horseÂ·shoe. n. 1. A flat U-shaped metal plate fitted and nailed to the bottom of a horse's hoof for protection. 2. A U-shaped object similar to a horseshoe. 3. horseshoes (used with a sing. verb) A game in which players toss horseshoes or horseshoe-shaped metal pieces at a stake so as to encircle it or come closer to it than the other players.
What is the 'Loan-To-Value Ratio - LTV Ratio'. The loan-to-value ratio (LTV ratio) is a lending risk assessment ratio that financial institutions and others lenders examine before approving a mortgage.
A mortgage's LTV ratio is a simple calculation made by dividing the amount of the loan by the value of the home. The higher the LTV ratio, the higher the risk profile of the mortgage. Most mortgages with an LTV ratio greater than 80% require private mortgage insurance (PMI) to be paid by the borrower.he Tradeoff When it comes to PMI, a borrower who has less than 20% of the sales price or value of a home to put down as a down payment has two basic options: 1  Use a stand-alone first mortgage and pay PMI until the LTV of the mortgage reaches 78%, at which point the PMI can be eliminated.