Why You Should Consider Getting A Reverse Mortgage

A few years ago, if you had told someone that you had a reverse mortgage, you would have gotten a look that said, “Oh, I’m sorry you had to take one of those.” It was considered a product of the destitute. Today, you are more likely to have a conversation of curiosity. People will want to know what you think about the experience.
It’s true. Reverse mortgages have gone mainstream. They are enjoying unprecedented popularity, and not only among those who “need” the money. Seniors are now using reverse mortgages to help pay for the “wants” in their retirement years. As of 2007 more than 300,000 senior have used the FHA HECM program to tap the equity in their homes. Reverse mortgages are growing by leaps and bounds every year and are now the fastest growing segment of the mortgage industry. Indeed, as education about the real benefits of the reverse mortgage has spread, the informed senior as well as their advisors, have embraced this innovative product.
The reverse mortgage, a loan product that gives homeowners age 62 and over the ability to tap a portion of the equity in their primary residence without having to sell the property or take on a new mortgage payment, is here to stay. Although the reverse mortgage has existed for many years (the first one done in America was back in the 1960′s), the structure and safeguards of the product today have made it an attractive way for many seniors to finance those golden years.
In a nutshell, the reverse mortgage can provide equity to borrowers who qualify for as long as they live in the home. The borrower controls how the funds are taken- either in a lump sum, monthly allowance, line of credit, or any combination of the three. So for example, if a senior wants to eliminate some debt, receive a monthly check, and have some funds in reserve for future needs, the reverse mortgage can satisfy all of these. If there is a mortgage or home equity loan/line on the property, it must be paid off when the reverse mortgage is taken. For many, simply having this mortgage payment “go away” is enough to make a big difference in their monthly budget. If a senior is currently making a home equity loan payment of $300.00 each month, that $300.00 can now be put toward other monthly obligations or expenses such as prescription medications.
The amount of reverse mortgage funds available to a senior homeowner is based on several factors. First, the age of the youngest applicant is used. Of course, the minimum age is 62. In addition, the home value, as determined by an appraisal is taken into account. The location of the property (FHA maximum lending limits vary by county) is another factor Lastly, the current interest rates (depending on which product is selected) is the used in the calculation. These pieces of the puzzle will determine the amount of reverse mortgage proceeds the senior homeowner can take. If there is an existing mortgage or any type of lien, it must be paid in full at the time the reverse is taken. Other than that, the use of the funds is determined by the homeowner. And the funds are tax-free (it’s just equity) which makes the reverse mortgage the best option for many of today’s informed seniors.
Just what do seniors use reverse mortgage funds for? The answer to that question is as varied as the borrowers themselves. Some common uses include medical bills, prescription medication expenses and co-pays, real estate taxes, upkeep on the property, and supplementing current monthly income. With nearly 90% of seniors in our country relying on Social Security in some part to meet monthly expenses, proceeds from a reverse mortgage can meet a real need. These uses for reverse proceeds mentioned here represent “needs” that seniors have. But there are many who are using the reverse mortgage to actually enhance their quality of life during their retirement years.
More and more seniors are taking reverse mortgage proceeds and using these funds for travel, purchasing a motor home, gifts to children, funding grandchildrens’ college education, and charitable giving. Some are even putting this equity to use in the purchase of a vacation property or second home. Home improvement or modifying the home to meet the seniors’ needs is another use for reverse mortgage funds that has increases recently. Instead of moving out of the home and taking a one level apartment for instance, a certified aging in place specialist contractor (CAPS) can be called in and make recommendations on how the home can be modified to allow the senior to remain in the home in comfort.
Clearly the uses for reverse mortgage funds are as many and varied as the seniors themselves. As the program continues to grow in popularity, more and more ways to put that stored up equity to good use are sure to evolve. One thing is for certain, the reverse mortgage is here to stay and that is good news for both seniors and their families.

