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If you’re buying a home and have a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price, you may need to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) or a mortgage insurance premium (MIP). This insurance protects your lender in the event that you default on your loan. It also presents an additional cost for you — a charge you’ll have to keep paying for part or all of the life of the loan. But it can be worthwhile since, for many aspiring homeowners, it can unlock a chance at homeownership.

Private mortgage insurance may be required for conventional home loans — those not backed by a government program. A mortgage insurance premium is a little different and is always a part of an FHA-insured loan, at least for a number of years. Both are intended to protect lenders against losses if borrowers default on their home loans. Here’s a guide to how they work, how they differ, how much they cost, and when you can possibly escape their hold on you.

What Is Private Mortgage Insurance?

PMI is a type of coverage typically required by lenders on conventional conforming loans. A lender might stipulate PMI when you make a down payment that is less than 20% of an accepted offer or asking price.

Most conventional mortgages are “conforming,” which means they meet the requirements to be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. It’s best to consult the lender when you apply for a loan about whether you will have to pay for PMI.

Although PMI adds a cost, it can allow you to qualify for a loan that you otherwise might not get. And it can help you to buy a house without putting 20% down.

How Much Does PMI Cost?

The price of PMI varies, but often is 0.5% to 1% of the total loan amount annually. The cost depends on the type of mortgage you get, your credit score, the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and more. It also depends on the amount of PMI that your loan program or lender requires. PMI could run as high as 6% of the amount you borrow.

Usually, homeowners required to pay PMI do so monthly, rather than annually, and it’s included in their mortgage payments. A few may opt for lender-paid mortgage insurance (LMPI), an option where the lender for the home loan pays the cost of mortgage insurance. For that convenience, however, a homebuyer will usually pay a slightly higher interest rate, and more over the life of the loan.

Despite the cost, PMI may be more economical than an FHA loan if you’re a borrower with a FICO® score of around 740 or above who can put 3.5% down.

When Can You Stop Paying PMI?

Buying a home may require you to pay PMI, but there are ways to get to the point where you can stop paying it.

First, there is a legal end to PMI. Under the Homeowners Protection Act, also known as the PMI Cancellation Act, your lender is required to cancel PMI automatically once your mortgage balance is at 78% of the home’s original value. That generally means either the contract sales price or the appraised value of your home at the time you purchased it, whichever is lower (or, if you have refinanced, the appraised value at the time you did so). Which figure is used for the original value can vary by state.

Second, you can have your home reappraised, which will likely result in a new value, and ask your servicer to cancel PMI if you have built equity of 20% or more of the current value. Owners of homes that have appreciated, either over time or thanks to home improvements, may benefit from this. You may need to be proactive with your lender and meet specific eligibility requirements to help make that happen.

Third, you may be able to refinance your mortgage. If you have at least 20% equity, you can possibly qualify for a conventional loan that won’t require PMI.
Finally, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that if you have stayed current on your payments and reached the halfway point of the loan’s schedule, PMI can be canceled, even if your mortgage balance hasn’t yet reached 78% of the home’s original value.

💡Quick Tip: A major home purchase may mean a jumbo loan, but it doesn’t have to mean a jumbo down payment. Apply for a jumbo mortgage with SoFi, and you could put as little as 10% down.

What Is a Mortgage Insurance Premium?

If they’re securing a home loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration, borrowers pay for a different type of coverage, known as a Mortgage Insurance Premium or MIP. When it comes to FHA loans, MIP applies no matter what your loan term or down payment amount.

A key reason people choose FHA loans is the ability to buy a home even with a low down payment — these loans allow you to put down as little as 3.5%. But keep in mind that even with that affordable down payment, this type of loan bears costs and, as a borrower, you’ll want to understand them.

MIP runs for 11 years or the loan’s full term, depending on the borrower’s down payment, the balance owed, and LTV. As the homebuyer, you also pay a one-time upfront MIP premium of 1.75% of the base loan amount, which can be rolled into the loan. On top of that, you’ll have an annual premium that is divided by 12 to determine your payment, which is added to your monthly mortgage payment.

Recommended: Different Types of Mortgage Loans, Explained

How Much MIP Will You Pay on an FHA Loan?

Like a mortgage interest rate, MIP fluctuates. The ongoing annual MIP is calculated with a rate that’s currently around 0.15% to 0.75%. It is divided by 12 and added to your monthly mortgage payment. What you’ll pay in the end depends on your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio — also known as the price minus your down payment — and the length of the loan.

