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Real estate glossaryNational exam concept

Private mortgage insurance (PMI)

Private mortgage insurance protects a conventional mortgage lender against part of the loss if a borrower defaults.

Exam area: Financing

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What does “private mortgage insurance (PMI)” mean in real estate?

Private mortgage insurance protects a conventional mortgage lender against part of the loss if a borrower defaults. The borrower commonly pays the premium when the loan-to-value ratio exceeds the lender's threshold.

How is “private mortgage insurance (PMI)” different from the closest wrong answer?

PMI protects the lender, not the borrower's equity or ability to make payments. Homeowners insurance protects against covered property losses and liability.

What is the Georgia-specific rule?

PMI is a national financing concept and does not change because Georgia uses a security deed. Federal cancellation rules and loan terms govern actual removal.

Worked exam example

Scenario

A buyer makes a 10 percent down payment on a conventional loan, and the monthly housing cost includes a lender-protection premium.

What is the most common exam trap?

Trap correction

The party paying the premium is not necessarily the party receiving the insurance protection.

Original exam check

Apply the definition

A buyer puts 10 percent down on a conventional loan and pays a monthly PMI premium. If the buyer later defaults and the foreclosure sale falls short of the loan balance, whom does the PMI protect?

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Continue with Financing complete lesson. It places this term inside the full rule, worked examples, exam traps, and mixed practice required for mastery.