Let’s demystify PMI—Private Mortgage Insurance.

PMI kicks in on most conventional loans if you put less than 20% down.
And yeah, it’s an added monthly cost—but it’s not forever.

Here’s what most people don’t realize:
👉 You can remove PMI once you hit 20% equity by request.
👉 It automatically drops off at 78% loan-to-value.
👉 You can even get it waived upfront with a lender-paid option—sometimes it’s rolled into the rate.

Now, if you’re doing an FHA loan, that’s a different story.
FHA loans often include a mortgage insurance premium that sticks around for the life of the loan—unless you refinance out of it.

So should you avoid PMI at all costs? Not necessarily.
Sometimes putting less down and paying PMI gets you into the market faster—and builds equity quicker.

It’s all about the bigger picture. PMI isn’t good or bad. It’s just a tool.
And smart buyers use tools to their advantage