Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
It’s Monday and that means it’s time for my weekly Mortgage Rate Update.
This week’s episode includes:
Recently I was invited to contribute to an article for U.S. News on How to Avoid PMI on a Mortgage with Less Than 20% Down by Gina Freeman. The article includes various strategies on how to avoid private mortgage insurance. Private mortgage insurance is typically required when someone is putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage.
There are many ways private mortgage insurance (pmi) can be paid for, including a lump sum “single premium” as a closing cost or as part of the monthly mortgage payment. There is also “split premium” which is a combo of a single premium and monthly and lender paid. The seller may even be able to contribute towards private mortgage insurance if negotiated in the real estate contract and the loan meets required guidelines.down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage. [Read more…]
Dave Ramsey is someone a lot of people follow for financial advise. Lately he’s been showing up A LOT in my Facebook stream pushing his thoughts on mortgages, home ownership and credit. Some of his ideas, I don’t totally disagree with. In fact, I shared a post that came from his group encouraging people to continue to pay rent and make their mortgage payments during the pandemic if at all possible (ie nothing is for free). However, I don’t support what he instructs his followers who are considering buying a home and I also have an issue with anyone who pushes their “team of vetted real estate agents”…I would be really surprised if there is not some sort of financial relationship associated with this referral arrangement.
Let’s take a look at what he encourages his followers to do with regards to buying a home or getting a mortgage. [Read more…]
Your mortgage payment typically includes principal and interest and may also include property taxes, home owners insurance. This is often referred to as PITI in the mortgage industry (principal, interest, taxes and insurance). If you have less than 20% down payment or home equity, then you probably have some form of mortgage insurance as well (unless you qualify for a VA mortgage). Some portions of the mortgage payment may change over time. [Read more…]
Private mortgage insurance is required on conventional mortgages when there is less than 20% equity on a property, when the loan-to-value is greater than 80%. Private mortgage insurance (pmi) that is paid monthly automatically drops off the mortgage payment once the mortgage balance reaches 78% of the original loan amount. Private mortgage insurance premiums are intended to be risked based. The more equity or down payment on a home and the higher your credit scores are, the lower the premiums tend to be. [Read more…]
I’m receiving gleeful emails from various private mortgage insurance companies announcing that mortgage insurance will once again be tax deductible. This is thanks to the PATH Act extending certain tax benefits to eligible home owners.
It’s no secret the the Puget Sound region has been experiencing a very hot real estate market… so hot in fact that it may be causing some home buyers to feel a little burned from competing with multiple offers as well as renters contending with rapidly rising rents. Recently KOMO 4 News shared that that Seattle currently has the nations hottest housing market. This is not only good news for those who are wanting to sell their homes, it’s also good news for home owners who may benefit from a refinance.
You may have heard that last week, Congress passed and President Obama signed the 2014 Tax Increase Prevention Act. It has some good news for home owners who currently pay various forms of mortgage insurance. If you pay mortgage insurance, including private mortgage insurance (pmi), or VA, FHA or USDA forms of mortgage insurance during 2014, you may be able to deduct that on your 2014 income taxes.
Before you get too excited, this act does not extend the mortgage insurance deduction past 2014.
So if you are paying any form of mortgage insurance, especially if it’s private mortgage insurance or FHA mortgage insurance, it still makes sense to see if you can eliminate or reduce your payment with a refinance as you will not be able to deduct your mortgage insurance during 2015 (as things currently stand).
If I can help you with your refi or home purchase on property located anywhere in Washington state, please contact me!
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
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