Seven Alternatives To Consider Before Getting A Reverse Mortgage

Reverse mortgages are hot. Baby boom demographics, inadequate retirement funding, and problems in the traditional mortgage market (pushing brokers into alternate products) have combined to make marketing of reverse mortgage products to senior citizen homeowners one of the hottest niches in the mortgage business.
And the effort is paying off for marketers. Federally-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are the predominant type of reverse mortgage in the U.S. Recently, the number of HECMs originated has averaged about 9,000 per month, more than double the average in 2005. Moreover, about two-thirds of the total HECM reverse mortgages ever issued have been originated in the last two years.
Reverse mortgages are only available to homeowners age 62 and older who have paid off their mortgage or have only a small mortgage balance remaining. The sales pitch for these loans is enticing: tax-free retirement income for as long as you own the home – even for life; no monthly loan payments; no repayments until the home is sold, and payment options flexible enough to meet any need! In many cases a reverse mortgage is the ideal tool for senior homeowners.
But there is one big drawback with reverse mortgages: high up front closing costs that can sometimes reach $20,000 or more. Combined with the regular interest that accrues on the loan balance, the up front costs can make this an extremely expensive way to borrow. To spread these costs out and make the cost of borrowing reasonable, it is imperative that the borrower be confident in their ability to remain in the home for at least 5-7 years and, preferably, longer. Unfortunately, government data shows that most HECMs are paid off in seven years or less.
So, while a reverse mortgage may be a good fit for seniors in many situations, it is always important to carefully explore alternatives to see if a more cost-effective means to achieve your retirement financing goals is available.
We discuss below seven alternatives for you to consider:
1. Intra-Family Loan – Do you have a relative or friend with deep pockets and a good heart? An intra-family reverse mortgage loan can be an excellent way to gain the advantages of a reverse mortgage, but avoid most of the costs. The concept is straightforward: instead of a bank lending you retirement funds in exchange for a lien on the house, structure an arrangement with a relative or friend to lend you the money instead – collateralized with your home, of course. You can avoid most of the up front costs this way and have more flexibility to set interest rates and loan terms. There is even a company called Circle Lending (http://www.circlelending.com/familyadvantage/reverse-mortgage.asp) that specializes in drafting these loans as “official” arms length transactions and then provides monthly loan servicing just as a traditional lender would do.
2. Price Appreciation Agreement – There are also firms that will give you money today in exchange for an “equity-share” in the future appreciation of your home’s value. These programs are usually aimed at higher value homes (over $500,000) and may only be available in areas of the country with a track record of strong property value growth. The benefit of these programs is that you may be able to tap into your equity without the high up front costs of a reverse mortgage. The drawback is that it could cost you substantially more in the long run in the form of foregone home appreciation.
If you think this type of arrangement may be a good fit for you, here are two programs to look into to: Equity Key (http://www.equitykey.com/) and, Rex Agreement (http://www.rexagreement.com/)
3. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) – As noted, reverse mortgages make most sense if the homeowner is able to remain the home for seven years or more. The reality, however, is that more than one-half of all HECM reverse mortgages terminate in less than seven years. To finance short and intermediate cash needs, a HELOC loan may provide a more cost-effective way to tap into your home equity. With a HELOC, closing costs are generally minor (sometimes zero). The downsides are two-fold: 1) there are monthly loan payments required and, 2) you will likely need to show the lender that you have adequate income to make the required loan payments.
An “interest-only” HELOC loan typically requires monthly payments equal only to the accumulated interest on the amount borrowed to date. With care it is possible to borrow an amount each month that provides cash for living expenses and is adequate to make the monthly interest-only payment. In this way the HELOC mimics a reverse mortgage with interest building up in the loan balance until the loan is repaid when the home is sold.
4. Delay Receipt of Social Security Benefits – The majority of Americans start their (reduced) social security benefit at the earliest possible age (62). While people may feel it is smart to “get the money while you can”, the truth is that Americans are living longer than ever before and the decision to take early social security can cost you several hundred dollars per month for the rest of your life. People in their seventies and eighties often feel a reverse mortgage is needed to close a budget gap – a gap that might not exist if they were receiving full social security benefits.
5. Sell and Downsize or Rent – Using home equity to help pay for retirement is not a new concept. For generations, it was common for elderly homeowners to sell their homes and use the proceeds to buy or rent a smaller, more affordable dwelling. This remains a viable strategy and one of the best methods available to ensure you get full use of your hard earned home equity.
It is sometimes possible to sell your home to an “investor” and who will then rent it back to you. This provides you with needed cash while allowing you to remain in the home. Investors like this type of transaction since they get a “good” tenant who likely will take good care of the property.
6. Deferred Payment Loans – Many states, local governments and nonprofit organizations sponsor loan programs for the benefit of “house rich, cash poor” senior homeowners. Much like reverse mortgages, these programs lend money today that is paid back when the senior homeowner sells the home or dies.
The drawbacks are: 1) the use of loan proceeds is usually restricted to a specific purpose (e.g. home repair, payment of property taxes or special assessments, etc.) and, 2) eligibility may be restricted to seniors qualifying as lower income.
Deferred loan programs often have very low (even zero) closing costs and interest rates. This which makes them an alternative worth looking into before deciding on a reverse mortgage. To find out what deferred loan payment programs are available in your area, contact the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for your region (http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp).
7. Other Assets – Home equity should be viewed as a financial asset on par with CDs, stocks, bonds, cash-value insurance policies or other investments you may own. Before deciding to “cash out” home equity with a reverse mortgage, compare this strategy to other possibilities like selling other financial assets you may own. Stocks and bonds can be turned into cash much more efficiently than home equity can.
Deciding whether to take out a reverse mortgage is an important financial step for both you and you heirs. Be sure to consider the alternatives before making a final decision.

