Posts tagged with 'Property Taxes'

Reverse Mortgages Eligibility Information

  • Posted on August 23, 2010 at 9:17 am

Reverse mortgages can be a great solution for seniors who wish to remain in their home but are having difficulty making their monthly payments and meeting other financial obligations. If you own your own home and is 62 years of age, the bank will actually pay you money so you can stay in your home, rather than the other way around. It is crucial to collect and understand as much reverse mortgage information as possible before deciding on whether to take out the loan.

Your home must be a single family residence in a one to four unit dwelling, a condominium or some type of manufactured home. While ccoperatives and most mobile homes are not eligible for this type of loan. The home must be at least one year old and you have to first meet with an authorized counselor.

The loan can be obtained as a lump sum payment, a fixed monthly amount or as a line of credit and the money can be used for just about any purpose such as paying property taxes or medical bills, home repairs and improvements, paying off credit cards or just daily living expenses.

The approval of loan amount depends upon your age, the amount of equity in the home, its appreciated value and current interest rates indications.

The reverse mortgage loan does not require you to pay anything until you sell the home, permanently move out, or pass away. Your loan could also become due if you do not maintain as agreed or you fail to pay property taxes/ hazard insurance and if if the last surviving borrower does not occupy the home for 12 months in a row due to illness.

The fees involved in a reverse mortgage loan are quite similar to those you would incur with a regular mortgage. These include origination fees which cover the lenders operating expenses and are currently capped at the greater of $2,000 or 2% of the maximum FHA loan limit. Apart from that you will be required to take out a mortgage insurance and pay an appraisal fee. Other costs include fees for credit reports (usually under $20), flood certification, closing and title search, document preparation, recording, courier, pest inspection and a land survey. In addition, a monthly service of $30-35 per month will be charged.

Your counselor will be your principal guide to getting correct information on reverse mortgages and should be consulted for advise before making final decisions.

Ready to Trade-In Your Home? Perhaps You Should Remodel Instead!

  • Posted on June 14, 2010 at 9:17 am

Ready to Trade-In Your Home? Perhaps You Should Remodel Instead!

Moving:
A good local real estate agent should be able to assist you with estimates on these numbers.

How much will it cost to purchase a home that will meet your needs?

How much could you sell your existing home for? Don’t forget to subtract the agent’s commission from this total.

What will it cost to move? According to real estate consultant and best-selling author of Remodel or Move, Dan Fritschen, a typical move costs 10% of the value of your home.

How much will your property taxes increase as a result of the move?

Remodeling:
What projects do you want to have done and how much will they cost? An architect or general contractor will be able to assist you with these figures.

How much will the improvements add to the value of your home, also known as the “payback”? A local real estate agent can assist with this as well.

If the decision about whether to renovate or move were purely a financial one, then it would be quite easy to look at the numbers and come to the right conclusion. However, there are also emotional factors that come into play, and they have a value as well. Let’s consider some examples.

Reasons you may want to move:

If you relocate to a new neighborhood, your children could attend superior schools.

You would like to reduce your commute or have better access to local amenities, such as restaurants and shopping.

You’re not particularly fond of your current neighborhood.

Your yard is too small, and you cannot expand it.

Reasons you may want to stay and remodel:

You’re happy with your location. It’s convenient, you love your neighbors, and the schools are either excellent or are not a factor.

You love the layout of your home.

All you need is a little more space, and your home will be perfect.

Of course only you know what is truly important for your happiness, so try to use these questions as a starting point. Create a list of the pros and cons of each scenario and leave it someplace accessible, so that you and your spouse can add to it as you think of additional factors. You may also want to consider attending open houses and visiting new housing developments to see what is available and how your home compares.

Once you’ve completed your list and your financial assessment, it’s time to draw some conclusions. Are the numbers and the emotional factors pointing you in a clear direction? If you’re still feeling unsure and would like some additional assistance, you may want to read Dan Fritschen’s book, Remodel or Move, or visit his website. Both contain a calculator that will assist you with the difficult task of quantifying the ramifications of your decision. In addition, you can learn tips to assist you with the next step, after you’ve determined what it will be.

If you choose to remodel, then you’ll need to have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish before finalizing any details with the contractor or architect. One of the most expensive things you can do is change the project midstream.

If you decide to move, then there are low-cost improvements you can make to your existing home that will help it to sell more quickly. The kitchen and the bathrooms provide the biggest return on investment in this area.

Whether you decide to remodel or buy a new home, it’s important to ensure that you have proper financing in place prior to moving forward. If you decide to purchase a home, a mortgage originator will help you to determine how much you can afford, as well as which loan package works best with your overall financial plan. In the case of remodeling, you should meet with a mortgage professional before any construction takes place. Otherwise you may severely limit the type of financing options available to you.

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