Here’s the good news: Property values continue to rebound after the Great Recession. In fact, Zillow.com reports that the median home value in the U.S. now stands at $180,800—an increase of 3.3% in just the last year. 1 So what’s the bad news? According to BloombergBusiness, housing represents 67% of the total wealth held by most Americans—a figure that includes personal savings, investments, and even workplace retirement accounts. 2 Given these statistics, it’s easy to see why so many new homeowners are eager to purchase mortgage insurance from their lenders. That way, if something tragic happens, they can be sure that the lenders will be paid in full and that their families will retain ownership of this valuable asset. Be sure to consider all the options. It’s important, however, for homeowners to realize that there are other ways to protect the lifestyle and wealth of their families. Personally owned life insurance, for example, can perform many of the same func...