Reverse Mortgages
Reverse
mortgages (also called home
equity conversion
loans) enable
homeowners, over the age of 62, to tap into their equity
without
selling their home. The lender pays you money based on the equity
you've
accrued in your home; you receive a lump sum, a monthly payment or a
line of credit. Repayment is not required until the borrower sells the
property, moves into a retirement community or passes away.
When you sell your home or no
longer use it as your main home, you or your estate must
repay the funds you've gotten from the reverse mortgage plus interest
and other finance charges.
Most reverse mortgages require you
be at least 62 years of
age, have a low or zero balance owed against your home and maintain the
property as your principal residence. Before applying for a
reverse mortgage, you must meet with a counselor from an independent
government-approved housing counseling agency.
A
reverse mortgage
gives you choices in how the loan is paid to
you. You
can select fixed monthly cash advances for a specific period or for as
long as you live in your home. Or you can opt for a line of credit,
which allows you to draw on the loan proceeds at any time in amounts
that you choose.You also can get a combination of monthly payments plus
a line of credit.
Reverse
mortgages are ideal for homeowners who are retired or no longer working
and need to supplement their income. Interest rates can be fixed or
adjustable and the money is nontaxable and does not interfere with
Social Security or Medicare benefits.
Your
lender cannot take property away if you outlive your loan nor can you
be forced to sell your home to pay off your loan even if the loan
balance grows to exceed property value.