How Reverse Mortgages Can Benefit Seniors
Reverse mortgages are wonderful products that are available to seniors. These loans are available for homeowners who are 62 or older. They are neither handouts or scams. To the contrary, they are financial vehicles that allow seniors to tap into their hard-earned equity to meet retirement needs.
Benefit From the Equity That is Already Earned
The money that is lent in a reverse mortgage is based on the existing equity in a senior’s home. If a person has lived in a home for a long period of time and has paid the regular mortgage loan for years, the reverse mortgage can be looked at as a return on that investment. The money that comes from a reverse mortgage can replace the money that has been paid into a traditional mortgage payment during the normal ownership of the property. A reverse mortgage can free seniors from the worry of making regular mortgage payments for the rest of their lives.
Supplementing Retirement Income
Reverse mortgage proceeds can be distributed over a number of years. Although a lump sum distribution is available, it is not necessary. The borrower has the ability to manage their payments as they see fit. In this respect, the borrower is able to control the funds as needed. In many ways, this line of credit can be used as a savings account to protect the borrower from unexpected expenses and medical emergencies. Actually, the proceeds can be used for almost anything the borrower chooses.
Reverse Mortgage Basics
When a borrower decides to take out a reverse mortgage, the first step is usually to take an appraisal of the home to determine the level of the borrower’s equity. During the entirety of the loan, the borrower continues to own the property. In addition, the borrower is required to keep the taxes and homeowner’s insurance on the property current. As long as these requirements are met and the borrower continues to maintain the home as their primary residence, the loan will not become due.
When the Loan Comes Due
There is no obligation to repay the reverse mortgage as long as the borrower maintains the home as their primary residence. Upon the death of the borrower or once the borrower has been out of the home for more than 12 months, the loan becomes due. The loan can be repaid by the heirs in a number of different ways: they can pay the loan outright, they can refinance the mortgage with a conventional mortgage or they can sell the home and use the proceeds to repay the loan. In no event would the heirs ever be required to pay an amount in excess of the homes value.
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