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I am sure you have heard about Reverse Mortgages. When I hear people talk about them they always have strong opinions one way or the other. Below are some pros and cons of Reverse Mortgages to help you better understand them. This information was published in the Tierra Grande Magazine and I think it is great consumer information to be aware of in the current economy with the aging baby boomer generation.
Reverse mortgages (RMa��s) offer older homeowners an alternative to selling their homes or obtaining a home equity loan for additional retirement income or needed capital. The major differences between and RM and a traditional home equity loan are the minimum age restriction of 62, no monthly repayments, a potentially lower loan to value ratio based on the borrowera��s age and higher upfront costs and fees. Below are the Pros and Cons of a Reverse Mortgage.
Pros:
a�? A RM has no fixed due date and requires no repayment as long as the home remains the borrowera��s principal residence. The loan becomes payable only if the borrower sells the home, ceases to live in the house for 12 consecutive months or more, dies or fails to fulfill any of the other requirements of the loan. The borrower cannot be foreclosed on or forced out of the house for failing to make a payment.
a�? A RM is a nonrecourse loan. The amount owed can never exceed the net selling price of the home. If the loan balance is greater than the homea��s net selling price, neither the borrower nor the borrowera��s heirs are responsible for making up the difference.
a�? A RM is a lien on the property like any other mortgage. The borrower continues to hold title to the home. If the property is sold, the loan is paid off from the proceeds, and the borrower or the estate receives any excess between the net price and the amount owed.
a�? RMs provide flexible payout options. The borrower can receive funds either in a single lump sum, as a series of monthly advances, as a line of credit that can be drawn against any time in the future or any combination of these methods. The lender cannot unilaterally change the amount or timing of loan advances and cannot reduce the amount or number of advances because of an adjustment in the interest rate.
a�? RM loan proceeds are nontaxable. All RM advances represent principal loan amounts, not ordinary income.
a�? Loan underwriting an approval does not depend on the borrowera��s current income, employment status, FICO score or anything other than the borrowera��s age and the value of the property.
a�? Prospective RM borrowers are required to meet with an independent financial counselor (HUD-approved in the case of HECMs) before signing a loan application or incurring any fees.
a�? The lendera��s lien against the property is removed if the lender fails to make loan advances according to the terms of the agreement or does not correct any failure to fund upon receiving written notice by the borrower.

Cons:
a�? RM loans are available only to homeowner-borrowers who are at least 62 years old and own their homes outright or have high levels of equity.
a�? Generally, RM loans provide around 65 percent of the value of the property based on the principal limiting factors (PLF) applied for different age and interest rate combinations. Home equity loans can be as high as 80 percent. The RM loan-to-value ratio is higher for older borrowers (even exceeding 80 percent), but higher closing costs and fees and shorter life expectancy offset some of this advantage.
a�? Upon the death of the borrower, the loan plus all accrued interest and costs becomes due and payable, typically necessitating the sale of the home. If the heirs want to keep the house, they have to repay the entire amount due, which could be greater than the value of the property at the time. Inheritance planning becomes trickier.
a�? With relatively high up-front costs, the borrower needs to stay in the home longer to make the loan more financially attractive. RM loans are significantly more costly than home equity loans if the borrower sells or moves just a few years after taking out the loan. The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency found that it is most advantageous to remain in the home at least ten years. This disadvantage has been offset lately by some RM lenders eliminating origination fees, setting aside service fees or both.
a�? Although there are no monthly mortgage payments, the borrower is responsible for all other ownership costs. For older borrowers, estimating the length of time they can afford to pay utilities, property taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, or condominium fees, and how long they are physically able to keep living there may be difficult.
a�? A home subject to RM can be foreclosed upon by court order if the borrower ceases to live in the property for 12 consecutive months without prior approval of the lender or if the borrower defaults on any obligation specified in the loan, such as maintenance, taxes and insurance.
a�? RM borrowers may be the target of aggressive sales pitches for other expensive and potentially inappropriate products or services because of the large sum of money they receive from a reverse mortgage. Lenders providing RMs are generally prohibited from cross-selling other investment products such as annuities, long-term care insurance or services such as home repairs. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) specifically prohibits cross selling to a RM borrower HERAa��s provisions are applicable to HECMs only.
a�? A RM is fundamentally different than a forward purchase mortgage or a home equity loan with generally more complicated terms and conditions. Borrowers often do not fully understand all the differences and nuances of RM loans, despite both Texas law and FHA requirements for full disclosure and counseling before obtaining the loan.
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