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FHA Mortgage Insurance vs. Private Mortgage Insurance: Costs and Cancellation Rules

FHA MIP and conventional PMI have different premium structures and end dates. Learn what each may cost, when coverage can end, and how to compare actual loan offers.
From TheFinanceBase Team11 min to read
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FHA mortgage insurance (MIP) and conventional private mortgage insurance (PMI) are different systems. FHA loans generally have an upfront premium plus a recurring annual premium, and the recurring charge can last 11 years or the mortgage term depending on the loan’s original terms. On many conventional loans covered by federal rules, borrowers can request PMI cancellation at 80% of the home’s original value, with automatic termination generally scheduled at 78% if payments are current. Neither option is always cheaper: compare actual Loan Estimates and the projected insurance cost over the time you expect to keep the loan.

What FHA MIP and conventional PMI pay for

Mortgage insurance protects the lender or mortgage investor against losses if a borrower defaults. It is not homeowners insurance: it does not insure the borrower’s home or belongings. FHA calls its charge a mortgage insurance premium, or MIP. Conventional mortgages may require private mortgage insurance, commonly called PMI, when the borrower’s down payment or equity is below the lender’s required threshold.

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The two labels do not describe interchangeable products with one shared cancellation rule. FHA MIP is part of the Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage-insurance program and follows FHA premium and duration rules. Conventional PMI follows the terms of the loan and, for many covered mortgages, federal cancellation and termination protections. FHA loans are excluded from the CFPB’s conventional PMI rules.

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That distinction matters most when estimating how long the charge will last. A conventional borrower may be able to request cancellation based on the scheduled loan balance reaching 80% of original value, subject to conditions. For many FHA loans assigned case numbers on or after June 3, 2013, reaching 80% of value does not by itself end MIP. Its duration instead depends on original loan inputs and applicable FHA rules.

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How FHA mortgage insurance is charged

Upfront MIP

For most covered FHA forward mortgage programs, HUD’s published guidance gives an upfront MIP of 1.75% of the base loan amount. HUD published that guidance on December 2, 2024; exceptions apply to some loan categories and legacy refinance cases, so the figure is not universal across every FHA program. The HUD explanation of FHA forward-loan premiums describes the general structure.

Check the Loan Estimate and lender’s FHA calculation to see how the upfront premium is handled in the offer—whether it is paid at closing or financed into the loan—and compare the resulting amount borrowed and costs. If it is financed, it increases the amount on which the borrower owes interest; if paid at closing, it is an upfront cash cost. The practical comparison is not just the premium line but the total cost under each offered loan.

Annual MIP paid in monthly installments

Most covered FHA forward loans also have annual MIP, collected in monthly installments. “Annual” describes the premium rate, not a once-a-year bill: the borrower typically sees the charge as part of the monthly mortgage payment. The applicable annual rate and duration depend on the loan term, base loan amount, original loan-to-value ratio (LTV), and case rules.

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HUD’s Appendix 1.0 table in the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook is dated March 20, 2023; the handbook revision page reflects an August 13, 2025 revision. For covered forward loans with terms longer than 15 years, the table’s broad pattern is:

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Base loan amount and original LTV Published annual MIP rate Published duration pattern
At or below $726,200; original LTV at or below 95% 0.50% 11 years for qualifying loans at or below 90% LTV; mortgage term for higher-LTV bands
At or below $726,200; original LTV above 95% 0.55% Mortgage term
Above $726,200; original LTV at or below 95% 0.70% 11 years for qualifying loans at or below 90% LTV; mortgage term for higher-LTV bands
Above $726,200; original LTV above 95% 0.75% Mortgage term

This summary describes the broad bands in the cited table, not an individual borrower’s quote. The table uses different rates and duration bands for loans with terms of 15 years or shorter; duration there can be 11 years or the mortgage term depending on original LTV and loan amount. The HUD Q&A says the published rate structure applies to case numbers endorsed on or after March 20, 2023. Since thresholds and guidance can change, confirm the applicable current handbook, case details, and lender calculation rather than assuming a historical table is still the rule for a new loan.

HUD’s calculation rules apply the annual premium to a declining balance. Do not estimate the monthly MIP for the full loan term by multiplying the starting loan amount by the annual rate and treating the result as a fixed yearly charge. Use the lender’s payment schedule or ask for the monthly premium and projected changes over time.

When can a borrower remove conventional PMI?

