Refinancing a mortgage can be a great way to lower your interest rate, shorten your loan term, or cash out some of your equity. However, if you don’t have 20% equity in your home, you may have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is an insurance premium that protects the lender in case you default on your loan.
There are a few ways to avoid paying PMI when refinancing. One option is to get a conventional loan with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 80% or less. Another option is to get a government-backed loan, such as an FHA loan or a VA loan. These loans have lower LTV requirements, which means you can have less equity in your home and still avoid PMI.