If you just took out a mortgage, we'd advise you to look at term life insurance that would factor in your mortgage and income replacement to help care for those you'd leave behind. The typical recommendation is to have 8-10 times your income in a 20 or 30-year life insurance policy.
Does this sound like a great idea, or is it a hoax?
Let's say you own a mortgage of $250,000. The mortgage protection policy typically offers you $250,000 in term life insurance over the loan. If you pass away, the family members can take care of the debt and remain in the house. Sometimes, they're designed so that the policy will decrease in value as time passes (as you pay off the mortgage).
It would help if any representative didn't pressure you. Be patient when looking at the various alternatives. We're here to aid you with this. So, don't hesitate to contact us for a complimentary consultation or to request a custom quote.
Be wary of offers asking for personal information such as Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers. Most trustworthy companies will not solicit these details when first contacting them to find out if they would like to purchase mortgage insurance to protect you from the mortgage.
If you recently refinanced or bought your first home, you can expect to receive multiple offers from companies that sell mortgage protection insurance. Some of these offers may be frauds.
The "Return of Premium" (ROP) rider will refund the amount of premium you have paid (excluding all claims) after the period (usually between 20 and 30 years). Understanding the fine print of the ROP rider is crucial as the information can differ significantly.
The mortgage life insurance policy is specifically designed to make your mortgage payment upon loss of income or disabled. The procedure typically has the benefit of decreasing (face) value that is reduced proportionally to the declining value on your mortgage. The policy owner can name your spouse or a third party as the beneficiary so that they can pay off your loan in one single amount. Or, the beneficiary may retain the death benefit and continue to make monthly mortgage payments.
Let's say you have a $250,000 mortgage. These mortgage protection policies will usually give you $250,000 in term life insurance for the life of the mortgage. If you die, your family can pay off the loan and stay in the home. Sometimes they're structured so that the policy decreases in value over time (as you pay the mortgage).
Is mortgage protection insurance tax deductible?
No. Typically, mortgage protection life insurance premiums are not tax deductible.
PMI is typically required on a conventional mortgage if your down payment is less than 20 percent of the home's value. Mortgage protection insurance, on the other hand, is entirely optional.