Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Reverse Mortgage - Be Sure You Need It Before Applying For One


Reverse mortgages used to be considered the last resort of desperate retirees who needed to borrow against their home equity in order to pay for medical expenses. With home prices across the country rising at astonishing rates, more and more retirees, aged 62 and over, are taking out reverse mortgages to fund better retirement living. A reverse mortgage works more or less the opposite way from a conventional mortgage; the borrower receives payments from the lender in the form of a lump sum, a line of credit, or monthly payments. The amount borrowed constitutes a lien against the home must be repaid upon the death of the borrower, or when the home is resold. There are costs associated with a reverse mortgage, however, and potential borrowers should be aware of these when considering taking out such a loan, particularly if the borrower takes out a line of credit.

All loans have fees associated with them. There are home appraisals, paperwork fees, mortgage insurance fees, and additional "points" added to the cost of the loan. In general, the costs of taking out a reverse mortgage are higher than those associated with a traditional mortgage. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that the time period for receiving repayment of the loan is indefinite, typically depending on how long the borrower lives. This uncertainty is added into the loan in the form of additional fees.

Most people who take out a reverse mortgage opt to take their funds in the form of a line of credit, rather than a lump sum or monthly payments. There are advantages to a line of credit, which allows the borrower to use the funds by simply writing checks against the loan. The primary advantage is that the borrower only uses the funds when he or she needs them. Because of this, interest only accrues on the money if the borrower actually writes checks. Borrowers should be aware, however, that the costs of the loan, which can be substantial, apply even if the borrower doesn't write any checks against the loan. If the homeowner takes out a line of credit and decides to sell the home shortly thereafter without ever having written a check against the loan, the borrower will not owe the lender any interest or principal, but the borrower will lose the money paid for the cost of the loan, which is not refundable. If the borrower rolled the costs into the loan itself, they could owe payments even if they never wrote a check.

In short, borrowers considering taking out a reverse mortgage should make sure that they plan to stay in their home for quite some time and that they actually need the money from such a loan. A reverse mortgage is a great idea for those who have a specific purpose or use in mind, but as an emergency source of "rainy day" funds, it can be an expensive choice.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on home equity loans.


MORE RESOURCES:

Worthy foreclosure rescue?
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Oct 5, 2008
By Alan J. Heavens The federal government's latest efforts to prevent foreclosures are getting a lukewarm response from economists, officials and advocacy ...


Bad Credit – Home Mortgage - Refinance and Debt Consolidation Loan
ScienceBlog.com, CA - Sep 16, 2008
Based on interest rates, Mortgage Refinance California can be divided into two types namely fixed rate and adjustable rate loan. In the case of a fixed rate ...


Mortgage refinance boom short-lived
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - Sep 17, 2008
A worker paves a sidewalk during construction of a new home in Palo Alto, Calif., on Wednesday. Construction of new homes and apartments fell last month to ...


Is this the right time to refinance?
Chicago Tribune, United States - Sep 25, 2008
Mortgage rates are down and you're not going to bother trying to sell your home anytime soon. Should you spend the money to refinance and lower your ...


Mortgage Applications Slide 23 Percent
RTT News, NY - Oct 1, 2008
(RTTNews) - Industry data released on Wednesday showed that mortgage application volume plunged 23 percent last week, adding to the 10 percent it lost in ...


Stalled condo project could get new financial backer, more units
TheDay, CT - Oct 3, 2008
At least one settlement check was written by New Haven Mortgage Refinance LLC, a company attached to Franklin Enterprises. Two weeks ago, New Haven Mortgage ...


The federal bailout -- for an individual
Chicago Tribune, United States - Oct 4, 2008
I am serious: No credit card statements will be examined, no vacation photos subpoenaed, no third mortgage refinance documents dug out of safe-deposit boxes ...


Frequently asked questions about the economy
KXAN-TV, TX - Sep 29, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- After what transpired on Wall Street Monday, many Central Texans had questions about the economy, the housing crisis and everything ...


Fed: Bailout will help borrowers
Newsday, NY - Sep 18, 2008
The government's takeover of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should provide an opportunity to modify more home loans for troubled ...


Mutual Funds & Personal Finance
Investor's Business Daily (subscription) - Sep 26, 2008
BY DONALD JAY KORN Think the credit crisis, spawned by the implosion of mortgage-backed securities, means that home loans are out of reach? Think again. ...

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006