Reverse Mortgage Important Facts You Need To Know

Homeowners can refinance an existing mortgage by using a reverse mortgage. Homeowners over the age of 62 are more likely to take out this form of mortgage. They are able to borrow money with a reverse mortgage by using the equity in their home.

They can access more money without signing up for a monthly mortgage plan. They are not required to sell their home or relinquish ownership of it. For retirees with limited income and high expenses, reverse mortgages can be a beneficial financial instrument.

In this article we will talk about the important things to know about reverse mortgages:

How to apply for a reverse mortgage?

One must speak with a counselor before submitting an application for a reverse mortgage. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) maintains a list of approved counselors.

On HUD’s main website, you may find this list. Counselors will go over the borrower’s eligibility for the loan during a consultation meeting. The future financial effects of the reverse mortgage will also be covered by the counselors.

They will also give details on additional financing options that won’t harm the borrower’s financial situation. An qualifying borrower can then proceed to apply for a reverse mortgage with the HUD after completing this step.

The eligibility criteria for a reverse mortgage

The age of the borrower must be at least 62 years old in order to qualify for a reverse mortgage. Additionally, the home under consideration for a reverse mortgage must be the borrower’s primary residence.

The home ought to be well-maintained and in decent shape. Before submitting a mortgage application, all damage-related repairs must be completed. Furthermore, the borrower must be the only owner of the property or have a forward mortgage balance that is low enough to be paid off with the reverse mortgage.

The borrower’s ability to cover the remaining property expenses, such as repair, insurance, and tax expenditures, is a crucial qualification for eligibility.

How much can one borrow with a reverse mortgage?

Age of the borrower, present value of the home, and current mortgage rates are the three main determinants of how much a borrower can acquire.

If the borrower is older, the mortgage rates are lower, and the value of the home is higher, the reverse mortgage amount will be higher. Included are other expenses such as the origination charge and mortgage insurance payment.

Conclusion

Like a conventional mortgage, a reverse mortgage loan enables homeowners to borrow money while using their house as security for the loan. Similar to a conventional mortgage, the title to your property is kept in your name when you take out a reverse mortgage loan.

With a reverse mortgage loan, borrowers do not make monthly mortgage payments, in contrast to a conventional mortgage. When the borrower vacates the property, the loan is paid back.

Each month, fees and interest are added to the loan sum, which causes it to increase. In order to qualify for a reverse mortgage loan, a homeowner must maintain good credit, pay property taxes and homeowners insurance, and utilize the home as their primary residence.

With a reverse mortgage loan, the homeowner’s debt to the lender increases over time rather than decreases. This is due to the monthly addition of fees and interest to the loan total. Your home equity declines as your loan balance rises.

Not free money, a reverse mortgage loan. It is a loan where the monthly loan balance rises as a result of monthly borrowing plus interest and fees. The debt will eventually need to be repaid by the homeowners or their heirs, typically by selling the house.

SOURCE: Smartanswers & CFPB Blog