Reverse mortgages are increasing in popularity as a way to turn home equity into a liquid asset. Before you jump on a reverse mortgage, you need to understand the impact it can have on government benefits.
Reverse Mortgages and Government Benefits
The beauty of home ownership is found in the value of time. The longer you own a home, the more valuable it becomes to you as an asset. On one hand, you are paying off the mortgage over time, which is increasing the equity you have in your property. On the other, real estate tends to appreciate over time. This double whammy is what makes home ownership so attractive.
As your grow older and retire, converting your home equity into usable cash becomes an issue. Reverse mortgages are touted as a solution. A reverse mortgage is essentially a loan against your equity that does not need to be repaid until an event happens, usually the sale of the home. Essentially, you have reversed the process of a traditional mortgage. The lender is now giving you money in exchange for a piece of your home equity. You can get payments in lump sums, monthly or through credit lines depending upon the particular package you go with. As time passes, the equity in your home is reduced, but you have a solid and predictable monthly revenue source.
In recent years, the government has tried to find methods for reducing the amount of benefits they pay out to citizens. One of the factors they like to use is the asset value you hold. If you have a certain amount of assets, your benefits are reduced or terminated because they government takes the position you do not need them. An analysis of government benefits is beyond the scope of this article, but reverse mortgages have an impact.
Generally, taking a reverse mortgage on your home will not affect Medicare or social security benefits. This is true, however, only so long as you spend the full amount you receive each month. The magic number in this equation is $2,000 for single homeowners and $3,000 for couples. The government is always playing with benefit issues, so make sure you get up to date information on the situation. You want to understand what you are getting into, particularly if you are heavily reliant on Medicare for the payment of medical bills.
In general, reverse mortgages do not impact most government benefits. That being said, make sure to get an informed opinion on exactly what will happen before you agree to a reverse mortgage.
Reverse Mortgages A Tax Free Income For Senior Citizens
I fully realize if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is and There Aint No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (TANSTAAFL) immediately jumped into your head when you read the title of this article. However, if you are 62 or over, you may have just found the goose that laid the golden egg.
A reverse mortgage is exactly what the name implies. Rather than you paying a monthly sum of money to a mortgage company, a mortgage company pays you. There are three types of reverse mortgages and all have the same eligibility requirements.
You must be at least 62, live in, and own, your home and sign a contract. You must also have equity in your home and the inherent interest rate is based on what the lender is currently charging (more about this later) on non-reverse mortgages. The lender, by the way, will also have your property appraised for which you may or may not be charged.
There are no income restrictions such as those imposed by Social Security and most are tax free since they do not involve additional features such as an attached annuity. They also do not affect your social security benefits nor your Medicare entitlements.
This article discusses only those mortgages without additional features. Should you wish to know more about reverse mortgages with additional features, consult with a competent tax professional to reduce the chances of running afoul of tax laws.
The FTCs website, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/online/pubs/homes/rms.htm has an excellent article on reverse mortgages but it also does not discuss mortgages with additional features. Another reason to consult with a tax professional.
This tool called reverse mortgage is actually a loan, hence an interest rate, which allows senior citizens, or as some say, the elderly, to convert part of their equity into cash without having to sell their home. Because it is a loan in reverse you are receiving a monthly sum and not paying a monthly amount while you live in your home.
However, this loan must be repaid and repaid with interest should you sell, die, no longer live their as your principal residence or reach the end of the pre-selected loan period. You remain responsible to pay real estate taxes, insurance and all attendant maintenance expenses which, of course, you would have to pay with, or without, a reverse mortgage.
With this explanation, the picture becomes more focused, right? You enjoy a monthly sum, tax free and non-repayable until a date sometime in the future, while remaining in your home. As close to a win-win situation as one can get in this day and age.
It doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize anyone who is cash poor but house rich should at least investigate this tool. However, like any other instrument involving your signature on the dotted line involving financial obligation, you must have some preliminary information.
I mentioned there are three types of reverse mortgages. The first is the single purpose reverse mortgage. These are offered by some sate and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
They may not be available in your area. Call your countys Department of Senior Services. Their phone number is in the white pages under the listing for your county.
Single purpose means exactly that. The proceeds may be used for only the purpose specified by the lender and generally are only made to people with low or moderate incomes. If you call your county, be sure to ask if their reverse mortgage is a single purpose and what are the limits.
The second type of reverse mortgage is called a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). The federal government insures these mortgages and they are backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The up front costs are generally high especially if you plan on staying in your home for a short period of time but they carry no income or medical restrictions and can be used for any purpose.
HECMs also require all applicants to meet with a counselor from an independent government approved housing counseling agency. The FTC says, The counselor must explain the loans costs, financial implications, and alternatives. For example, counselors should tell you about government or nonprofit programs for which you may qualify, and any single-purpose or proprietary reverse mortgages available in your area.
An additional benefit of an HECM mortgage is the nursing home clause. Should a borrower have to move out of her home and into a nursing home or other medical facility, she has up to 12 months before the loan becomes due. This enhances financial planning.
The third type is called a proprietary reverse mortgage. These are private loans backed by the companies offering them. In other words, they are NOT government insured. Like HECMs, the upfront cost could be high for a proprietary reverse mortgage.
