<prompt> Human: We bought the home at 431k, we put down 40-50k at the time and owed 375k. After applying a sizable inheritance recently received toward principle, we now owe around 175k. We contacted our mortgage company to ask about removing PMI and they told us that in order to do so we would have to order an appraisal to ensure the house value supports the loan-to-value ratio at 80 or 70, I cant remember. It seems odd that after putting such a substantial amount against principal and taking our loan down so far that we would need to pay for an appraisal in order to remove PMI. Its not that expensive, so well do it if we have to, it just seems silly in this kind of situation. Does this request for us to pay for an appraisal seem right?  <response>: Yes it does. Its probably in the paperwork you signed too. 