A property transaction where the appraisal is higher than the purchase price offered has a direct effect on PMI. This acronym stands for Private Mortgage Insurance. Usually, a mortgage application requires the buyer to put down a 20% deposit or take out PMI to cover any shortfall of this amount.
PMI is essential to protect the institution giving you the loan against a possible default. A higher appraisal can help you by adding equity to the home that you want to buy. This lowers the amount of PMI that you will need.
Triangle Appraisal Group are expert appraisers. We know the property market inside out. We offer you the benefit of our regional and local knowledge and our close working relationships with estate agents and brokers. Let us do your home appraisal and calculate exactly how much PMI you need to secure the mortgage for the home of your dreams.
What Happens When an Appraisal Is Higher?
Let’s illustrate this by way of an example:
- Your contract to buy a house for $300,000.
- You can’t afford to put down a 20% deposit, so you opt for 10%.
- You put down a 10% deposit of $30,000 and apply for a loan of $270,000.
- The initial LTV is $270,000 ÷ $300,000 = 0.9 x 100 or 90%.
- However, the subsequent appraisal comes in higher than the purchase price at $310,000.
- This is good news for you as the LTV remains unchanged, leaving you with a built-in equity of $30,000 + $10,000 = $40,000.
- On a percentage basis, your equity in the property would now be approximately 13.3% rather than just 10%.
Does a Higher Appraised Value Reduce PMI?
An appraisal that is higher than the purchase price puts you further down the path of paying off your PMI. It adds equity to your newly purchased home and reduces the shortfall in your less than 20% deposit. Consequently, the amount of PMI you need will be lower.
Let’s continue with the example from the previous section:
- The appraised value was higher than the purchase price, giving you 13.3% equity in your new home rather than just your initial deposit of 10%.
- Most PMI policies are structured so that they automatically cease when you reach 22% equity.
- Instead of having to pay PMI until you have added another 22% – 10% = 12% equity, you’ll only have to pay until you’ve added another 22% – 13.3% = 8.7% equity.
There are other options.
- You can apply to cancel your PMI when you reach 20% equity.
- You can stop paying PMI sooner if you can prove that your house has appreciated in value by way of a new appraisal.
- You can refinance your mortgage to reduce PMI.
See more related article here: Is PMI Based on Appraised Value
What Happens if the Appraisal Is Lower Than the Purchase Price?
If the appraised value is lower than the purchase price, this is bad news for the buyer. It reduces the equity your deposit puts into the property. This can have several knock-on effects.
Here’s our example again, but with a lower appraisal:
- Your contract to buy a house for $300,000 with a 10% deposit of $30,000 and apply for a $270,000 loan.
- The appraisal values the house at $290,000, which is $10,000 lower than the sales price.
- The final LTV is now calculated at $270,000 ÷ $290,000 = 0.93 x 100 or 93%.
- This means that you would have to put down $10,000 more as the mortgage amount offered by the lender would be reduced to about $260,000 and push up the PMI.
Hopefully, the seller agrees to lower the sales price. You may be able to renegotiate terms to allow the higher LTV, but this affects the closing cost and interest rate. Other possibilities are to contest the appraisal or try to cancel the contract.
How To Get the Highest Appraisal: Guidelines
Here are some tips for maximizing the value:
Get a Local Appraiser
Get an experienced appraiser who has a proven track record in your neighborhood. The best appraiser will have valued several homes in your area, and can accurately gauge the sales price.
Provide Comparables to the Appraiser
Compile a short list of similar properties in your neighborhood, in terms of features and facilities. Research the recent selling prices of nearby properties. Try to provide the appraiser with a few “comps”.
Implement High Impact Renovations
Some simple renovations will give a house an instant facelift. These include a fresh coat of paint and anything that enhances the curbside appeal. You could opt for a minor kitchen remodeling, or install energy-saving features like solar panels and energy-efficient windows.
Record Home Improvements
A few minor renovations can’t increase the value of your house unless you can prove the work done since the last evaluation. Ensure that you keep receipts and maintain a list of completion dates, contractor details, and costs.
Recognize the Market
Your house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Investigate what buyers want and replicate these features. View listings and visit properties that have sold for higher than expected prices, then apply what your research shows.
Summary
If you don’t have enough cash to put down a 20% deposit, your lender requires you to buy PMI. Getting an appraisal higher than the purchase price affects PMI. You can instantly start building up equity in your new home and shorten the time needed to eliminate this added expense.
There are many actions that you can take to get a true and trustworthy valuation of your property. Triangle Appraisal Group are realty specialists in the Triangle, Triad, and Fayetteville areas. We bring a wealth of experience to every single appraisal across 20 counties. Contact us today for top-notch service.