On or after July 1, 1998, no borrower entering into a residential mortgage transaction in which the principal amount of the loan is less than eighty percent of the fair market value of the property shall be required to obtain mortgage insurance. Fair market value for a purchase money loan is the lesser of the sales price or the appraised value. This section shall not apply to residential mortgage transactions in an amount in excess of the maximum limits established by institutional third parties where the borrower and the lender have agreed in writing to mortgage insurance.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 61.10.040

  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgage insurance: means insurance, including mortgage guarantee insurance, against financial loss by reason of nonpayment of principal, interest, and other sums agreed to be paid in a residential mortgage transaction. See Washington Code 61.10.010
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
  • Residential mortgage transaction: means entering into a loan for personal, family, household, or purchase money purposes that is secured by a deed of trust or mortgage on owner-occupied, one-to-four unit, residential real property located in the state of Washington. See Washington Code 61.10.010
A lender or person servicing a residential mortgage transaction who complies with federal requirements, as now or hereafter enacted, governing the requirement of obtaining mortgage insurance shall be deemed in compliance with this section.