For most homebuyers, the biggest hurdle to owning a home is the down payment. Private mortgage insurance, or private Ml, can allow you to purchase a home with less down than what otherwise may be required.

Lenders and investors typically require mortgage insurance for loans with down payments of less than 20%. MGIC Ml provides lenders a financial guaranty should a loan go into foreclosure. It is this guaranty that allows many lenders not to require a 20% down payment when making home loans.

Here’s how it generally works:

• A borrower buying a $150,000 home makes a 10%, or $15,000, down payment.
  
  
• The lender then obtains private Ml on the borrower’s $135,000 mortgage, reducing its exposure to loss from $135,000 to $101,250.
  
  
• The private Ml covers the top portion of the mortgage – usually the top 25% to 30%. In this case, the Ml will absorb 25%, or $33,750, of any ultimate loss to the lender