Is it Wise to Cancel Mortgage Insurance?

Some people do not even know that they have mortgage insurance. They bought a house, they pay a mortgage bill every month, and that is all they really know. This is because it is usually tacked on to the mortgage monthly payments. Once you understand what it is, you may want to consider getting rid of it.



Mortgage insurance exists to protect the borrower and/or the lender in case the borrower defaults on the loan payments. According to Wikipedia, lenders usually make it required to have if the borrower has paid less than 20% of the amount borrowed.



This is usually private mortgage insurance, but it could also be public mortgage insurance, depending on the insurer.



Your insurance hardly ever covers the entire loan amount. It is often just a percentage of the loan amount. In fact, it is usually a very low percentage. It is definitely a good idea (not to mention a requirement) to have it at the beginning of your loan, but once you have over 20% down or whatever the cut-off was with your insurer, it may be worth getting rid of.



For instance, if you take out a mortgage loan on a house for $200,000 and pay $45 per month for the insurance that will only cover $35,000 if you default on the payments, this will be helpful, but still put you in a bind if something happens. It is usually recommended that after you have paid for more than 20% of the mortgage, you should cancel your private mortgage insurance policy and reallocate that $540 per year towards something else like investments or life insurance that will help protect you for your future by giving your greater gains.



It is important to re-examine your finances on a yearly basis and determine the pros and cons of private mortgage insurance once you have the freedom to get rid of it. Nobody wants to pay for something they do not need.