Annual FHA MIP

 The annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) is one of two types of FHA mortgage insurance that covers the lender’s losses if you default on your FHA loan. The premium ranges from 0.15% to 0.75% of your base loan amount depending on the term, loan amount and down payment. MIP is charged annually, divided by 12 and added to your monthly payment.  There are four major differences between private mortgage insurance (PMI) charged on a conventional loan and MIP charged on an FHA loan:

1. Conventional loans only require one type of PMI paid monthly, as a lump sum or financed into the interest rate. FHA charges both a lump-sum upfront MIP and an annual premium that is paid monthly.
2. Conventional PMI premiums vary significantly based on your credit score. Credit scores don’t affect the FHA MIP.
3. You can avoid PMI by making at least a 20% down payment. You’ll pay FHA MIP regardless of your down payment amount.
4. You can cancel conventional PMI once you have 20% home equity. Building home equity doesn’t affect FHA MIP payments.