Lenders Mortgage Insurance is a fee paid by the borrower (in this case, you) to protect the lender (the institution giving you the money) against any potential loss if you are unable to repay your home loan.
It can be paid upfront as a one-off fee, or be built into your home loan repayments – and the amount varies depending on the lender.
If your deposit is less than 20% of the property’s value, it means your Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) is more than 80%. Borrowers with an LVR of more than 80% are usually required to pay for LMI, because it’s considered to be a higher risk to the lender.