance works.
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WHAT DOES MORTGAGE INSURANCE DO FOR ME?
In easy words, nothing. You pay this for the lender to have protection if you default on the loan. So, in essence, you are paying insurance to indemnify (make whole) the mortgage lender if you were to default on the loan.
CAN I AVOID PMI?
Unless you put down 20%, then no. But Investopedia has an option called a “piggyback mortgage” where a home equity loan is obtained the same time as the original mortgage creating a 20% down payment and thus eliminating the need for PMI. Or, at times, there is Lender Private Mortgage Insurance where the PMI is added to the interest rate of the loan. Again, you will pay far more in interest over the full life of the loan.
Bottom line. You most likely will pay mortgage insurance if you put less than 20% down.
Always Moving Forward,
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