Verrado Homes For Sale | What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

 

Located at the foot of the White Tank Mountains, surrounded by high palm trees and over 21 miles of walking trails…Verrado is one of the most beautiful planned communities in the surrounding Phoenix area.       

The developers of Verrado put a lot of focus to paved walking trails meandering through common spaces and the creation of over 70 neighborhood parks framed and surrounded by mountain views and incredible natural views.     

There are many communities that are planned around specific locations to fit budgets and work force…but Verrado is one of the few places where its natural beauty took precedence on the development of an environmentally friendly area for the enjoyment of all the lucky residents      

Homes in Verrado are relatively new, it is one of the largest suburban communities in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. There are many types of homes available, from open floor plans, rustic ranch haciendas to relaxing front-porch models with modern amenities and luxurious finishes. This includes traditional two-story homes, European-style bungalows, single-family desert oases, and trendy lofts.       

Today, I would like to bring your attention to the following: What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

 

When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase homes with down payments below 20%, you can never have too much information about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

 

What is PMI?

Freddie Mac defines PMI as: 

“An insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that is required for all conforming, conventional loans that have down payments less than 20%. 

Once you’ve built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your mortgage payment.” 

 As the borrower, you pay the monthly premiums for the insurance policy, and the lender is the beneficiary. Freddie Mac goes on to explain that: 

“The cost of PMI varies based on your loan-to-value ratio – the amount you owe on your mortgage compared to its value – and credit score, but you can expect to pay between $30 and $70 per month for every $100,000 borrowed.”  

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average down payment for all buyers last year was 10%. For first-time buyers, that number dropped to 5%, while repeat buyers put down 14% (no doubt aided by the sale of their homes). This just goes to show that for a large number of buyers last year, PMI did not stop them from buying their dream homes. 

Here’s an example of the cost of a mortgage on a $200,000 home with a 5% down payment & PMI, compared to a 20% down payment without PMI:

 

The larger the down payment you can make, the lower your monthly housing cost will be, but Freddie Mac urges you to remember:

“It’s no doubt an added cost, but it’s enabling you to buy now and begin building equity versus waiting 5 to 10 years to build enough savings for a 20% down payment.”

 

Bottom Line

If you have questions about whether you should buy now or wait until you’ve saved a larger down payment, let’s get together to discuss our market’s conditions and help you make the best decision for you and your family.

 

Source.. KCM Cheryl Benjamin Blog

 

If you are looking to move to Verrado, allow us to help you find the perfect home, If you have any questions about Verrado, the schools, the amenities or the surrounding community, don’t hesitate to call on us at 623–206–9936    

We will be happy to help you.    

Our agents specialize in Verrado Real Estate