Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Advantages and Disadvantages Of A Reverse Mortgage


Betty and John, are in their mid-seventies and are currently weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage as a way of freeing up some cash. The couple purchased their home 45 years ago for about $14,000 since then home values have skyrocketed and recent single family homes in their neighborhood have been selling for a minimum of $160,000.

Like Betty and John, if you're considering a reverse mortgage it's important to do some research prior to making a decision. You not only need to understand the basic principles of this kind of mortgage but you also need to look at all the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage.

Essentially a reverse mortgage is a loan that permits homeowners 62 years of age and older to borrow against the equity in their homes without having to sell it. Further, you don't have to give up the title or take on a new monthly mortgage payment.

A reverse mortgage loan is tax-free and needs only to be repaid when the borrower (or in the case of Betty and John, when the surviving spouse) dies or sells the home. At which time, the reverse mortgage loan must be repaid in full, including all interest and other charges.

When examining the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage it's also important to consider both the process and the related costs of obtaining a reverse mortgage. Unlike a conventional mortgage, with a reverse mortgage, the homeowner (the potential borrower) must meet with a reverse mortgage counselor. References for counselors can be obtained from banks offering reverse mortgages or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The purpose of these meetings which may take place in person or on the telephone is for the homeowner to learn about reverse mortgages and discuss alternative options. It also helps you decide which kind of reverse mortgage may be best. As well as exploring the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage, it's wise that the potential borrower, also compare costs between various lenders and request a Total Annual Loan Cost estimate for each.

Further to discussing the advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage with a counselor, you also need to understand that there are certain costs involved in the reverse mortgage process. Costs may include application fees, closing costs, insurance, appraisal fees, credit report fees, and quite possibly a monthly service fee. Remember too that since a reverse mortgage allows you to continue living in your home, you're still responsible for property taxes, insurance and repairs. If these payments are not maintained, the loan could become due in full.

A reverse mortgage may also affect eligibility for federal or state assistance as well as Medicaid. That said, any reverse mortgage money that is received is tax-free and does not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits.

The condition of your home is also a large part of the approval process. It must be structurally sound and in good repair. If it's determined that home repairs need to be done, the costs can also be financed through the reverse mortgage loan.

The total amount a homeowner can borrow all depends on the kind of reverse mortgage selected, how much equity is in the home, the loan's interest rate and most importantly, the age of the borrower. Typically the older a person is, the more they can expect to receive.

A borrower can receive reverse mortgage payments in one of the following ways: in a lump-sum payment; fixed monthly payments; a line of credit or a combination of any of the above. Most homeowners go for the line of credit option which allows them to draw on the loan whenever money is required.

Paul Jesse is a retired government employee, small business owner and the author of many articles on finance and internet marketing. Visit his website at: http://www.sheamarketing.com/financial


MORE RESOURCES:

Examiner.com

Beware of mortgage refinance ripoffs
Examiner.com - 9 hours ago
by Tom Mackinnon, Dallas Personal Finance Examiner With mortgage interest rates at all-time lows (my company has 30 year fixed rates as low as 4.25% at the ...


Washington Times

Is It Time To Refinance Your Mortgage?
Forbes, NY - 22 hours ago
Falling rates and a friendly Fed mean good things for homeowners. But there's a catch. Looking to refinance your mortgage? Do it now. ...
Mortgage Rates At 37- Year Low WHIZ
Refinancing suddenly booms Honolulu Advertiser
all 30 news articles


Cardoza proposal could aid housing crisis
Stockton Record, CA - 14 hours ago
By Bruce Spence Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, has a plan to reverse the housing crisis and boost the economy: a 4 percent interest rate on fixed-rate, ...


Waco banks seeing a boom in mortgage refinance applications
Waco Tribune Herald, TX - Jan 2, 2009
By Mike Copeland With mortgage rates hitting record lows, Mary Jo Teakell is seeing a growing backlog of refinance applications. “We’re quite busy right now ...
Borrowers seeking to refinance may face challenges WTOP
all 15 news articles


Situations determine refinancing
FayObserver.com, NC - Jan 7, 2009
By Hilary Kraus It depends on your situation. How much do you still owe? How long do you expect to stay in your home? Are lower payments a priority? ...


Mortgage Refinance Loans
Kitchener, Ontario Canada, Canada - Dec 31, 2008
The City of Kitchener is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. ...


St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Mortgage Refinance Online
PWO, France - Dec 17, 2008
If you want to consolidate debt or get cash to pay for home improvements, you can apply for a mortgage refinance online that offers you a cash back option, ...
Video: Record low mortgage rates ReutersVideo
Mortgage Rate Hits 37-Year Low Wall Street Journal
all 864 news articles


Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Loan- 3 Most Important Items to Get ...
CrunchGear, NY - Dec 23, 2008
Ultimately if you are looking to do a bad credit mortgage refinance loan you need to keep several things in mind to ensure that you don’t get taken for a ...


Question & Answer on mortgage refinancing
Boston Herald, United States - Jan 1, 2009
By Holden Lewis / Bankrate.Com With mortgage rates at historic lows, lots of homeowners are debating whether to refinance their mortgages these days. ...
Don't miss the mortgage refinance window Barre Montpelier Times Argus
Applications Show Refi Wear-Out? Housing Wire
A toast to low mortgage rates MarketWatch
all 457 news articles


Are points a good buy on refinancings right now?
WalletPop, VA - Jan 5, 2009
During the housing boom, my wife and I probably got at least a dozen solicitations a month from banks wanting us to refinance our mortgage or borrow against ...

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006