Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
The concept behind a Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is pretty simple: it exists to make sure the lender doesn’t lose its money.
What it does is “buy” the possible defaults of a borrower to a lender. Meaning: if the borrower doesn’t pay the premium, the Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) enters in action and pays it on his/her behalf.
The PMI cost is usually included in the monthly mortgage payment in addition to the principal, homeowner’s insurance, property tax and interest, and just like them, it is a separate thing; it doesn’t build equity to your home.
Why do it?
Well, most of the time you don’t have an option; it is a requirement from the Lender that you get Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) in order to be able to borrow the money. However, it truly can be good for both parties: the lender doesn’t lose money and the borrower can get a house even if he doesn’t have the whole 20% of the home’s value to use as down payment, since lenders sometimes waive the need of it because of the safety provided by the Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
Real estate Tips:
One of the greatest insurances in the world is knowledge! Devour our Real Estate Terms and use our Real Estate Agent Directory to contact a local real estate agent when you're ready to go into the market for/with your house!
Popular Insurance Terms
Life insurance company agency that sells ordinary life insurance and industrial life insurance. ...
Technique designed to permit the exchange of a life insurance policy that has an outstanding loan charged against it for another life insurance policy on a tax-free basis. The procedure is ...
Relationship between occupation of an insured and degree of risk in such coverages as life, health, and workers compensation. Some occupations are more risky than others; for example, a ...
Layman description of the key features and benefits of a pension plan that must be filed with the Department of Labor. Periodic updates of this summary must also be provided to the ...
Same as term Accidental Death Clause: in a life insurance policy, benefit in addition to the death benefit paid to the beneficiary, should death occur due to an accident. In double ...
Salesperson who markets and services insurance policies in the state in which he or she is domiciled. ...
Employee benefit insurance plan under which an employer pays the entire direct cost of the plan; employees do not share in the cost, except perhaps through comparatively lower wages. ...
Written notice, to be submitted by the claimant, required by the insurance company in the event of an insured peril. This notice is part of the standard property and casualty insurance ...
Professional designation earned after the successful completion of four national examinations given by the insurance institute of America (IIA). Covers such areas of expertise as principles ...

Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.