Posts tagged with 'Seniors'

Reverse Mortgages For Seniors

  • Posted on November 8, 2010 at 9:17 am

Reverse mortgage has become popular in America these days, these are special type of mortgage that helps an homeowner to convert his home equity into cash, this boost up the American older financial security by helping them to meet unexpected medical expenses, home improvement and many more.

The homeowners should be 62 years and older who has already settled any mortgage they have already got it or has remaining small amount of mortgage balance are the eligible people to take up this Reverse mortgage by HUDs.

Homeowners would be able to receive the payment in a lump sum or can receive on monthly basis for a fixed period of time or as long as they live in the house, this mortgage can be changed according to the circumstances of the homeowners, unlike other mortgages the HUDs reverse mortgage for seniors do not require repayments from the borrowers as long as they live in that home, the lender will recover the principal amount along with the interest at the time of the house being sold out, and the balance amount will be paid to the house owner or her or his survivors, incase the amount received by selling the house is not sufficient to pay the amount that has been borrowed , HUD will take up the responsibility to pay the shortage amount to the lender. The Federal Housing Administrations that is a part of HUD is responsible to collect the insurance premium from the borrowers for providing the coverage.

The amount of reverse mortgage for seniors will be decided based on the age, interest rate and the value of the house of the borrower, in this type of mortgage the older the borrower the greater the amount that is lent. For instance based on todays rate of interest 9% approximately a 65 yrs old person can borrow 26% of the value of his home and 75 yrs old person could get 39% of the value of the home and 85 yrs old man get 56% of the value of the home.

To get this reverse mortgage from the HUD you need not present any income proof or show any kind of asset, and there is also no limitation for the value of the homes that is being qualified under HUDs reverse mortgage. The home owners are charged 2% of the value of the home as up front fees plus one half percent of the balance loan amount every year and this amount can be usually paid by the lender and further charged in the principal amount borrowed by the home owner.

Reverse Mortgages Funding Retirement

  • Posted on October 11, 2010 at 9:17 am

With people living longer and longer, funding retirement can become a stressful situation. Reverse mortgages can help home owners avoid worries about cash flow.

Reverse Mortgages

Reverse mortgages are essentially a method for turning the equity in your home into cash. Although there are various options, a typical reverse mortgage will provide you with a lump sum, monthly payments or a credit line based on the equity in your home. The mortgage will have a term of a certain number of years. Instead of making payments on the loan, the bank will become the owner of the percentage of your equity applied for the loan at the end of the term.

Reverse mortgages are only available to older applicants. Every person listed on the deed of the home must be 62 years of age or older. You must also use the home as your primary residence.

The decision to pursue a reverse mortgage can be a tricky one. The biggest issue is an emotional one. We are all mentally trained to buy a home and try to build equity over the years. With a reverse mortgage, we are making the mental leap to actually reduce the equity in our homes. While this may sound like a sensible method for using the nest egg equity, it makes you, me and everyone very nervous.

For some seniors, the reverse mortgage decision makes sense while it doesnt for others. To limit the potential for problems and scams, banks are required to have senior applicants meet with unbiased third parties to determine the benefits and downside of using reverse mortgages.

If you or your parents have reached retirement age and are facing cash flow problems, you need to become flexible in dealing with finances. Reverse mortgages may be one flexible option that makes sense for your particular situation. After all, you cant take the equity in a home with you.

Reverse Mortgage is For You

  • Posted on July 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

Seniors would want to enjoy their golden years but are usually left stranded with decreasing income or the inability to increase their monthly income. One of the better ways to overcome this problem is by obtaining a loan called a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage enables homeowners older than sixty two years of age to convert the equity in their homes into tax-free income while they continue to live in that property. Seniors will be paid by the lender according to the current value of the property, in contrast with a traditional mortgage where monthly payments are made to the lender.

How do you know if a reverse mortgage is right for you and that you would not end up sleeping on the streets? Reverse mortgages are indeed an excellent option for many living in their twilight years, but will take careful planning and consideration. Since the pay out terms can be structured in a variety of ways, it is essential to look at the amount you are able to get from your home and your long term financial needs.There are of course no restrictions on the use of funds, meaning you can do anything you like with the proceeds of a reverse mortgage, including home improvements and daily expenses.

Reverse mortgages won’t affect regular Social Security or Medicare benefits. MedicAid eligibility may be affected in some instances. Counseling is a mandatory for those who wish to apply for a reverse mortgage. Look for a counselor from a government sponsored lending agency if you need them to answer all your questions convincingly or those related to benefit reductions.

