What is mortgage insurance, and how does it apply to FHA mortgages?
Mortgage insurance is required to secure a FHA mortgage. Insurance money is collected by the lender (the bank, credit union, or savings and mortgage) and paid to the FHA. If a buyer defaults on the mortgage, the money will be returned to the lender in the form of insurance against the default. Mortgage insurance costs are typically 1 percent of the total mortgage. Private mortgage insurance may be required until 20 percent of the equity in the home has been paid.
