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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 (LVR < 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
VariableN/AN/A
More details

Sucasa – Ultra Low Rate (Variable) - <98% LVR - No LMI (Refinance)

    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
        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

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

              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 (Principal & Interest) (LVR < 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

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

                  Variable
                  More details

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

                    Variable
                    More details

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

                      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%)

                            Variable
                            More details

                            IMB Bank – Essentials Home Loan (Principal and Interest) (LVR 80%-90%)

                              Variable
                              More details

                              Credit Union SA – Owner Occupied Variable Home Loan Package (Principal and Interest)

                                Variable
                                More details
                                Disclosure

                                NAB – Tailored Home Loan Variable Rate - Principal and Interest LVR 60.01% - 70%

                                  Disclosure
                                  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 December 23, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                  Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning