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Are Reverse Mortgages Good in a Slumping Housing Market?
Top Ten Things to Know if You're Interested in a Reverse Mortgage
Reverse Mortgages are becoming popular in America. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created one of the first. HUD's Reverse Mortgage is a federally-insured private loan, and it's a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements, and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages by calling AARP at: 1-800-209-8085, toll-free. Since your home is probably your largest single investment, it's smart to know more about reverse mortgages, and decide if one is right for you!
1. What is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of the equity in his or her home into cash. The equity built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to you. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence. HUD's reverse mortgage provides these benefits, and it is federally-insured as well.
2. Can I qualify for a HUD reverse mortgage?
To be eligible for a HUD reverse mortgage, HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that the borrower is a homeowner, 62 years of age or older; own your home outright, or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at the closing with proceeds from the reverse loan; and must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from HUD-approved counseling sources prior to obtaining the loan. You can contact the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse on 1-800-569-4287 to obtain the name and telephone number of a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA approved lenders within your area.
3. Can I apply if I didn't buy my present house with FHA mortgage insurance?
Yes. It doesn't matter if you didn't buy it with an FHA-insured mortgage. Your new HUD reverse mortgage will be a new FHA-insured mortgage loan.
4. What types of homes are eligible?
Your home must be a single family dwelling or a two-to-four unit property that you own and occupy. Townhouses, detached homes, units in condominiums and some manufactured homes are eligible. Condominiums must be FHA-approved. It is possible for individual condominiums units to qualify under the Spot Loan program.
5. What's the difference between a reverse mortgage and a bank home equity loan?
With a traditional second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, you must have sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and you are required to make monthly mortgage payments. The reverse mortgage is different in that it pays you, and is available regardless of your current income. The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow. You don't make payments, because the loan is not due as long as the house is your principal residence. Like all homeowners, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes and other conventional payments like utilities, but with an FHA-insured HUD Reverse Mortgage, you cannot be foreclosed or forced to vacate your house because you "missed your mortgage payment."
6. Can the lender take my home away if I outlive the loan?
No! You do not need to repay the loan as long as you or one of the borrowers continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. You can never owe more than your home's value.
7. Will I still have an estate that I can leave to my heirs?
When you sell your home or no longer use it for your primary residence, you or your estate will repay the cash you received from the reverse mortgage, plus interest and other fees, to the lender. The remaining equity in your home, if any, belongs to you or to your heirs. None of your other assets will be affected by HUD's reverse mortgage loan. This debt will never be passed along to the estate or heirs.
8. How much money can I get from my home?
The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow.
9. Should I use an estate planning service to find a reverse mortgage?
I've been contacted by a firm that will give me the name of a lender for a "small percentage" of the loan? HUD does NOT recommend using an estate planning service, or any service that charges a fee just for referring a borrower to a lender! HUD provides this information without cost, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free, or at minimal cost, to provide information, counseling, and free referral to a list of HUD-approved lenders. Call 1-800-569-4287, toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.
10. How do I receive my payments?
You have five options:
Tenure - equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence.
Term - equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected.
Line of Credit - unscheduled payments or in installments, at times and in amounts of borrower's choosing until the line of credit is exhausted.
Modified Tenure - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for as long as the borrower remains in the home.
Modified Term - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.
Source: HUD (Housing and Urban Development)
How should Reverse Mortgage be approached in a Slumping Housing Market?
Reverse Mortgages are becoming popular in America. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created one of the first. HUD's Reverse Mortgage is a federally-insured private loan, and it's a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements, and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages by calling AARP at: 1-800-209-8085, toll-free. Since your home is probably your largest single investment, it's smart to know more about reverse mortgages, and decide if one is right for you!
1. What is a reverse mortgage?
A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of the equity in his or her home into cash. The equity built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to you. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence. HUD's reverse mortgage provides these benefits, and it is federally-insured as well.
2. Can I qualify for a HUD reverse mortgage?
To be eligible for a HUD reverse mortgage, HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that the borrower is a homeowner, 62 years of age or older; own your home outright, or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at the closing with proceeds from the reverse loan; and must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from HUD-approved counseling sources prior to obtaining the loan. You can contact the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse on 1-800-569-4287 to obtain the name and telephone number of a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA approved lenders within your area.
3. Can I apply if I didn't buy my present house with FHA mortgage insurance?
Yes. It doesn't matter if you didn't buy it with an FHA-insured mortgage. Your new HUD reverse mortgage will be a new FHA-insured mortgage loan.
4. What types of homes are eligible?
Your home must be a single family dwelling or a two-to-four unit property that you own and occupy. Townhouses, detached homes, units in condominiums and some manufactured homes are eligible. Condominiums must be FHA-approved. It is possible for individual condominiums units to qualify under the Spot Loan program.