The CFPB’s guidance on PMI cancellation covers many single-family, principal-residence mortgages closed on or after July 29, 1999. It does not cover FHA or VA loans, and lender-paid mortgage insurance follows different rules. For an eligible loan, there are three routes to understand: a borrower request, automatic termination, and midpoint termination.

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Borrower-requested cancellation at 80%

A borrower may generally request PMI cancellation when the scheduled balance reaches 80% of the home’s original value, or earlier if extra payments bring the balance to that level. “Original value” generally means the lower of the purchase price or the appraisal at purchase. For a refinance, it means the appraisal at the time of the refinance. The threshold is based on the loan’s scheduled balance and original value, not simply a new estimate of what the home would sell for today.

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The 80% threshold is a point at which a borrower can ask; it is not an automatic removal date. The borrower generally must make a written request, have a good payment history and be current, certify that there are no junior liens, and provide evidence of the property’s value if the servicer requires it. The CFPB’s PMI cancellation guidance, last reviewed August 28, 2026 and modified August 31, 2026, explains these conditions.

Automatic termination at 78%

For covered loans, the servicer generally must automatically terminate PMI on the date the scheduled balance reaches 78% of original value, provided the borrower is current. If the borrower is not current on that date, termination is delayed until shortly after the borrower becomes current. This is a scheduled-balance rule; it is not a promise that a home’s rising market value will trigger automatic removal.

Midpoint termination

If PMI remains in place, a separate midpoint rule requires the lender or servicer to end it in the month after the loan reaches the midpoint of its original amortization schedule, even if the balance has not fallen to 78%. Payments must be current. The midpoint is determined from the original loan schedule, so a borrower should ask the servicer how it applies to that loan rather than estimating it from the current balance.

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Some investor rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans may allow earlier cancellation, but the CFPB says those rules cannot be less favorable than the legal requirements described on its page. If the servicer denies a request, ask which condition was not met, whether it needs documentation, and what date or balance would make the loan eligible. Keep the written response and any submitted records.

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Does FHA mortgage insurance ever go away?

Yes, but many FHA borrowers cannot remove MIP simply by reaching the conventional 80% or 78% thresholds. For FHA case numbers assigned on or after June 3, 2013, duration is tied to original LTV and loan-term rules. Qualifying lower-LTV cases may have an 11-year MIP period, while many higher-LTV loans carry MIP for the mortgage term. The loan’s original inputs and the applicable case rules determine which applies.

HUD states that FHA insurance can be terminated when the mortgage is paid in full before maturity. Paying the loan off through a sale or refinance is different from asking a servicer to remove only the insurance while keeping the same mortgage. HUD’s Final Monthly MIP Payment Date / Loan Balance at Final MIP Date lookup and its Single Family Mortgage Insurance Premiums page are relevant official references; a borrower should also confirm the case-specific date and balance with the servicer.

The historic 78%-balance cancellation route applied only to specified FHA cases assigned before June 3, 2013, and only when eligibility requirements were met. It should not be treated as the rule for newer FHA loans. Existing FHA borrowers who are unsure should locate the case number assignment date, original loan data, and servicer records, then check the handbook rules that apply to that case.

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FHA MIP vs. conventional PMI at a glance

Comparison point FHA MIP Conventional PMI
Who sets the system HUD/FHA program rules and applicable case details Loan and investor terms, plus legal protections for many covered loans
Upfront charge Usually 1.75% of base loan amount for most covered forward programs; exceptions apply Not stated as a universal amount in CFPB cancellation guidance; obtain the lender’s quote
Recurring charge Annual MIP generally collected in monthly installments; rates depend on loan characteristics and case rules PMI amount and structure are specific to the borrower and lender offer
Potential cancellation or end point For post-June 3, 2013 case numbers, duration follows original LTV and term rules; mortgage payoff ends FHA insurance Many covered loans allow a written request at scheduled 80% of original value, automatic termination at scheduled 78% if current, or midpoint termination if still insured and current
Value basis for a balance threshold No general 80%/78% cancellation route for newer cases Original value, generally purchase price or appraisal at purchase (lower amount), or refinance appraisal

The table is a rules comparison, not a price ranking. Conventional PMI is borrower- and lender-specific; FHA has published premium rules, but the actual payment depends on the relevant loan inputs and calculation. Neither the quoted recurring charge nor the headline rate alone shows how much insurance the borrower will pay before sale, refinance, cancellation, or payoff.

