Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Definition of "Private mortgage insurance (PMI)"

Paul Van Zandt real estate agent

Written by

Paul Van Zandtelite badge icon

Realty Professionals of Texas

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!

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

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 ...

Life is unpredictable so to compensate this, people have invented insurance. Insurance deals with unforeseen events. Sometimes insurance companies cover only a part of your losses and a few ...

Acquisition and employment of assets in order to maximize the return on these assets through: establishment of financial planning objectives; development of financial plans by which these ...

Policy that has an initial premium with flexible premiums thereafter. Within limits, a policy owner can select both the future amount and frequency of premiums, or can stop and start ...

The definition of special acceptance explains how two insurance institutions work together for the benefit of the masses. In order to define what special acceptance means, we must ...

Type of guaranteed insurance contract in which the term is fixed, the rate is fixed, and the contract owner does not participate in the insurance company's earnings. ...

Historical mortality table that replaced the annuity table, 1949, used for the calculation of annuity rates with more-current mortality experience at that time. This table was subsequently ...

Value in life insurance policies that entitle the insured to these choices: to relinquish the policy for its CASH SURRENDER VALUE. (Note that in the beginning years the cash value may be ...

Coverage tailored to the particular requirements of an insured, when a standard policy cannot be used to provide coverage for real or personal property. A manuscript policy is often written ...

Popular Insurance Questions