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
Inland marine policy addition that provides coverage to owners of sheep, and to warehouseowners who store wool as well as wool in transit. ...
Coverage to indemnify an owner for whom work was done if the completed work is not free of worker's liens for labor and material. ...
Professional designation conferred by the American College. In addition to professional business experience in insurance planning and related areas, recipients must pass national ...
Regulatory: representative of the commissioner of insurance who conducts an audit of the insurance company's records. Life and Health: physician appointed by an insurance company to ...
Phrase describing a form of joint tenancy ownership where property passes to the survivors when one party dies. ...
Insurance company's net gain from operations divided by its adjusted surplus. This is the accounting rate of return on stockholder's equity since the ratio shows the rate of return the ...
Relinquishment of rights in an insurance policy or pension plan. For example, by withdrawing contributions to a pension plan, an employee forfeits future retirement benefits under that plan. ...
Modified premium used to calculate cash surrender values in excess of that required by the naic: standard NON FORFEITURE LAW. ...
Plan for excess layer (s) of insurance coverage over the primary coverage, for example, if a corporation buys $8 million as excess above a $2 million self insurance retention level. Excess ...

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