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How much you might fork out for lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), or whether you have to pay it at all, will depend on how large a deposit you’re able to put down on your new home. If yours is less than 20% of your dream property’s value, you might want to read up on LMI.

How much is LMI?

The amount you might be asked to pay for LMI will depend on a number of factors, the biggest one being your loan-to-value ratio (LVR). That is, how much you're borrowing via a home loan compared to the value of the property you’re using it to purchase.

For instance, if your dream home comes with a price tag of $500,000 and you’ve saved up a $50,000 deposit, you’ll need to borrow $450,000 to purchase it. In such an instance, your LVR will be 90% (450,000/500,000=0.9) and you’ll probably be asked to pay LMI.

Fortunately, lenders often allow a homeowner to fold LMI into their home loan. While that means a buyer won’t need to fork out the cash upfront, they will have to pay interest on it.

How do you calculate LMI?

LMI can cost a buyer thousands, or even tens of thousands in some cases. If you’re wondering how much LMI could cost you, feel free to plug the details of your property purchase into the above calculator.

Continuing from the above example, if someone were to snap up a $500,000 property with a $50,000 deposit (an LVR of 90%), their LMI will likely come out at around $8,190. That figure could be lower if they bought a more affordable property or saved a larger deposit.

It’s also worth mentioning that LMI is often calculated using a property’s value, rather than its price. Your lender will likely determine a property’s value, so if you’ve paid overs for a house, you might find yourself unexpectedly paying LMI.

Property value

LMI payable (5% deposit)

LMI payable (10% deposit) 

LMI payable (15% deposit)

LMI payable (20% deposit) 

$400,000

$15,428

$6,552

$3,390

$0

$500,000

$19,285

$8,190

$4,237

$0

$600,000

$31,008

$9,828

$5,100

$0

$700,000

$36,176

$12,600

$5,950

$0

$800,000

$41,344

$14,400

$6,800

$0

$900,000

$46,512

$18,711

$9,104

$0

$1,000,000

$51,680

$20,790

$10,115

$0

Source: Savings.com.au's LMI Calculator.

If the figures on the above chart have you cringing, you’re likely not alone. Buying a house is already an expensive exercise without having to pay for insurance that you won’t benefit from. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid paying LMI.


Looking for a home loan?

Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans
with some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.

Lender

Variable
More details
4.6 Star Customer Ratings
  • Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
  • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
  • Quick and easy online application process.
Disclosure
4.6 Star Customer Ratings

loans.com.au – Variable Home Loan P&I <90%

  • Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit needed to qualify.
  • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
  • Quick and easy online application process.
Disclosure
Variable
More details
Apply in minutes
  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
Disclosure
Apply in minutes

Unloan – Variable Rate Home Loan LVR < 80%

  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
Disclosure
Variable
More details
  • No annual fees – None!
  • Get fast pre-approval
  • Unlimited additional repayments free of charge
Disclosure

Ubank (part of NAB) – Neat home loan - max. 60% LVR (Owner occupied, Principal and interest)

  • No annual fees – None!
  • Get fast pre-approval
  • Unlimited additional repayments free of charge
Disclosure
Variable
More details
Disclosure

Macquarie Bank – Basic Home Loan (Owner Occupier, Principal and Interest, max 60% LVR)

    Disclosure
    Variable
    More details

    AMP – Essential Home Loan (Owner Occupied, Principal and Interest, $750,000+, <= LVR 60%)

      Variable
      More details

      Great Southern Bank – Offset Variable - Owner Occupier Principal & Interest (LVR is 70%)

        Variable
        More details

        Bank of Queensland – Owner Occupied Economy Discount Rate (max 80% LVR)

          Variable
          More details

          Bendigo Bank – Complete Home Loan (OO P&I 60% - 80%)

            Variable
            More details
            Disclosure

            Macquarie Bank – Offset Home Loan (Owner Occupier, Principal and Interest, max LVR 60%)

              Disclosure
              Variable
              More details
              Disclosure

              ANZ – Simplicity PLUS Home Loan (Principal and Interest) (LVR < 70%) (New Customer) Special offer

                Disclosure
                VariableN/A
                More details
                Disclosure

                Commonwealth Bank – Extra Home Loan (Principal and Interest) (LVR 60%-70%)

                  Disclosure
                  VariableN/AN/A
                  More details
                  Disclosure

                  Westpac – Flexi First Option Home Loan (Promo) - Principal & Interest (LVR 70-80%)

                    Disclosure
                    Variable
                    More details

                    ING – Mortgage Simplifier ($150k+ where LVR >90% - O/Occ) P&I

                      Variable
                      More details
                      Disclosure

                      NAB – Tailored Home Loan Variable Rate - Principal and Interest LVR 60% or less

                        Disclosure
                        Variable
                        More details
                        Disclosure

                        Ubank (part of NAB) – Neat home loan - max. 80% LVR (Owner occupied, Principal and interest)

                          Disclosure
                          Variable
                          More details
                          • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
                          • Available for refinance or purchases. Quick and easy online application process.
                          • Dedicated loan specialist throughout the loan application.
                          • Discounted interest rate for 5 years for homes with an eligible solar system
                          Disclosure

                          loans.com.au – Solar Home Loan P&I <90%

                          • No application, ongoing monthly or annual fees.
                          • Available for refinance or purchases. Quick and easy online application process.
                          • Dedicated loan specialist throughout the loan application.
                          • Discounted interest rate for 5 years for homes with an eligible solar system
                          Disclosure
                          Variable
                          More details

                          MOVE Bank – Offset Home Loan (Principal & Interest) LVR <80%

                            Variable
                            More details

                            Athena Home Loans – Straight Up Owner Occupied - Obliterate (LVR < 50%) (Principal and Interest)

                              Variable
                              More details

                              Heritage Bank – Home Advantage Variable $250,000 to $699,999 >70% to 80%

                                Variable
                                More details

                                BankSA – Basic Home Loan for Owner Occupier P&I (Promo) (LVR below 70%)

                                  Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                  Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of January 24, 2025. View disclaimer.

                                  Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning