All about Reverse Mortgages

Until recently, seniors 62 years of age and older have not had the best of choices when it came to getting cash from their homes. Traditional home loans only offered the option of either selling ones house or borrowing against its equity. Obviously, this meant moving into a new home or taking on monthly repayments; not exactly the most appealing choices for those who have been in their homes for years and also deal with fixed income and expenses.

Take for example Doug and Sharon Jones, a couple in their late 60s who have called their place home for over 30 years. After nearly 15 years of enhancements and home improvements, Mr. and Mrs. Jones are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives in that house, uprooting is the last thing they want to do.

Now, with all of their financial investments behind them, Doug and Sharon have decided they would like to spend some time traveling the world. They are also interested in finding a way to generate extra income in order to supplement their retirement and pay for the cost of prescription medications.

Loan Proceeds

A reverse mortgage gives Mr. and Mrs. Jones some appealing cash-flow alternatives that they didnt have before. These loan plans will allow the couple to convert their home equity into tax-free loan proceeds without having to sell their current home or take on new monthly mortgage payments. Depending on their situation and home value, they may also receive cash payments and credit lines without incurring monthly payments. There are minimal income requirements for a reverse mortgage, as borrowers will continue to be responsible for property taxes, home insurance, and any homeowner association dues.

For seniors and maturing Baby Boomers, the idea of staying put while collecting monthly advances can be very attractive. Many of them have no desire to relocate. Instead, they prefer cash advances to pay off debts, improve and repair their homes, or cover unforeseen medical expenses.

Not having to repay the debt until a future time when they no longer occupy the home, and having no monthly mortgage payments are features that can make a reverse mortgage the ideal option for those in their golden years.

* We strongly recommend consulting your tax advisor when choosing a reverse mortgage plan.

A Senior Moment

In order to apply for a reverse mortgage you must be 62 years of age or older. All owners who are on the title deed must meet this age requirement, as well as apply for and sign the loan agreements. Lastly, the home must remain the applicants principle place of residence.

Single family residences are most commonly eligible for reverse mortgages. Check with a knowledgeable reverse mortgage lender to see the latest rules for condominiums, co-ops, and manufactured homes, which all have additional requirements that HUD continues to regulate and update eligibility.

Pre-Mortgage Counseling

In order to ensure that homeowners are fully aware of the financial ramifications of obtaining a reverse mortgage and to ensure that other options have been explored, senior borrowers must undergo counseling with an unbiased third party before applying for a reverse mortgage loan. HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) oversees a network of counselors who can provide this service, and it should be offered for a nominal fee or at no charge. The session will examine the feasibility of the loan for a senior, explore the current budget and needs, and go into other financial fact finding to examine the compatibility of the loan for the individual situation

About Face How Reverses Work

Reverse mortgages are probably best understood when compared side-by-side with a traditional home mortgage, otherwise known as a forward mortgage. The following table shows the differences between the two mortgages:

Forward mortgage

• Uses income to pay debt
• Monthly mortgage payments
• Falling debt, rising equity

Reverse mortgage

• Uses home equity to get cash or credit
• No payments; debt is paid when the borrower dies, sells the home, or moves

Rising debt, falling equity

As you can see, both loans incur debt against your home and both affect equity, but they do so in very different ways. For a traditional home mortgage, you would be making monthly payments to a lender. With a reverse mortgage, they will make the payments to you. In essence, the two loans work the complete opposite of one another.

*** Debt Limit

Reverse mortgage debt is determined by adding all of the loan advances (this includes those used to pay off prior debt or finance the loan costs) plus the interest on your loan balance. In the end, if that total amount equals less than the value of your home when you repay the loan, then you will end up keeping the remaining amount.

Should the balance of your loan ever grow to equal or exceed what your home is worth, then your total debt will be limited by that value; you or your heirs can never be required to repay more than what your home is worth after the loan comes due. That simply means if todays lofty housing prices start to decline, you wont be responsible for paying back a larger amount.

In addition, there are several Out of Pocket Costs to the borrower that may include:

1. Counseling with a HUD approved counselor
2. Appraisal

Repayment

Reverse mortgages do not require any payment as long as the borrower(s) remain in the home, and continue to pay their taxes and homeowners insurance. Should the borrower(s) pass away, sell the home, or relocate, then the loan will be due in full, along with interest and any additional costs. In the event there are two borrowers on the loan and one should pass away, the loan would not yet be due as long as one of the borrowers continues to occupy the home and remain on title.

