When we purchased the home we were told that we could request for the PMI to be removed at 80%. We confirmed that we could pay it down sooner and remove the PMI sooner. The lender also told us that as home prices increased and as we made improvements to the home we could have it re-appraised and our extra payments and the added equity in the home would make it so we could hit 80% sooner. When we had done improvements and the market had gone way up, we called and asked about removing PMI. That is when they said they would not do it based on a new appraisal. They would stick with the original home value. But they did still give us the original date that we'd hit the 80% and said they would stick to that. But now that you've confirmed that the PMI can definitely be removed early (provided we have hit 80%), I will still be able to get out of it in the next few months.