Business and Personal Finance Dictionary
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI)
Insurance provided by private carrier that protects a lender against a loss in the event of a foreclosure and deficiency. A special form of insurance designed to permit lenders to increase their loan-to-market-value ratio, often up to 95 percent of the market value of the property. Many lenders are restricted to 80 percent loans by government regulations, special loss reserve requirements or internal management policies related to mortgage portfolio mix. A lender, however, may lend up to 95 percent of the property value if the excess of the loan amount, over 80 percent of value, is unsured by a private mortgage guaranty insurer. (See deficiency, foreclosure)Back