Steps to Getting a Reverse Mortgage

Here are a few of the steps you’ll want to go through to get started with a reverse mortgage. Keep in mind that these types of loans are not necessarily for everybody, but they can be a great source of funding when seniors are in need of additional income.
1. Becoming Aware: Because reverse mortgages are relatively new, there are a lot of people that don’t know much about them. Although the media including newspaper, tv, radio, etc. are reporting more on stories about reverse mortgages, there are still a lot of misconceptions and misunderstanding. People learn about reverse mortgages through the news, articles in the newspaper, magazines and other medium including word-of-mouth.
2. Get Educated: Homeowners find out additional details from a reverse mortgage lender or use tools like the internet to get more details on reverse mortgages. The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association may also have some insight into reverse mortgage lenders in your area.
3. Independent Counseling: Before being able to be approved for a reverse mortgage, the borrower will need to work with independent counselors through either the AARP or through a local HUD-approved counseling agency. This counseling can be done in person or over the phone. Counselors will review other options including housing, social services, health and financial alternatives as well as other home equity conversion options including property tax deferral. The counselors will also discuss the financial implications of a transaction like this and the potential consequences including tax liabilities.
4. Application Process: Homeowners will then work with their loan officers to complete an application and choose their payment plan in the form of either a lump sum or monthly payments, a line of credit, or a combination of all three. The lender will disclose all of the details about the loan and the loan amount and all estimated costs as dictated by the federal truth in lending act. The application will also include verification data including social security information, deed to the home, information on existing mortgage (if any), and counseling certificate.
5. Processing: The lender will order an appraisal of the home to determine the value and the appraiser will also make sure the home meets the FHA guidelines for the physical condition of the home. Repairs may be required if any component of the home doesn’t meet the guidelines for the physical condition of the home. Repairs are the responsibility of the homeowner and any expenses occurred in this case are the responsibility of the homeowner as well.
6. Underwriting: Once the application and all necessary paperwork required to accompany the application are submitted, the process of underwriting the loan begins. By this time, the loan parameters have been agreed to by the lender as well as the borrower and include things like payment options, frequency of loan interest rate adjustments, and loan amounts. The underwriting process takes about 4-8 weeks to underwrite the loan package. Some underwriting may be done faster, some slower.
7. Closing: Once the loan is approved through the underwriting process, the closing is scheduled. Interest rates are calculated at this point and the closing documents and final numbers are prepared. Most costs, if not all costs may be financed as a part of the loan. The homeowners are required at this point to sign the loan papers.
8. Disbursement: Following the closing of the loan, the homeowner has a 3-day right of rescission. This means the homeowner can cancel the loan within those three days without penalty. Once this 3-day right of rescission has passed, the funds from the loan are dispersed. Depending on the method of payment selected by the homeowner, the funds are then dispersed or made available. Any existing debt on the home at this point is paid off and a new lien is placed on the home. The homeowner at this point may use those funds for any purpose.
9. Repayment: Homeowners aren’t required to pay any mortgage payments or repay the reverse mortgage until they cease to occupy the home as their principal residence. The reverse mortgage may be repaid by the homeowner or the heirs or by the estate. This repayment doesn’t require the sale of the home. The repayment obligation of mortgage can be taken care of by a traditional refinance as well. The loan amount or repayment obligation can’t exceed the home’s value or sales price.
These are the main . Seniors age 62 and older can apply for and get approved for this type of loan. Reverse mortgages aren’t for everybody, but if you are in a position to need income beyond retirement, the reverse mortgage may be a very good option. How much you’ll get will depend on your age as well as the equity and value of the home. Plan on speaking with a counselor as well as a loan officer prior to getting a reverse mortgage. Research will be a valuable tool when making a decision involving perhaps your most valuable possession.