Buying a home is considered a dream come true for most people, but you should also remember that it is a huge commitment. The repayment of your home takes up to 35 years. Thus you must protect your investment if you are no longer able to service the loan.
Providing a home for your loved ones is something everybody wants, but if the home loan has not been completely settled, it can be a burden for your dependents to service the loan.
There are two types of mortgage life insurance available in Malaysia to protect your investment: Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance (MRTA) and Mortgage Level Term Assurance (MLTA).
Which insurance is meant for me? |
What is Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance (MRTA)?
MRTA is an insurance plan with decreasing sum assured overtime to cover your outstanding home loan or mortgage owed to the bank. The bank usually offers this plan you are getting the mortgage from, as it is used as protection for the bank in the event of death or total permanent disability (TPD) that stop you from servicing the loan.
What is Mortgage Level Term Assurance (MLTA)?
On the contrary, MLTA is a slight variation from MRTA. It is an option for a borrower looking for life insurance that offers extra security plus savings and, in some policies, returns on the premium.
When you are no longer around or do not have the ability to generate income, a mortgage insurance policy frees the borrower’s dependents from any debt. The insurance company will pay off the remaining debt on repayment of mortgages.
Thus, allowing your spouse or beneficiaries to continue staying in the property debt-free without having to worry about settling the house loan.
Read More:
A 3-minute guide on Malaysia’s home insurance
Here are 6 things that you need to know before buying property in Malaysia
Comparison between MRTA and MLTA
- Applying for the MRTA is more suitable for those who do not have many dependents relying on them financially and have adequate life and medical insurance. If you do not have any other insurance, it would be advisable to get the MLTA policy.
- MRTA will service your home loan if it has not been fully repaid in the event of death or TPD. Your family members will not get any money from the policy as the beneficiary is the bank, not your family members.
- On the other hand, if you have many financial dependents, including your children or stay-at-home spouse, and are looking for extra financial protection, MLTA is the best plan for you as it has a cash value at the end policy.
- MRTA is better suited for people buying a property for long-term use as it is not easy to transfer the insurance if you plan to sell your house. Whereas MLTA can be transferred, making it ideal for investment properties.
It is important to consider that you will be able to pay the premiums for an MLTA policy throughout the duration of the loan. If it is a challenge for you to service monthly or annual premiums, it’s better to go with the MRTA insurance.
So, which insurance plan should I get?
Now that we have learned the differences between MRTA and MLTA insurance plans. Below is the comparison of the estimated payout between MRTA and MLTA based on insurance cover for the sum of RM450,000 using 6% interest over 30 years starting in 2018 for a 28-year-old homeowner:
| MRTA | MLTA | |
| Age | 28 | 28 |
| Property value | RM500,000.00 | RM500,000.00 |
| Financing percentage | 90% | 90% |
| Financing/coverage | RM450,000.00 | RM450,000.00 |
| Interest rate* | 6% | 6% |
| Premium | RM16,759.00 (one-time) | RM4,081.50 (annually) RM357.13 (monthly) |
| Total cost (30 years) | RM16,759.00 | RM122,445.00 |
| No claim cashback (30 years) | RM0 | RM184,383.00 |
| If payout of insured amount happens in 2020 | RM438,274.00 | RM450,000.00 |
* These figures are used as a reference as the interest rate will be different from one insurer to another; refer to your original policy for the actual terms.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) doesn’t require homebuyers to purchase mortgage insurance; however, many financial institutions are unlikely to lend to a home buyer if he doesn’t subscribe to a policy.
Final thoughts
Now that you’ve learned the differences between these two insurance plans, you could make the right better decision for you and your family. However, if you’re still unclear on which plans to pick, our real estate professionals could lead you in the right direction. Leave your details in the form below to get in touch with our team of experts.