If you take out an FHA loan for the common term of 30 years, or any length of time greater than 15 years, your monthly MIP costs will be determined by calculating the loan’s annual average outstanding balance, based on what banks refer to as its amortization schedule. This figure is then multiplied by the annual MIP rate and divided by 12 to determine a monthly payment.

That is the amount that will be added to your principal payment on your home loan, along with charges like escrow amounts for property taxes and the monthly cost of your homeowner’s insurance.

Here’s an example: Let’s say you borrow less than or equal to $726,200 to buy your home, and make a down payment of 5% or less. You’ll pay an annual MIP of 0.50% on your loan. On a home loan of $300,000, you’ll pay MIP of about $1,500 per year, or $125 per month.

The following chart details approximate monthly payments based on different loan and down payment amounts. Remember, LTV is the total home price, or 100%, minus the percentage you take care of in your down payment.

Some homeowners can pay off their loans more quickly. By choosing a shorter term, such as 15 years, you could take advantage of a lower MIP.

Take the 15-year option, which gives you a better deal with a lower rate. If you were to borrow less than or equal to $726,200 and put down 10% or less as a down payment, you’d pay an annual MIP of just 0.15%. On a $300,000 home loan, that’s more like $450 a year, or $37.50 a month.

This all may seem complicated, but many people find that the flexibility of an FHA loan, if you can secure one, makes it worth paying the MIP.

Thinking about buying a fixer-upper and making it beautiful and functional again? FHA offers the FHA 203(k) home loan for that — something that few lenders do, especially if the home isn’t in good enough shape to be lived in, but it may be worth investigating.

Recommended: FHA Mortgage Loan Calculator

Can You Get Rid of MIP?

Possibly. If you took out an FHA loan before June of 2013, you may be able to cancel your MIP. You would need to now have 22% equity in your home — meaning your loan balance has reached 78% of the purchase price noted on your mortgage paperwork — and have made all payments on time. (FHA lenders do not automatically cancel your MIP once you reach that threshold. You’ll need to ask for it to be stopped.)

If your FHA loan originated more recently than June 2013, however, different rules govern it. If your down payment totals less than 10%, you must pay the MIP for the life of the loan. Made a down payment of 10% or more? MIP expires in 11 years.
Other ways to unburden yourself of MIP include paying off the FHA loan or refinancing it into a conventional loan with a private lender, which will give MIP the heave-ho.

What About Refinancing?

If you have a mortgage that includes PMI or MIP and your property value has increased significantly, the option of refinancing is one to think about.

Some borrowers may find that at a certain point they can qualify for a conventional home loan without mortgage insurance.

Refinancing holds appeal because of the possibility of locking in a better rate and reducing your monthly payment. Equity-rich homeowners sometimes like the option of a cash-out refinance.

But as with your original mortgage, you’ll face closing costs if you refinance.

What about a “no-closing-cost refinance” you might see advertised? You’ll either add the closing costs to the principal or get an increased interest rate.

The Takeaway

Glass half-full: Private mortgage insurance and mortgage insurance premium open the door to homeownership to many who otherwise could not buy a property. Glass half-empty: PMI and MIP can really add up.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

FAQ

Is it a better option to put down 20% or to pay PMI?

It’s great to make a down payment of 20% and avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), but not everyone can afford to do it. It can be particularly hard for first-time homebuyers, who often don’t have income from the sale of another residence to fund their next home purchase. Use a home affordability calculator to look carefully at monthly mortgage payment amounts for various home prices and interest rates. Put down what you can afford and try not to compromise your ability to cover other bills, including the mortgage payment itself.

How long will I pay PMI?

If you’re paying private mortgage insurance, you’ll need to continue until you’ve built up 20% equity in your home (based on the original sale price). At this point, you can request in writing that your loan servicer cancel PMI as long as you’re current on your payments.

How are FHA MIP rates determined?

The FHA reevaluates and updates MIP rates periodically. Changes are based on the condition of its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, and current housing and economic conditions.

Can I cancel my FHA MIP once I’ve reached a certain equity level?

No. Unlike the private mortgage insurance on a conventional loan, which goes away after a homeowner reaches 20% equity, FHA MIPs cannot be canceled.

Are MIP payments tax-deductible?

Unfortunately, no. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 allowed qualified taxpayers to take a tax deduction for MIP and PMI costs for the tax years 2018 through 2021, but the deduction has expired and is no longer available.

