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
Property, liability, or health coverage above the primary amount of insurance. For example, the primary coverage is $100,000 and the excess insurance is $1 million. After the losses exceed ...
form of BOILER AND MACHINERY INSURANCE that covers power generating plants. form of BUSINESS INCOME COVERAGE FORM that covers a utility customer's losses resulting from interruption of ...
Insurance that covers each and every loss except for those specifically excluded. If the insurance company does not specifically exclude a particular loss, it is automatically covered. ...
Coverage for suits brought by a plaintiff as the result of bodily injury incurred while using an elevator on the insured's premises. ...
Coverage on real property written to have no time limit. A single deposit premium pays for insurance for the life of the risk. The insurer earns enough investment income on the deposit to ...
Legal procedure through which a court determines the rightful claimant (of two or more claimants making the same claim) against a third party. Insurance companies use interpleader if claims ...
number of serious injuries per 1,000,000 employee-hours worked. ...
Claim, such as a worker's lien, to property under the care, custody, and control of another. This situation occurs when a worker is not paid for labor provided. For example, a carpenter ...
Insurance written on the personal and real property of an individual (or individuals) to include such policies as the home owners insurance policy and personal automobile policy. ...

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