Reverse mortgages is a very effective method in supplementing your post retirement income but you must be aware of how the pay out structure can positively lessen your worries on the long term financial picture. Make an informed decision. Simply view all the information available before taking up a reverse mortgage. The good news is for those who have paid the majority or their entire home, their post retirement lifestyle need not be hampered by a lack of cash flow.

Reverse Mortgage In A Nutshell

  • Posted on July 12, 2010 at 9:17 am

Reverse mortgages are becoming popular among the senior citizens. They give seniors cash in lieu of the part ownership of their home property

If you want to go for a reverse mortgage, the information below will help you:

For senior citizens above 62 years, lenders offer instant cash without any monthly repayments by converting the equity that has been build up overtime in the seniors’ home into cash.

This mortgage allows you to stay in your own home and get a monthly income which will help you sustain a comfortable standard of living.

The cash received from the mortgage is non-taxable since it is a loan and not income. The advantages seem to be very attractive but in the long term the risks far outweigh the benefits. Unlike a traditional mortgage, the lender pays you money based on the equity in the home. The lender will of course impose some strict conditions on you. You can only get a reverse on a primary residence. If you die, sell home or move out from your existing residence, you need to pay back the loan along with the accrued interest. To do that, you will have to sell off the home. Besides, if you want to leave the house as an inheritance, you will not be able to do so.

How much mortgage will I get?

You can get any amount between 10 to 40% of the value of home obtained after appraisal depending on your age, the present rate of interest and the value of the property.

Online reverse mortgage quotes can be obtained through the internet. There are lots of reverse mortgage websites,whether it be a fed site or a private lender site, which would be useful to you.

Reverse Mortgage A Seniors Financial Tool

  • Posted on June 28, 2010 at 9:17 am

Reverse mortgage is a financial tool for retiree homeowners living in their twilight years to carry on with life without having to worry about their daily expenses. But some prefer to see this as an opportunity to maximize a dream lifestyle of their choice. It is a method of acquiring cash from their home equity.

By using this type of borrowing method senior citizens can come up with money that they can use any way they want without the need to pay it back during their lifetime. If these elderly Americans can qualify they can turn their home equity into money.

The purpose of a reverse mortgage is to allow senior citizens the opportunity to receive the extra cash they require without the necessity of having to sell their house. The cash they get can provide them with the additional financial security they require and also give them a chance at enjoying their remaining years by reducing their money worries. There are several ways to receive this money including regular monthly payments, a lump sum or even as a credit line. A line of credit is the most common method people use to receive money from a reverse mortgage. Some retired persons get their money by using a combination of these methods. It’s possible to receive monthly payments while also getting a big chunk of money up front too.

The term reverse mortgage is a simple way of “reversing” a mortgage. Rather than being forced to make monthly payments by taking out a home loan people can actually receive monthly payments themselves. It’s a method for retired homeowners to increase their comfort of living by taking advantage of the equity they have built up in their home. The loan amount depends on many factors including the value of their residence, how old they are, how much equity is in the home along with other factors.

To qualify for a reverse mortgage the applicant must be 62 years of age or older. They must also own a home (single family residence), manufactured home built on or after June 1976, town home or condominium. And of course they must have a certain amount of home equity. It is not necessary to have the house paid off completely, but there must be equity in it. In other words you can still qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you have an outstanding mortgage loan.

The loan cannot exceed the home’s value, but there are no monthly income requirements and no medical prerequisites for qualification. There are few requirements, one of which is that the applicant must first meet with an approved counselor to discuss the loan or other possible options for their situation. Other than that there are very few requirements.

There are no monthly income requirements and no medical prerequisites for qualifications but with one condition that the loan cannot exceed the value of the property. Before approval of any reverse mortgage loans, it is required that the applicant must first meet with an approved counselor to discuss other possible options before taking up a reverse mortgage. Other than that there are very few requirements for its eligibility.

Avoiding A Reverse Mortgage Scam

  • Posted on March 29, 2010 at 9:17 am

Reverse mortgages are gaining in popularity as more senior’s start looking for ways to supplement their retirement incomes. And as the interest in reverse mortgages increase, so are the cases of reverse mortgage fraud and scams. Many seniors are finding that they have been conned of their hard earned equity to these reverse mortgages scams. Since reverse mortgages typically involve your most valuable asset (your home), this type of fraud can have a serious effect on your retirement.

