# What Is PMI and How Tampa Bay Buyers Can Avoid or Remove It

By Josh Richardson (@joshrichardson) · Published 2026-11-05

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What PMI Is and Why Lenders Require It

Private mortgage insurance protects the lender, not the buyer, when a conventional loan closes with less than 20% down. For Tampa Bay buyers stretching to compete in a still-competitive market, PMI is often the tradeoff for getting into a home sooner rather than waiting years to save a full 20% down payment. Monthly PMI premiums typically run between 0.3% and 1.5% of the loan amount annually, depending on your credit score, down payment size, and loan type, and the cost is added directly to your monthly mortgage payment.

Ways to Avoid PMI From the Start

The most direct way to avoid PMI is putting down 20% or more, but that isn't realistic for every Tampa Bay buyer. A piggyback loan structure, where a second mortgage covers part of the down payment gap, can eliminate PMI on the first loan. VA loans skip PMI entirely regardless of down payment for eligible veterans and service members, and some credit unions and portfolio lenders offer lender-paid mortgage insurance, which folds the cost into a slightly higher interest rate instead of a separate monthly charge.

How to Remove PMI Once You Have Equity

Federal law requires your lender to automatically cancel PMI once your loan balance reaches 78% of the home's original value, as long as you're current on payments. You can request cancellation earlier, once you hit 80% loan-to-value, by contacting your servicer directly. Rising home values across Tampa Bay have pushed many owners into enough equity to request removal years ahead of schedule, so it's worth checking your current home value against your loan balance rather than waiting for the automatic cutoff. Lenders may require a new appraisal to confirm the value before approving early removal.

The Bottom Line

PMI isn't permanent, and it shouldn't be a reason to delay buying in Tampa Bay if the alternative is years of additional saving while prices keep climbing. Understanding how it's calculated, exploring loan structures that avoid it, and tracking your equity so you can request early removal are the three levers that keep PMI from costing more than it needs to.