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How to compare the actual cost of two offers

Compare the FHA and conventional Loan Estimates side by side using the same home price, down payment, loan term, and expected time in the home or mortgage. Ask the lenders to project the monthly payment, insurance duration, and cumulative loan payments through the date you expect to sell, refinance, or pay off the loan. The goal is to compare the whole loan over a realistic horizon, not a generic FHA-versus-PMI average.

  1. Record the loan inputs. Note the base loan amount, down payment, original LTV, loan term, interest rate, and any rate or pricing conditions on each Loan Estimate. For FHA, identify the FHA case rules used in the premium calculation; for conventional, identify whether the quoted insurance is borrower-paid PMI or lender-paid coverage.
  2. Separate upfront from recurring insurance. For FHA, record the upfront MIP amount and whether it is paid at closing or financed, plus the monthly MIP shown in the estimate. For conventional, record any upfront or recurring PMI charges actually shown. Do not assume an unstated premium or structure.
  3. Ask how the recurring charge changes. Request an amortization or payment schedule showing the projected premium by month or year. FHA annual MIP is calculated on a declining balance under HUD rules; the applicable amount should come from the lender’s calculation. For conventional PMI, ask what balance or date the servicer uses for a cancellation request and what conditions apply.
  4. Project the likely end date. For conventional PMI, estimate the scheduled 80% request date and scheduled 78% termination date, then account for any eligibility conditions and the midpoint rule. For FHA, use the original LTV and term rules for the specific case, and consider when payoff through sale or refinance is likely. Do not assume that appreciation alone will remove FHA MIP.
  5. Compare all payments through your horizon. Add the upfront cash cost or financed amount, projected interest, recurring mortgage-insurance charges, and other loan costs through the intended sale, refinance, or payoff date. If the upfront FHA MIP is financed, include the interest associated with the larger principal. This gives a more relevant comparison than multiplying a starting balance by a premium rate for every year.
  6. Request a written side-by-side projection. Ask each lender to state the assumptions, projected insurance end date, and total estimated payments over your expected holding period. If a premium duration or cancellation rule is unclear, get the case-specific answer from the lender or servicer before choosing.

Why the cheapest insurance line may not mean the cheapest loan

A smaller monthly PMI or MIP amount does not automatically mean a lower total cost. One offer may have a different interest rate, a larger financed balance, higher other loan costs, or a longer period with insurance. Conversely, a larger initial insurance charge may matter less if the loan has a shorter expected duration or is paid off sooner. Compare the projected payment stream and total costs over the same timeframe.

Down payment and credit profile can affect which offers are available and how they are priced. The FHA annual premium also varies by original LTV, term, and base loan amount; conventional PMI depends on borrower- and lender-specific pricing. A borrower should therefore compare the loans they actually qualify for rather than a typical PMI rate against an FHA premium from a general table.

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Expected time in the loan is especially important. A borrower who plans to move or refinance well before a potential cancellation date may pay only part of the projected insurance stream. Someone who expects to keep the mortgage for many years may care more about whether conventional PMI can end under the scheduled-balance rules and whether FHA MIP lasts 11 years or the mortgage term. These are projections, not guarantees about future plans or home value.

Questions to ask your lender or servicer

  • What is the exact upfront premium, recurring monthly insurance payment, and total projected amount over my expected loan period?
  • For an FHA loan, what case number date, original LTV, term, and premium table are being used to determine the MIP rate and duration?
  • For conventional coverage, is it borrower-paid PMI or lender-paid mortgage insurance, and which cancellation rules apply to this loan?
  • What is the scheduled balance and date for a conventional 80% cancellation request, 78% automatic termination, and midpoint termination?
  • What payment-history, lien, current-payment, or valuation requirements would I need to satisfy before PMI can be removed?
  • Can you provide a written payment schedule or comparison of total payments through the date I expect to sell, refinance, or pay off the mortgage?

Policy timing and official references

HUD announced FHA Single Family policy updates on June 23, 2026, covering origination, servicing, and quality control. That announcement describes a change to appraisal field reviews, including a stated average cost of $425 per FHA appraisal field review and approximately $3.3 million in expected annual industry savings. Those figures concern the field-review policy, not mortgage-insurance premiums or a borrower’s expected savings. The announcement does not state that MIP rates or cancellation duration changed. See HUD’s June 23, 2026 announcement; use the applicable handbook and loan-case details for premium rules.

For the conventional cancellation framework, consult the CFPB’s PMI guidance. For FHA, use HUD’s premium-structure explanation, the handbook Appendix 1.0, and the HUD premium page alongside the lender or servicer’s calculation for the actual loan.

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