Reverse Mortgage Scams

The are several types of reverse mortgage scams that can end up costing you thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars in equity in your home if you become a victim.

Several estate planning companies have been charging thousands of dollars for information provided free from HUD. Typically these companies charge for this information as part of an estate planning program. Seniors that take up these programs are unaware that these firms are collecting huge sums of money by charging a fee of 6 to 10 percent of the total amount borrowed. HUD has recently issued a directive to lenders that issued reverse mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to stop doing business with these companies.

Pushing reverse mortgages as a way to pay for purchases

Some companies that sell large ticket items or services, like annuities or insurance products, may try to suggest using a reverse mortgage as a way fund these purchases.

When the extra cost of the reverse mortgage is hidden into the purchase, it often ends up costing the homeowner more than its benefits.

Unethical reverse mortgage terms

Some lenders slip in excessive fees and terms into their contracts. These terms can have a a detrimental effect on a Seniors’ equity. In some cases, lenders have used shared equity or shared appreciation terms, which gives the lender the right to collect a portion of the appreciation when the home is sold or refinanced. These type provisions can run into a cost of tens of thousands as the home appreciates in equity value. These rising cost provisions swallow up equity without providing any additional benefit to the homeowner.

Protecting yourself from reverse mortgage scams

If you are looking into reverse mortgages, there are several things that you can do to protect yourself from falling victim to these types of scams.

1. Contact a HUD approved reverse mortgage counselor. The counselor will help you understand reverse mortgages and help you evaluate your situation.

2. Obtain several offers from different reverse mortgage lenders in order to compare different options. The rule of thumb is to get three separate propsals in order to mark a good comparison.
3. You will need to understand all the terms and conditions within the reverse mortgage contracts with your mortgage counselor assisting you in elaborating the details.

4. You generally have 3 business days after signing the loan document to cancel it for any reason.

File a complaint with your State Attorney General’s office, banking regulatory agency and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov if you suspect that a company violating the law.

4 Major Disadvantages Of Reverse Mortgages

  • Posted on March 15, 2010 at 9:17 am

A reverse mortgage can be an attractive option for many home-owning seniors that are having a hard time making ends meet. With a reverse mortgage, a senior homeowner will receive money for their home equity from a lender without having to make repayments for as long as they live in their home. So with the right reverse mortgage a senior homeowner can maintain their standard of living while retaining ownership of their home.

There are many differences that have to be understood between reverse mortgage’s and traditional mortgage loans because if no effort is done , they can cause financial problems for reverse mortgage borrowers.

Disadvantage No.1 – The relative cost of a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages tend to be costlier than a conventional mortgage. This is due to the rising-debt nature of reverse mortgages. A typical reverse mortgage may provide a homeowner with a 300 per month payment with a yearly interest rate of 12 percent compounded monthly. Over the course of ten years, the homeowner will rec
eive 36,000 in payments, but will owe almost 70,000-almosttwice as much as received.

Disadvantage No.2 – The complex and confusing contracts of reverse mortgages, that can have a tremendous impact on the overall cost of a reverse mortgage to the borrower. Due to the complexities in the written contract, this often allow lenders and third parties involved in arranging reverse mortgages to not fully disclose the loan’s terms or fees.

These numerous other front-end and/or back-end fees can also quickly drive up the cost of a reverse mortgage. These fees include origination fees, points, servicing fees, mortgage insurance premiums, closing costs, shared equity and shared appreciation fees.

Out of all these fees, the shared equity and appreciation fees should be avoided, it can raise the cost of the mortgage without providing any benefit to the borrowers. As an example, a shared appreciation fee can give a lender an automatic 50% interest in the difference between the current value of the home when the loan is signed and the appreciated value of the home when the loan is terminated. What makes the fees unfair is the fees have no relation to the amount that is borrowed.

Disadvantage No.3 – The reverse mortgage payments can affect eligibility for supplemental Social Security income, old age pensions or Medicaid

Senior’s may not even realize this problem until after they already have their reverse mortgage, and only then do they find out that this can have the opposite affect on a seniors finances then what they were trying to accomplish in the first place by taking out the reverse mortgage.

Disadvantage No.4 – The fact that reverse mortgages reduce the value of a senior’s assets and estate. This will largely affect the amount that will be given to the borrower’s heirs when they depart.

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