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Private Mortgage Insurance
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) policies are designed to reimburse a mortgage lender up to a certain amount if you default on your loan and the foreclosure sale is less than the amount you own the lender -- that is, the amount of your mortgage loan plus the costs of the foreclosure sale. Most lenders require PMI on loans where the borrower makes a down payment of less than 20%. Premiums are usually paid monthly and typically cost less than one-half of one percent of the mortgage loan. With the exception of some government and older loans, you can drop PMI once your equity in the house reaches 22% and you've made timely mortgage payments. Ask your lender for details on the cost of PMI and requirements for canceling it.
Another source of down payment money is a loan against your 401(k) plan. Ask your employer or plan administrator if your plan allows for loans. If it does, the maximum loan amount under the law is the one-half of your interest in the plan or $50,000, whichever is less. Other conditions, including the maximum term, the minimum loan amount, the interest rate and applicable loan fees, are set by your employer. Any loan must be repaid in a "reasonable amount of time," although the Tax Code doesn't define reasonable. Be sure to find out what happens if you leave your job before fully repaying a loan from your 401(k) plan. If a loan becomes due immediately upon your departure, income tax penalties may apply to the outstanding balance.
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