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

Publication that lists premiums charged for products sold by an insurance company. A manual also has underwriting guidelines for agents. A life insurance rate manual includes minimum ...

Coverage for crops in the event of loss or damage by insured perils including hail, fire, and lightning. Prior to the passage of the Federal Crop Insurance Act in 1938 it was virtually ...

Maximum amount of insurance coverage that an underwriter will write on a particular class of property or risk exposure. ...

Additional amount of surplus from an additional amount of capital necessary to act as a supplement to the cash flow in the event unforeseen contingencies occur that disrupt or impair the ...

Pension funding agreement under which funds paid into a retirement plan are not currently allocated to purchase retirement benefits. The funds of one plan can not be commingled with funds ...

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 ...

Damaged insured property in receipt by the insurance company resulting from abandonment and salvage, subrogation, and reinsurance. ...

Replacement for the earlier Family Automobile Policy (FAP) with these nine basic coverages: Coverage A Liability, The company pays damages for which an insured becomes legally obligated ...

Tax-exempt entity as qualified under Section 501 (c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. The VEBA usually provides its members and their dependents and beneficiaries with paid life insurance, ...

Popular Insurance Questions