Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): What It Costs and How to Remove It

Place it under:

Learning Center → Understanding PMI

This is the best next addition because PMI is relevant to both homebuyers and existing homeowners, generates common consumer questions, and gives you another opportunity to demonstrate practical mortgage knowledge rather than generic marketing.

What the page should cover

I would make it comprehensive but consumer-friendly:

• What PMI actually is
• Who PMI protects
• When conventional loans require PMI
• How PMI premiums are determined
• Monthly PMI vs. other payment structures
• How down payment affects PMI
• PMI vs. FHA mortgage insurance
• When conventional PMI can be automatically terminated
• When a homeowner can request early cancellation
• Original value versus increased property value
• Whether improvements can help establish additional equity
• When an appraisal or valuation may be required
• Whether refinancing is necessary to eliminate PMI
• Why you shouldn't refinance solely to eliminate PMI without analyzing the rate and costs
• How PMI affects the comparison between FHA and conventional financing
• What happens to PMI when making additional principal payments

And I'd include a strong John's Perspective section such as:

Don't assume you need to refinance just because you want to eliminate PMI.

I've had homeowners contact me believing refinancing was their only way to remove mortgage insurance. Depending on the type of mortgage, current loan balance, property value and applicable requirements, there may be ways to request cancellation without replacing the existing mortgage.

Before refinancing solely to eliminate PMI, I believe you should first determine whether the existing mortgage insurance can be removed and then compare that option with the actual economics of refinancing.

— John Madden