Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Definition of "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
Special insurance that covers warehousers liability to customers whose property is damaged by an insured peril while in the custody of an insured warehouser. Policy deductibles may range ...
Date at which an insurance policy goes into force. ...
An act or violation that consists of two wrongs: tort negligent act or omission by one or more parties against the person or property or another party or parties, liability insurance is ...
in life insurance, difference between the face value of a life insurance policy and its cash value (also known as "pure amount of protection"). ...
Waiver of an impairment of an applicant for health insurance by attaching an endorsement to the health insurance policy stating that the policy will pay no benefits in connection with the ...
Risk that substantially fails to meet the requirements OF INSURABLE RISK. ...
Agreement of two or more insurance companies to provide a product or service. ...
Insurance company that sells property and casualty insurance only to industrial insureds. These companies are separately licensed and separately capitalized to market insurance to cover the ...
Period of time of insurance coverage. If a loss occurs during this time, insurance benefits are paid. If a loss occurs after this time period has expired, no insurance benefits are paid. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.