About the author

Ashley Kilroy

Ashley Kilroy is a seasoned personal finance writer with 15 years of experience simplifying complex concepts for individuals seeking financial security. Her expertise has shined through in well-known publications like Rolling Stone, Forbes, SmartAsset, and Money Talks News. Read full bio.

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SOHL-Q225-186

Class A, Class B, and Class C shares are different categories of company shares that have different voting rights and different levels of access to distributions and dividends. Companies may use these tiers so that certain key shareholders, such as founders or executives, have more voting power than ordinary shareholders. These shareholders also may have priority on the company’s profits and assets, and may have different access to dividends.

Not all companies have alternate stock classes. And what can make share categories even more complicated is that while the classifications are common, each company can define their stock classes, meaning that they can vary from company to company. That makes it even more important for investors to know exactly what they’re getting when they purchase a certain type of stock.

Why Companies Have Different Types of Stock Shares

When a company goes public, it sells portions of itself, known as stocks or shares, to shareholders.

Shareholders own a portion of the company’s assets and profits and have a say in how the company is governed. To help mitigate risk and retain majority control of the company, a company can restrict the amount of stock they sell and retain majority ownership in the company. Or, it can create different shareholder classes with different rights.

By creating multiple shareholder classes when they go public, a company can ensure that executives maintain control of the company and have more influence over business decisions. For example, while ordinary shareholders, or Class B shareholders, may have one vote per share owned, individuals with executive shares, or Class A shares, may have 100 votes per share owned. Executives also may get first priority of profits, which can be important in the case of an acquisition or closure, where there is only a finite amount of profit.

Different stock classes can also reward early investors. For example, some companies may designate Class A investors as those who invested with the company prior to a certain time period, such as a merger. These investors may have more votes per share and rights to dividends than Class B investors. A company’s charter, perspective, and bylaws should outline the differences between the classes.

Class differentiation has become more critical in creating a portfolio in recent years because investors have access to different classes in a way they may not have had access in the past. For example, mutual funds frequently divide their shares into A, B, and C class shares based on the type of investor they want to attract.

The Different Types of Shares

Just like there are different types of stock, there are different types of shareholders. Because different stock classes have such different terms, depending on the company, investors may use additional terminology to describe the stock they hold. This can include:

Preferred Shares

Investors who buy preferred shares may not have voting rights, but may have access to a regular dividend that may not be available to shareholders of common stock.

Common Shares

Sometimes called “ordinary shares,” common shares are stocks bought and measured on the market. Owners have voting rights. They may have dividends and access to profits, though they may come after other investors, such as executive shareholders and preferred shareholders have been paid.

Nonvoting Shares

These are typically offered by private companies or as part of a compensation package to employees. Companies may use non voting shares so employees and former employees don’t have an outsize influence in company decision-making, or so that power remains consolidated with the executive board and outside shareholders. Some companies create a separate class of stock, Class C stock, that comes without voting rights and that may be less expensive than other classes.

Executive Shares

Typically, these shares are held by founders or company executives. Their stock may have outsize voting rights and may also have restrictions on the ability to sell the shares. Executive shares usually do not trade on the public markets.

Advisory Shares

Often offered to advisors or large investors of a company, these shares may have preferred rights and do not trade on public markets.

Restricted Shares

Restricted shares are called so because they come with strings attached, typically having to do with whether they can be sold or transferred. For instance, an employee of a company may earn restricted shares as a part of their compensation package, and aren’t able to sell them until after a certain period of time.

Treasury Shares

Treasury shares are shares that a company purchases back from the open market from shareholders. When you hear of stock “buybacks,” this is typically what that term is referring to. In effect, a company is reabsorbing its shares, and reducing the total outstanding stock on the market.

Recommended: Shares vs. Stocks: Differences to Know

What Are Class A Shares?

While the specific attributes of Class A shares depend on the company, they generally come with more voting power and a higher priority for dividends and profit in the event of liquidation. Class A shares may be more expensive than Class B shares, or may not be available to the general public.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Class A Shares

Class A shares have some advantages and disadvantages over other types of shares. But again, it all comes down to the specifics.

Many companies can have different stock tiers that trade at different prices. For instance, Company X may have Class A stock that regularly trades at hundreds of thousands of dollars while its Class B stock may trade for hundreds of dollars per share.

