Private Equity Investing is investing into privately owned companies. A private investor can inject capital into a business that needs it. In return they will receive part-ownership in the company.

PMI lets you buy a house with less than 20 percent down -- in exchange for higher payments.

If you own a home, chances are that you have built up equity. Equity is the difference between what the home is currently worth and the current principal balance of your home mortgage loan. You can use the equity in the form of a home equity line of credit.

You can do it yourself once you have enough equity, or wait for the lender to do it for you.

Depending on your situation, there may be alternatives to expensive PMI.

Your home equity is the current value of your home less what you still owe on it. For example, if your home is valued at $250,000 and your outstanding mortgage is $120,000, your equity is $130,000. The equity you have built in your home can be a valuable source of financing. You can borrow against it to pay for your child's tuition, purchase an investment portfolio, pay for large-scale home renovations, or buy an income property. In some instances, the interest may even ...