Reverse mortgages have ZERO pre-payment penalties; they may be repaid at any point without incurring penalties or additional fees.

Advantages of Moving in Reverse

A reverse mortgage can help you gain financial independence and maintain an adequate standard of living all without having to leave your current home. In addition to this, the money you receive from a reverse mortgage is tax free loan proceeds and may be used for a variety of purposes.

Besides the traditional uses of a loan, such as paying off old debt or making home improvements, here are some other ways borrowers are utilizing their tax-free income:

• Traveling and taking vacations
• Obtaining in-home healthcare
• Paying for prescription medications
• Supplementing retirement
• Paying for grand-childrens educational expenses

Financial Planners and professionals are using reverse mortgages in appropriate cases for strategies such as:

• Social Security deferment using reverse mortgage proceeds to fill the income gap
• Using a HECM to purchase a home while downsizing
• Setting up a HECM SAVER credit line in lieu of a traditional emergency fund

However you choose to use the money from your loan, reverse mortgages provide you with the freedom to do so

without the added financial stress of a monthly payment to the lender.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Most seniors over 62 years of age simply do not want to move. Senior homeowners generally choose reverse mortgages so that they can remain in their current homes.

Several key questions need to be explored in advance of obtaining a reverse mortgage:

• Is a reverse mortgage the best option vs. a sale?
• Are my children able to assist me?
• Are my heirs concerned and informed about my decision to do a reverse mortgage?

The best way to decide if a reverse mortgage is for you is to compare it to the alternatives of selling your home or receiving financial help from elsewhere. Alternatives need to be explored, and may include re- financing or downsizing.

Myths and Misconceptions about Reverse Mortgages

Myth #1: The lender will take ownership of your home. False You and your family or your estate continue to retain ownership of your home even after obtaining a reverse mortgage. The lender does not take control of the title. The lenders interest is limited to the outstanding loan balance.

Myth #2: The reverse mortgage requires that I make monthly payments. Not True There are never monthly mortgage payments with a reverse mortgage. The borrower is responsible for payment of property taxes, insurance, and general upkeep of the home and nothing more.

Myth #3: My children will be held responsible for repayment of a reverse mortgage. False The reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan. This means that the lender can only derive repayment of the reverse mortgage loan from the proceeds of the sale of the property. Even if a catastrophe strikes and the value of the home is reduced, you or your estate can never owe more than the value of the home. Although your heirs will not be responsible for repayment of the loan, they will have the option of repaying the loan and keeping the house for themselves.

Myth #4: You need a certain level of income, credit, or health to qualify. False A reverse mortgage has no income, credit, or health requirements.

Myth #5: To qualify, my home must be debt free and paid off Free & Clear. Not True You may have an existing mortgage or other debt on your home. The mortgage or debt, however, must be paid off first with the proceeds of the reverse mortgage. In fact, many people get a reverse mortgage just for this reason: to get rid of their monthly mortgage payments forever.

Myth #6: Reverse mortgage lenders just want to sell your house. False Reverse mortgage borrowers may remain in the home for as long as they wish. However, should they decide to sell the home for any reason, the loan would then become due and payable.

Myth #7: If I do a reverse mortgage, I will have nothing for my kids. False Retained Equity is a very important concept to grasp. Realize that your property will continue to appreciate (the whole value of the estate) and you pay interest on only the smaller amount borrowed. Please consult a reverse mortgage advisor for amortization tables that might apply to your specific situation.

Myth #8: If I get a reverse mortgage, I cannot sell my home. False If you decide to sell your home, the reverse mortgage is like any other loan that must be paid off at closing. There are no restrictions on prepayment or penalties for paying off your loan or selling your home.

Myth #9: If my lender changes, my loan terms can change. Not True A reverse mortgage is secured by two Deeds of Trust. Once executed, the terms are defined and cannot be changed as long as the deeds remain in force.

Myth #10: My Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid benefits will decrease. Not True Generally the money from a reverse mortgage is considered borrowed money and not income. For some programs, monthly draws must be spent and not accumulated, but for most, the money is not considered disqualifying. Please consult with an advisor or your local Agency for Aging for your specific situation.

For trusted advice you can count on, call the experts in Reverse Lending. Mortgage Solutions of Georgia. 770-924-1111