What is mortgage insurance typically required?

Mortgage insurance is typically required when a borrower makes a down payment of less than 20% of the home's purchase price. It protects the lender in case the borrower defaults on the loan, reducing the lender's risk. This insurance can be in the form of private mortgage insurance (PMI) for conventional loans or mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for FHA loans. Borrowers often pay this insurance as part of their monthly mortgage payments or as an upfront fee.