Class B stockholders may also only have a small percentage of the vote that a Class A stockholder has. And while Class A stockholders might be able to convert their shares into Class B shares, a Class B shareholder may not be able to convert their shares into Class A shares.

Many of the tech companies that have gone public in recent years have also used a dual-share class system.

In some cases, shareholders are not allowed to trade their Class A shares, so they have a conversion that allows the owner to convert them into Class B, which they can sell or trade. Executives may also be able to sell their shares in a secondary offering, following the IPO.


💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.

What Are Class B Shares?

Often companies refer to their Class B shares as “common shares” or “ordinary shares,” (But occasionally, companies flip the definition and have Class A shares designated as common shares and Class B shares as founder and executive shares).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Class B Shares

Class B shares are generally liquid, meaning that investors can buy and sell common shares on a public stock exchange, where, typically, one share equals one vote. However, Class B shares carry no preferential treatment when it comes to dividing profits or dividends.

What Are Class C Shares?

Some companies also offer Class C shares, which they may give to employees as part of their compensation package. The difference between Class C and common stock shares can be subtle.

It’s important to note that these stock classes vary depending on the company. So doing research and understanding exactly which type of shares you’re buying is key before you commit to purchasing a certain class of stock.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Class C Shares

Class C shares may have specific restrictions, such as an inability to trade the shares.

Class C shares also may also refer to alternate share classes available to public investors. Often priced lower than Class A shares and with restrictions on voting rights, these shares may be more accessible to larger groups of investors. But this is not always the case. For example, Alphabet has Class A and Class C shares. Both tend to trade at similar prices.

Note that the chart below represents common definitions of Class A, B, and C shares, but that companies may structure their own stock classes differently.

What Are Dual Class Shares?

Companies that offer more than one class of shares have “dual class shares.” This is a fairly common practice, and some companies offer dual class shares that automatically convert to a common share with voting privilege at a set period of time.

Why Some Companies Use Dual Class Shares

Some companies may use dual class shares if they hope to IPO, and do not want public investors to have a say in the company’s decision-making. There has been controversy about companies offering two share classes of stock to the public, with detractors concerned that multiple share classes may lead to governance issues, such as reduced accountability. But others argue that multiple share classes can be an asset for a public company, leading to improved performance.

Examples of Companies With Dual Class Shares

There are numerous companies that use dual class share systems. Here are some examples of some of most recognizable:

•   Alphabet (Google)

•   Berkshire Hathaway

•   Meta

•   Ford

•   Nike

The Takeaway

Class A, Class B, and Class C shares have different voting rights and different levels of access to distributions and dividends. It can be difficult to determine which investment class is the best option for you if you’re deciding to invest in a public company that offers multiple share classes. Beyond market price, understanding how the stock will function in your overall portfolio as well as your personal investing philosophy can help guide you choose the best share class for you.

For example, investors who may be looking for shorter-term investments may choose a stock class without voting privileges. Other investors who want to be active in corporate governance may prefer share classes that come with voting rights. And some investors may be looking for stocks that provide guaranteed dividends, which may guide their decision toward one class of shares.

Invest in what matters most to you with SoFi Active Invest. In a self-directed account provided by SoFi Securities, you can trade stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, options, and more — all while paying $0 commission on every trade. Other fees may apply. Whether you want to trade after-hours or manage your portfolio using real-time stock insights and analyst ratings, you can invest your way in SoFi's easy-to-use mobile app.

FAQ

Are there specific types of businesses that prefer Class A, Class B, or Class C shares?

Not necessarily, as how each share class is structured is typically done for different strategic reasons. As such, some companies in certain industries may operate in similar manners, but it doesn’t mean their share structures would necessarily follow suit.

Do Class B shares always have fewer voting rights than Class A shares?

Class B shares often, or commonly have fewer voting rights than Class A shares, but it’s not always the case. Some companies structure their shares such that Class B shares actually have more voting rights than Class A shares.

Can investors convert Class B or C shares into Class A shares?

Some investors are able to convert their Class B or C shares into Class A shares, depending on the specific stock.

Why do some companies prefer dual class share structures?

Some companies might use dual class share structures in order to concentrate voting power among a select group of investors, rather than leave it to the whims of public or retail investors.

How do different share classes impact dividend payments?

Broadly speaking, different share classes often have different dividend payments, and that can depend on numerous factors.

You may also be interested in:

Examining the Different Types of Stocks

Preferred Stock vs. Common Stock

Shares vs Stocks: What’s the Difference?

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