While dropping private mortgage insurance can save you money, there's no guarantee that renovations will increase your home ...

Many first-time homebuyers will discover that they have to pay for something called "mortgage insurance." This adds to your monthly mortgage payment and is often an unpleasant surprise. That's ...

Federal law requires a lender to cancel private mortgage insurance (PMI) on conventional loans when a mortgage term is at its halfway point, or when the mortgage balance drops to 78 percent of the ...

Even once you’ve reached the 20% equity threshold, you may still be charged for PMI.

Escrow adjustments “An escrow account is essentially a built-in savings account managed by your mortgage servicer,” explained Debbie Calixto, an Indian Wells, California-based ...

Let’s start off the new year with a money saving tip, especially for low-down payment, first-time owners who bought a home more than two years ago. If you bought your home using conventional financing ...

Mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that protects the mortgage lender in case you are unable to pay back your mortgage.

Many potential homebuyers balk at the thought of putting down 20% of a home's purchase price to secure a mortgage. The good news is that you can get a mortgage with a much smaller down payment — but ...

If you got your FHA loan after the year 2000, you may be able to cancel your FHA mortgage insurance. If you got your loan before 2000, you’ll continue to pay the premiums in most cases. If your loan ...

David McMillin writes about credit cards, mortgages, banking, taxes and travel. Based in Chicago, he writes with one objective in mind: Help readers figure out how to save more and stress less. He is ...