New Article Goes Main Stream: Pros and Cons of a Reverse Mortgage

Want to skip the article and learn more about Reverse Mortgages from a Grass Valley Specialist? Visit my website

http://www.SierraFoothillsReverse.com

I must admit, in the seven years I’ve specialized in reverse mortgage there have been some articles published about reverse mortgages that were so full of inaccuracies that it was truly jaw dropping. I had wished I could call the editor or writers of such articles and tell them to “take a hike”. In recent years our national organization, NRMLA: National Association of Reverse Mortgage Lenders, has become proactive in contacting news organizations to clarify or rebut articles which are untrue, misleading or carry outright mischaracterizations of the rules and options of a reverse mortgage. I think these efforts have been fruitful because in the last year I see news articles which are not necessarily “rah rah” reverse mortgage, but balanced and accurate about this loan product. I’ve included in this blog post one from the publication “Equities.com”  which is a concise and accurate discussion of the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage.

Yesterday I met with several home owners who were considering putting up there homes for sale so that they could unlock the thousands of dollars they have accumulated as home equity. One came to me via a referral from a past client, the other from a financial planner. Both were single individuals who dearly love their homes but had not previously considered a reverse mortgage because they were a bit “scary”. My monthly workshop seminars were not at convenient times for them,  so they came into my Grass Valley office and I spent and hour with each client explaining the program’s history, current status, the overall program rules and safeguards, and the types of reverse mortgage loans now available that would fit their particular retirement goals, then sent them off with an information packet and dvd to document and review what we discussed. The big sigh of relief and frankly amazement both clients expressed as they left my office was a professionally gratifying to me. Why? Because while a reverse mortgage may not be the path they choose, one or both may still decide to sell their home to unlock their accumulated equity rather than do a reverse mortgage to tap into it, I was pleased that two more individuals walked out of my office knowing that a reverse mortgage is no more “scary” than any other loan is “scary”.

MY NEXT SEMINAR WORKSHOP is on Thursday August 13th, catered lunch is provided, we actually have a fun and lively time, give me a call if you’d like to register to attend. (530) 497-3010,

Want to learn more about my credentials and back ground? GO TO:

http://www.SierraFoothillsReverse.com

Here is a reprint of the article I spoke of above

THE PROS AND CONS OF A REVERSE MORTGAGE, reprint from http://www.equities.com

For the past few decades, you have gradually invested in your home in the form of interior renovations, exterior upgrades, steady overall maintenance, and of course, the diligent payment of your monthly mortgage every month. Through the years, as your total mortgage balance decreased and your equity increased, you began to indulge in the sort of daydreams that are typical when anticipating retirement. Your mind often wandered to visions of strolling along the beach as you feel the sand between your toes, sprawling out on a hammock as the sunshine kisses your face, and laughing lightheartedly as a cool breeze plays with your hair. With your 9-to-5 job obligations behind you, a home that has been paid off, and your children all grown-up and self-sustaining, you are free to focus on the new adventure of this next stage in life. However, one question may come to mind more often than you would like: Can I afford the retirement I want?

Retirement and the Reverse Mortgage

Because of the equity you have built up in your home, your biggest asset is now holding the answer to a financially stable retirement. Your first step to financing your lifestyle through home equity is to research the best tool to access it. To access home equity, borrowers typically have three options:

1. Sell the home
2. Assume a 2nd mortgage
3. Take out a reverse mortgage loan

For many senior homeowners who want to age in their homes and who do not want to get locked into paying monthly mortgage payments again, the third option has proven to be noticeably popular.

A reverse mortgage is defined as a loan that helps senior homeowners who are 62 years or older access a portion of their home equity to use as cash. Of course, there is so much more to this loan than this simple definition. Since its inception in the early 1960s, this loan has evolved into a powerful financial tool in retirement. For the past half century, senior homeowners have been utilizing this option to access their equity and achieve the type of retirement they always wanted. However, when considering the reverse mortgage loan, or any financial product for that matter, it is always a good idea to educate yourself on the pros and cons. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages can help you to determine if this loan will be a good fit for your needs.

The Pros and Cons

The following are some of the pros and cons associated with reverse mortgage loans.

PROS:

• You may age in place while accessing a portion of your equity as cash.
• You retain ownership of your home as long as you fulfill all loan obligations such as paying property taxes, homeowners insurance, and basic home maintenance and repairs.
• The most common reverse mortgage, called a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan is government insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) which covers repayment of any difference between loan balance and home value.
• Consumers are protected from owing more than the value of the home when sold.
• This loan is non-recourse, which means the home is the only asset the lender can take to repay the loan.
• Costs, such as the mortgage insurance premium that comes with federal insurance, may be rolled into the total balance of the loan.
• Loan repayment is deferred to whenever the borrower permanently leaves the home; thus no monthly mortgage payment is required.
• You may use reverse mortgage loan funds for anything you desire, including home repairs, renovations, and upgrades.

CONS:

• The cons of a reverse mortgage included the fact that you may not live anywhere else other than your home for more than 12 consecutive months. If you do, the loan becomes due and payable.
• Depending on an assessment of your financial profile, you may be required to set aside a portion of your funds to pay your financial obligations.
• If your heirs want to keep the home, they will need to find an alternative method to repay the loan that does not involve selling the property, such as taking out a new loan to repay the reverse mortgage balance.
• A lien will be placed on the home until the loan is repaid at maturity.

Is the Reverse Mortgage Loan Right For You?

Along with reverse mortgage pros and cons, it is also important to know the circumstances in which this loan may or may not be a good fit.

There are a few instances where this loan may not be the most beneficial solution. Because one of the loan terms include a requirement that you reside in the home as your primary residence, if you anticipate the possibility that you may move away in the foreseeable future, such as into a nursing home or a family member’s home, the loan may become due and payable.

Moving out of your home soon after completing the loan is also inefficient due to the closing costs you had already spent. In addition, if you are not comfortable with paying, or cannot afford to pay your property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, and basic home repairs then this loan may not be for you. Since there are no monthly mortgage payments required for a reverse mortgage, failing to fulfill these other financial obligations may lead you to defaulting on the loan.

However, if you desire to access a portion of your equity while aging in place, you have no plans to sell your home or move out in the foreseeable future, and you want to eliminate your monthly mortgage payments, then a reverse mortgage may be the financial solution for you. With features that allow you to defer repayment, it is a versatile solution to increase your monthly cash flow and supplement your social security income and pension – all with the protection of federal insurance.

Now that you know more about the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage, as well as the circumstances regarding whether this loan may or may not be a good fit, you can make a more educated decision on if it may benefit your needs. For more help, speak with a reverse mortgage expert from a reputable industry lender. Armed with their knowledge and yours, you will be well on your way to funding the retirement of your dreams.