Mortgage Insurance


Mortgage Insurance

An insurance policy that provides coverage to a lender in the event that a borrower defaults on a mortgage. This ensures that the lender does not incur a loss if the borrower is unable to repay the loan. While the lender pays the premium, it generally passes on payment to the borrower (and may roll it into the monthly mortgage payment). A lender may require a borrower to pay for mortgage insurance in certain high risk situations. See also: Loan-to-Value Ratio.

Mortgage Insurance

Insurance provided the lender against loss on a mortgage in the event of borrower default.

In the U.S., all FHA and VA mortgages are insured by the federal government. On other mortgages, the general practice is to require mortgage insurance from a private mortgage insurer when the loan amount exceeds 80% of property value. Borrowers pay the insurance premium in all cases. See Private Mortgage Insurance.