Is Reverse Mortgage Risky?

Author: Jeremy Low

Reverse Mortgage

A reverse mortgage is a special type of loan that home owners can sometimes get to convert the equity in their homes to cash. Simply, a reverse mortgage is a type of loan that provides you with a monthly income, a lump sum of cash, or a line of credit. Or a combination of both

This was originally structured for retirees keen in keeping their homes but whose incomes aren't sufficient to support them, reverse mortgages have typically been used to help people on low incomes to pay for daily expenses, huge medical bills or the odd house maintenance and repair costs. Reverse mortgage also pays off your existing loan, if you have any. So you have no ongoing house payment. The monthly income you receive from the reverse mortgage is guaranteed and you will receive it as long as you remain living in the home.

Many reverse mortgages offer special appeal to older adults because the loan advances, which are not taxable, generally do not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits. Another advantage of reverse mortgages is the different withdrawal options that you are able to choose. These options include lump sum distributions, line of credit, monthly payments, or any combination of these three. So if you were eligible to borrow $200,000 on a reverse mortgage you could select to receive $60,000 up front to cover current expenses, and hold the rest as a line of credit that you can use whenever you need it. This flexibility of reverse mortgages can significantly improve you financial independence during retirement

The disadvantage is the relative cost of a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages tend to be very expensive when compared with a conventional mortgage. This is due to the rising-debt nature of reverse mortgages. Another disadvantage is the reverse mortgage payments can affect eligibility for old age pensions, or supplemental Social Security income. Senior's may not even appreciate this problem until after they already have their reverse mortgage, and only then do they discover that this can have the negative affect on their finances then what they were trying to accomplish in the first place by taking out the reverse mortgage.

With these facts in mind, reverse mortgage are definitely an option to consider if you are looking for ways to supplement your current income. As with any financial decision, you should consult the advice of a trained financial professional to analyze and determine if a reverse mortgage is right for in your unique circumstances.

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About the author: The author is a consultant for mortgages and refinance matters. For more information, please visit http://www.mortgage-query.com.

Top Ten Things to Know if You're Interested in a Reverse Mortgage

Author: M. Rahman

Reverse Mortgages are becoming popular in America. The U.S. Department of Housing Reverse Mortgages are becoming popular in America. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created one of the first. HUD's Reverse Mortgage is a federally-insured private loan, and it's a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements, and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages by calling AARP at: 1-800-209-8085, toll-free. Since your home is probably your largest single investment, it's smart to know more about reverse mortgages, and decide if one is right for you!

1. What is a reverse mortgage? A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of the equity in his or her home into cash. The equity built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to you. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence. HUD's reverse mortgage provides these benefits, and it is federally-insured as well. 2. Can I qualify for a HUD reverse mortgage? To be eligible for a HUD reverse mortgage, HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that the borrower is a homeowner, 62 years of age or older; own your home outright, or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at the closing with proceeds from the reverse loan; and must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from HUD-approved counseling sources prior to obtaining the loan. You can contact the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse on 1-800-569-4287 to obtain the name and telephone number of a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA approved lenders within your area.

3. Can I apply if I didn't buy my present house with FHA mortgage insurance? Yes. While your property must meet HUD minimum property standards, it doesn't matter if you didn't buy it with an FHA-insured mortgage. Your new HUD reverse mortgage will be a new FHA-insured mortgage loan.

4. What types of homes are eligible? Your home must be a single family dwelling or a two-to-four unit property that you own and occupy. Townhouses, detached homes, units in condominiums and some manufactured homes are eligible. Condominiums must be FHA-approved. It is possible for condominiums to qualify under the Spot Loan program. The home must be in reasonable condition, and must meet HUD minimum property standards. In some cases, home repairs can be made after the closing of a reverse mortgage.

5. What's the difference between a reverse mortgage and a bank home equity loan? With a traditional second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, you must have sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and you are required to make monthly mortgage payments. The reverse mortgage is different in that it pays you, and is available regardless of your current income. The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, other loan fees, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow. You don't make payments, because the loan is not due as long as the house is your principal residence. Like all homeowners, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes and other conventional payments like utilities, but with an FHA-insured HUD Reverse Mortgage, you cannot be foreclosed or forced to vacate your house because you ""missed your mortgage payment.""

6. Can the lender take my home away if I outlive the loan? No! Nor is the loan due. You do not need to repay the loan as long as you or one of the borrowers continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. You can never owe more than your home's value.

7. Will I still have an estate that I can leave to my heirs? When you sell your home or no longer use it for your primary residence, you or your estate will repay the cash you received from the reverse mortgage, plus interest and other fees, to the lender. The remaining equity in your home, if any, belongs to you or to your heirs. None of your other assets will be affected by HUD's reverse mortgage loan. This debt will never be passed along to the estate or heirs.

8. How much money can I get from my home? The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, other loan fees and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow.

9. Should I use an estate planning service to find a reverse mortgage? I've been contacted by a firm that will give me the name of a lender for a ""small percentage"" of the loan? HUD does NOT recommend using an estate planning service, or any service that charges a fee just for referring a borrower to a lender! HUD provides this information without cost, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free, or at minimal cost, to provide information, counseling, and free referral to a list of HUD-approved lenders. Before you agree to pay a fee for a simple referral, call 1-800-569-4287, toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.

10. How do I receive my payments? You have five options: * Tenure - equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence. * Term - equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected. * Line of Credit - unscheduled payments or in installments, at times and in amounts of borrower's choosing until the line of credit is exhausted. * Modified Tenure - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for as long as the borrower remains in the home. * Modified Term - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.

Source: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfmArticle Source:

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Mortgage Leads for New Loan Officers

Author: Globalhlf.com

If you are a loan officer and you are new to the business, one thing you may be short on is leads.Leads can be obtained in many ways. Through customer referrals, networking groups, family members, friends, etc. However, for a new loan officer, you may need to jump start your business, and investing with a mortgage lead company may be the way to go. You probably havent heard many good things about mortgage lead companies. However, there are some good ones out there. And if you take your time and do your research, you may just find the right one for you. Here are a few things to avoid:

-Avoid the mortgage lead companies that recycle their leads. Recycling means they sell them over and over again-.

-So, most likely these leads have gone through the hands of dozens of loan officers before reaching your desk, so steer clear.

-Stay away from lead companies that buy their leads from third party companies than sell them to loan officers at a profit.

-You never know how many times those third party companies sold those leads to other mortgage lead companies.

-In the beginning, your budget may be a little bit tight, so look for lead companies that allow for a low minimum deposit.

Also, look for lead companies that obtain their leads through sites they own and operate on their own. This is always a good indication that the lead is of good quality.And look for lead companies that sell real time mortgage leads, and/or sell them exclusively. When you buy your leads exclusively you can cut out your competition.Real time leads are also known as fresh leads, so they are hot off the press once you receive them. With real time leads your closure ratio will be much higher and the return on your investment will be that much better. And why shouldnt it be? You work hard for your money.

Loan officers employment is subject to the upturns and downturns of the economy.

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