A reverse mortgage, cost wise, is like a non-reverse mortgage. The lender usually charges loan origination fees, closing costs, insurance premiums (for insured loans) and service fees which are all set by the lender.
Fortunately, like non-reverse mortgages, the federal Truth In Lending Act (TILA) applies to reverse mortgages. This means the lender MUST disclose the costs and terms of the reverse mortgage you are considering.
The annual percentage rate (APR) and payment terms must be prominently displayed and not in the fine print. If you choose a credit line as your loan, lenders must tell you the charges related to not only opening but using this credit account.
Another word about the interest rate since it too mirrors the non-reverse mortgage. Just as with a non-reverse mortgage, an interest rate can be fixed or variable with variable rates tied to a financial index. This means the rate will change as the index changes.
TILA forces the lender to disclose this information. TILA does not force the lender to tell you the reverse mortgage may, or may not, use up all of your equity. If a non-recourse clause is included in the contract, and most have them, you must be told you will not owe more than the value of your home when the loan is repaid. This is a good thing.
Of the three, the HECM is the most flexible. It lets you select the way you receive your money. For example, you can receive fixed monthly cash advances for a specified period or for as long as you live in your home. Or, if you choose, you can receive a line of credit.
A line of credit allows you to draw on the loan proceeds when you want and how much you want. The HECM allows a combination of the two choices. You can receive a monthly payment plus a line of credit.
The key is to read and understand every clause in the contract before signing and do not be afraid to ask questions about what you dont understand. Dont let a huge monthly payment cloud your judgment and decision making ability.
Both HUD and the FTC have toll free numbers and websites to help you in making an informed decision. HUD can be called at 1-888-466-3487 with their web address at:
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopen.cfm while the FTC can be called at 1-877-382-4357 with their web address at: http://www.ftc.gov/credit
After reading the above information you may have decided the goose with the golden eggs is really a vulture waiting to pounce on your carcass. Or, you may have decided the gooses eggs are worth your time and attention. Either way, you are now a more informed consumer.
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Reverse mortgages are increasing in popularity as a way to turn home equity into a liquid asset. Before you jump on a reverse mortgage, you need to understand the impact it can have on government benefits.
The beauty of home ownership is found in the value of time. The longer you own a home, the more valuable it become. On one hand, you are paying off the mortgage over time, which is increasing the equity you have in your property. The other finds your real estate appreciate over time. This double whammy is what makes home ownership so attractive.
Retirement and old age will become an issue when you need to convert your home equity into usable cash. Reverse mortgages are touted as a solution. A reverse mortgage is a loan against your equity that does not need to be repaid until an event happens, usually the sale of the home or your death.. Essentially, you have reversed the process of a traditional mortgage. The lender is now giving you money in exchange for a piece of your home equity. Payments are expedited in lump sums, monthly or through credit lines depending upon the particular package you go with. As the clock ticks, the equity in your home is reduced, but you will have a reliable and predictable monthly revenue source.
Over the years, the fed has tried to find ways to reduce the amount of benefits they pay out to citizens. One of the factors they like to use is the asset value you hold. If you have a certain amount of assets, your benefits are reduced or terminated because they government takes the position you do not need them. An analysis of government benefits is beyond the scope of this article, but reverse mortgages have an impact.
Basically, be assured that taking a reverse mortgage on your home will not affect Medicare or social security benefits. This is true, however, only so long as you spend the full amount you receive each month. The government is always playing with benefit issues, so make sure you get up to date information on the situation. You will want to understand what you are getting into, particularly if you rely heavily on Medicare for the payment of medical bills.
In general, reverse mortgages do not impact most government benefits. That being said, make sure to get an informed opinion on exactly what will happen before you agree to a reverse mortgage.
A reverse mortgage is a special type of loan that home owners can sometimes get to convert the equity in their homes to cash. Basically, a reverse mortgage is a type of loan that provides you with a monthly income, a lump sum of cash, or a line of credit.
This reverse mortgage concept was for retirees keen in keeping their homes but whose incomes aren’t sufficient to support their lifestyle, and is used to help people on low incomes to pay for daily expenses, huge medical bills or the odd house maintenance and repair costs. Reverse mortgage also pays off your existing loan, if you have any.
Reverse mortgages appeal to older adults because of the lump sum loan advances, which are not taxable. It does not generally affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits. Another advantage of reverse mortgages is the different withdrawal options that you can choose from. These options include lump sum pay outs, line of credit, monthly payments, or any combination of these three. So if you were eligible to borrow $250,000 on a reverse mortgage you could select to receive $75,000 up front to cover current expenses, and hold the rest as a line of credit that you can use whenever you need it. This flexibility of reverse mortgages can significantly improve you financial independence during retirement
The disadvantage is the relative cost of a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages tend to be very expensive when compared with a traditional mortgage. This is due to the rising-debt nature of the reverse mortgage concept. Another disadvantage is the payments from a reverse mortgage loan can can affect the eligibility for old age pensions, or supplemental Social Security income.
Considering these facts, reverse mortgage are definitely an option to look up to if you are looking for ways to supplement your current income. As with any financial decision, sought advice from trained and licensed financial professional to analyze and determine if a reverse mortgage is right for in your unique circumstances.