5. What's the difference between a reverse mortgage and a bank home equity loan?
With a traditional second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, you must have sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and you are required to make monthly mortgage payments. The reverse mortgage is different in that it pays you, and is available regardless of your current income. The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow. You don't make payments, because the loan is not due as long as the house is your principal residence. Like all homeowners, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes and other conventional payments like utilities, but with an FHA-insured HUD Reverse Mortgage, you cannot be foreclosed or forced to vacate your house because you "missed your mortgage payment."
6. Can the lender take my home away if I outlive the loan?
No! You do not need to repay the loan as long as you or one of the borrowers continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. You can never owe more than your home's value.
7. Will I still have an estate that I can leave to my heirs?
When you sell your home or no longer use it for your primary residence, you or your estate will repay the cash you received from the reverse mortgage, plus interest and other fees, to the lender. The remaining equity in your home, if any, belongs to you or to your heirs. None of your other assets will be affected by HUD's reverse mortgage loan. This debt will never be passed along to the estate or heirs.
8. How much money can I get from my home?
The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow.
9. Should I use an estate planning service to find a reverse mortgage?
I've been contacted by a firm that will give me the name of a lender for a "small percentage" of the loan? HUD does NOT recommend using an estate planning service, or any service that charges a fee just for referring a borrower to a lender! HUD provides this information without cost, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free, or at minimal cost, to provide information, counseling, and free referral to a list of HUD-approved lenders. Call 1-800-569-4287, toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.
10. How do I receive my payments?
You have five options:
Tenure - equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence.
Term - equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected.
Line of Credit - unscheduled payments or in installments, at times and in amounts of borrower's choosing until the line of credit is exhausted.
Modified Tenure - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for as long as the borrower remains in the home.
Modified Term - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.
Source: HUD (Housing and Urban Development)
How should Reverse Mortgage be approached in a Slumping Housing Market?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brian Turner on -
Is A Reverse Mortgage Right For You?
Staff Writers
A reverse mortgage is one option homeowners aged 62 or older may use as a way to tap into the equity they have built up in their house or condominium. It gives them the money they need to stay in their home and, possibly, to make needed improvements and modifications for safety and accessibility. It also helps many seniors stay at home while paying for home care and medical bills.
How? If your home is paid off or you have only a small mortgage left, you can get a reverse mortgage that allows you to use the equity in your home without selling or moving. These mortgages are called reverse mortgages because the lender makes payments to you, the homeowner, not the other way around.
The money you will receive is likely to be tax-free and will not affect Social Security payments or Medicare benefits. You do not have to pay off the loan until the last borrower moves out of the house or the home is sold. You or your heirs will never owe more than the value of the home at the time of repayment, even if the loan balance is higher than the value of your property. No debt will be passed on to your heirs. Reverse mortgage funds are available to spend any way you choose.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for most reverse mortgages, you must be 62 years or older. (If you are a married couple the younger partner must be age 62.) You must also either own the home outright or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off with the proceeds from the reverse loan. You must also live in the home. Like all homeowners, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes and other conventional payments like utilities.
Cautions and Things to Remember
Be sure to work with a reputable lender, consult with your financial advisor if you have one, and do your homework before you make any commitments or sign any documents.
Investigate the costs involved in a reverse mortgage before making the decision. Closing costs and fees may amount to more than 5% of your home’s value.
If you plan to live in your home for at least three years, a reverse mortgage can make good financial sense. However, if you know you won’t stay in your home that long, then the cost of getting the loan may outweigh the benefits.
Using the equity in your home will reduce the amount of money you leave to your family as inheritance
Being an Informed Borrower
Remember, a reverse mortgage is a kind of loan. And, as with any loan, there are fees and interest that must eventually be paid. Think of it this way: a reverse mortgage gradually reduces the amount of equity you have in your home by the amount of the payments advanced to you, plus interest on the amount advanced, plus any fees you finance as part of the deal.
So, being an informed, careful borrower is important. Get all the facts. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand. And don’t sign on the dotted line without discussing your situation with a trusted advisor, friend, or loved one. In short, be sure to select a reverse mortgage lender and type of loan (for example, HECM or Home Keeper mortgage) with the same care and attention you would bring to any major investment decision.
For More Information
You can call the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse at 1-800-569-4287 to obtain contact information for a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA-approved lenders in your area.
The AARP offers information about reverse mortgages, including an online calculator you can use to find out how much money you may get from a reverse mortgage.
The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) website includes information for consumers who are interested in learning more about reverse mortgages.
To learn more about red flags to watch out for, see the recent article “Tapping Into Homes Can Be Pitfall for the Elderly” in the New York Times. (Free registration may be required to access the website.)
Source: www.RightatHome.net Newsletter
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